Simply put, a boy named Christopher Burke. You see, Christopher passed away from brain cancer when he was just six. His cousin, Andrea Kramer, may have been years older than Christopher, but she was very close to him. Andrea helped take care of Christopher and was like a third parent (who couldn’t use one of those?). When her young cousin died, Andrea, of course, attended his funeral. Not only was she grieving herself, but she saw so much confusion in the eyes of Christopher’s classmates. She knew something had to be done to help make this fact of life easier for other kids. That’s where The Butterfly Project was born.

Books shouldn’t be judged by their cover—or their title, for that matter—but Butterbird is an exception.

Toward the end of his life, Christopher was staying in the hospital. And because of his brain cancer, he often confused words. One day, he looked up at the ceiling from his hospital bed and said, “Look, Mommy, a butterbird!” Painted on the ceiling was a beautiful butterfly. Christopher was an insect-lover, and even at his sickest, he recognized the picture. Just, this time, the word he used was a little different (and some would say more special).

Andrea couldn’t forget this story. She hoped to one day honor Christopher’s memory by creating a children’s book. While working at Matheny Medical and Educational Center’s Arts Access Program (an alternative fine arts program for people with disabilities), Andrea shared her wish to publish Butterbird. Mare Akana and several participants in the Arts Access Program transformed Andrea’s original story concept into a book manuscript. Butterbird is a tale centered on a child’s battle with cancer, a friend’s grief over the loss of a playmate, and the inspiration to continue moving forward as these events parallel a butterfly’s metamorphosis.

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Loosely based on Butterbird, a family-friendly stage show called The Butterfly Project is being co-produced by NJAC and CCRF. This original musical follows a classmate of a child who’s dying on his journey to find the perfect caterpillar for his friend. He encounters a series of insects along the way, each portrayed by a different NJ-based dance company. The score—also an original—is comprised of pieces by NJ-based musicians. Andrea Kramer and Shara Reichwald of NJAC are coordinating all efforts.

Premier Performance and Gala on
Saturday, June 6, 2009, 7:30pm ~ $150.00

Matinee Performance on
Sunday, June 7, 2009, 2:00pm ~ $30.00

New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark, NJ

Purchase Tickets June 6th and 7th performances

at NJPAC in Newark, NJ

Download Invitation for The Butterfly Project
Donate Item (Silent Auction) for the silent auction
to be held at the June 6th gala at NJPAC