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The Singing Garden opened October 17th in Mill Valley, bringing together live puppetry, interactive storytelling, and personalized adventures where children become part of a living fairy tale. 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, which runs through October 17th in a transformed retail storefront in downtown Mill Valley.

NOTE: FOR THOSE WHO MISSED IT LAST WEEK: Woander runs on Saturdays and Sundays through November 22nd. 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: Saturdays and Sundays, October 17 – November 22, 2026
● 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

About Woander
Woander is Mill Valley’s family play store, offering a curated selection of toys, games, adventures, and
more. A project of Woander World LLC, Woander creates immersive, family-friendly entertainment
designed to spark creativity and bring people together through shared experiences. The Wylding Woods is Woander’s flagship fantasy story world.
Media Contact
Matthew Purdon — Director / Writer
matthew@woanderworld.com | 415-407-5954
For production photos and additional media resources, please visit www.storystump.com.