One spring day in 2009, I got an email from my pal Mo Willems, who used to be a writer on “Sesame Street” and who let me play on his faboo Cartoon Network show “Sheep in the Big City,” and who is now this huge-big-famous kid’s book author with loads of titles under his belt, and nearly as many awards, including a few Caldecott Honors.

The email read: I’m at the Kennedy Center right now writing a musical for you. Wanna do it? Give a buzz.

And when a pal asks you to play his daughter in a musical based on one of his most popular books, well, you say yes.

Lucky am I to have such a pal. I had a wonderful time with this amazing cast. I really miss MJ and Erika and the non-pictured Gia Mora, Matthew McGloin, Matt Anderson and Cyana Cook. They are the coolest.

The show was a smash success: due to the popularity of the book, the entire run was sold out before we even started it. However, I think the adaptation was also successful, and everyone, parents and kids alike, seemed to have a great time.

The show will begin touring the country in the fall of 2010. The original cast will not be on the tour, but the life-sized Knuffle Bunny and the giant onesie will.

L-R: Michael John Casey (as Dad), me (as Trixie), Erika Rose (as Mom)

photo by Carol Pratt

L-R: Michael John Casey, me, Erika Rose

photo by Carol Pratt

Trixie (me) and a giant fantasy Knuffle Bunny in a touching pas de deux. Seriously.

photo by Carol Pratt

Bonus Round: Evolution of a Trixie

or

“what have we learned, kids?”

Above, we see what Trixie looks like in the Mo Willems book “Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale.” She is 16 months old. She is a two-dimensional toddler. She is bald. I am none of these things.

So, we proceeded to figure out a look. Here is the first one:

The hat was a bit snug and Gilligan-esque, and suddenly my wrists look so tiny. So, take two:

Note the new hat and the huge shirt. And yes, I am wearing way more makeup than I have ever worn in any show. And they put a belly hoop in the overalls to give me that adorable baby shape.

But there was still a problem. Apparently the hat could create shadows on my face.

So, here is Trixie version 3.0:

Not an easy task to convince an audience that you are a toddler when you have pigtails, but this is what audiences ultimately saw. Of course, we’d already taken the press photos, as you’ve seen above, where I was in the hat, but more were taken after.

And here they are!!!

BONUS BONUS

Re-shot Pigtail Press Photos!

all by Carol Pratt

L-R: Michael John Casey, me, Erika Rose

L-R: Michael John Casey, me

L-R: Michael John Casey, me, Erika Rose

Look at that big hoop belly of mine.

me with giant things... a giant Knuffle Bunny and a giant brassiere. Yeah. Bet you wish you’d seen this show.

Sorry, powers that be. I still say the hat was a cuter choice.

So, what have we learned, kids?

That looking a little silly and a lot unattractive is just part of the job.

That, and that it’s pronounced “Kuh-nuffle.”