Story Stump: The Singing Garden

Woander Launches Story Stump, a New Immersive Theatre Experience for Families The Singing Garden opens in Mill Valley, bringing together live puppetry, interactive storytelling, and personalized adventures where children become part of a living fairy tale. MILL VALLEY, CA — What if children could step inside their favorite storybook, meet its characters, and help create the adventure? That's the idea behind Story Stump: The Singing Garden, a new immersive theatrical experience from Woander opening October 17 in a transformed retail storefront in downtown Mill Valley. Following last year's sold-out production of The Wylding Woods, Woander is introducing Story Stump, an intimate indoor theatre experience that combines live puppetry, music, imaginative play, and interactive storytelling. Located at 77 Throckmorton Avenue, next door to Woander's toy and game store, the experience invites groups of up to 30 participants to become part of a living fairy tale. "I grew up watching Mister Rogers and Sesame Street, and I loved those worlds and characters," says Writer and Director Matthew Purdon. "But I always wondered, what if you could actually step inside those worlds? What if the characters knew who you were, and you could become part of their stories? That's what we're trying to create with Story Stump." Families enter The Singing Garden, a magical garden recently destroyed by a mysterious storm. They are greeted by Robin, the gardener and start working to rebuild the garden. At its heart stands the Story Stump, a giant redwood tree that serves as the home of Lexi, the Storybook Fairy. As the adventure unfolds, Lexi arrives, opens the stump and leads the young adventurers to discover clues, make music, and meet her friends Gus the Gigglepillar and Lulu Bird as they restore the song to the Singing Garden. The adventure begins before families arrive, as children create a story online with a digital version of Lexi. During the live show, Lexi recognizes the young storytellers and reveals their creations in her magical storybook, bringing their imaginations to life in The Singing Garden. A Living Story World The Singing Garden is the first in a planned series of original Story Stump adventures set within The Wylding Woods, an expanding fantasy world populated by magical creatures and colorful characters. Each production invites families into a new interactive fairy tale, with opportunities for children to shape the stories themselves. Purdon's larger vision is to create a living story world where the relationship between children and characters extends beyond a single performance. By combining live theatrical experiences with personalized digital storytelling, Story Stump explores a new kind of family entertainment. “We want to create a world where characters can recognize returning adventurers, remember their stories, and welcome them back into an evolving magical world.” Created by Matthew Purdon, Story Stump builds on the success of The Wylding Woods, Woander's sold-out immersive theatrical production in 2025 and their touring show Barnaby & the Dragon’s Treasure. Purdon, a trained actor, artist, and technology designer, co-founded Odyssey Works, an early pioneer in transformative immersive experiences. He first dreamed up The Wylding Woods on walks through the redwoods with his children, developing the magical world through workshops and playtests. Cast & Creative Team Story Stump: The Singing Garden features Bay Area performers Gabrielle Greenfield as Lexi the Storybook Fairy and Filbert the Chipmunk, and Ellie "Clown Daddy" Johnson as Robin the Gardener, Gus the Gigglepillar, and Lulu Bird. Written and directed by Matthew Purdon, the production features production design by Jacquie Scott (Naga & The Captainess at Burning Man, Dracula at SF Playhouse), the Story Stump fabrication by Haley Who (Dark Crystal, Netflix) Original song and lyrics by Caitlin Gjerdrum, and illustrations by Chuck Whelon. Puppets were created by acclaimed designers Hobey Ford (Kennedy Center), Lisa Zagone (Life of Pi, SF Playhouse), and Kieron Robbins and Lee Armstrong (Fraggle Rock, Being John Malkovich) of Images in Motion. The personalized digital storytelling experience was led by Sparks and developed by Jason Asbhar and Rob Baldwin of Aeonia. Performance Details for The Story Stump: The Singing Garden Dates: Saturday & Sundays in November Showtimes: 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 2:30 PM, and 4:30 PM Location: 77 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley, CA Recommended Ages: 3–9, accompanied by adults Running Time: 50 minutes Tickets: $45 per person, available at www.storystump.com Media Contact Matthew Purdon — Director / Writer matthew@woanderworld.com | 415-407-5954