2011 - 2012 Tours When Animals Were People By Nancy Aldrich & Omar Vargas Folktales from Mexico and Argentina are brought to life in this dynamic new bilingual play. When Animals Were People is inspired by a tale from the Huichol Indians of Mexico. Turtle is cooking a stew to share with Grandfather Vulture and Squirrel is about to join them when Wolf arrives, hungry for Turtle as well as for stew. But with Turtle gone there is no water. Wise old Vulture instructs Wolf in how to bring back Turtle who can bring the water. Accompanied by The Lazy Bee, a shorter piece based on a fable from Argentina, the performance is primarily in English but incorporates simple Spanish words and phrases. It is a fun way to familiarize children with another language, and give them a brief cultural immersion. Gerardo Calderon has composed indigenous-style music for the show using flute and drum. Stories Curriculum Guide Click Here for Video “A wonderful blending of culture and language. A fun way to integrate language for kids and adults. I hope my English speaking students are encouraged to learn more Spanish.” ---2nd grade teacher Puppeteers Brian Allard and Dia Verano deftly create distinctive voices for each character, from stuttering squirrel to smooth-talking wolf. Verano fashions a particularly effective childlike voice for the lazy little bee, who would rather play than collect nectar for the hive. Jason Miranda has designed new puppets reflective of Mexican children’s art and infused with whimsical humor. Miranda’s colorful set piece is arrayed with Mayan-style design patterns inspired by pyramid art. The stories echo the importance of animal spirits in pre-Christian Latin American culture. ---Holly Johnson, The Oregonian Nancy Aldrich and Omar Vargas’s script, spun from Mexican and Argentinean tales of friendship, dedication, and family, is spare, sweet, with clever touches of adult-level wordplay. Puppets, enlivened by Brian Allard and Dia Verano through whimsical vocal characterizations and deft maneuvering, elicit more delight and sorrow than many human actors.” ---Followspot  Stellaluna By Emily Alexander Stellaluna, the enchanting story of a baby fruit bat who falls into a bird’s nest, is adapted from the beloved book by Janell Cannon. Poor Stellaluna tries to adapt to her new home but finds herself the odd one out, hanging by her feet and disgusted by those bugs Mother Bird brings home to dinner. And so begins the re-education of Stellaluna, out of her element and struggling to obey rules for which she’s naturally ill-equipped. What a relief when she finally discovers she is a bat! It message of self-acceptance and celebrating differences is warm and clear. Curriculum guide Click Here for Video “Fast- paced, simply staged and performed by two superbly multitasking puppeteers, Stellaluna moves visually and theatrically between two flying worlds. In the magical night, silvery moonlight flickers on bat wings in graceful flight and gamelan music imbues a soft, dreamlike air. And in the clattering day, fledgling birds clamor and squawk for food, when they’re not hatching plans for mischief. While Mom’s away, the young birds bicker and play and pick up some of their new cohort’s weird habits, like hanging by their toes. The puppeteers’ voices are especially vivid here. Emily Alexander’s adaptation fits the more sophisticated wordplay of Cannon’s book to stage friendly dialogue abounding in wisecracks, a pitch perfect counterplay to visual jokes that turn eating and learning to fly into comic horseplay." ---Catherine Thomas, The Oregonian  PINOCCHIO November 10 - 18th The classic story of a wooden puppet who wants to become a real boy. Doctor Fox and Professor Cat present a "Cautionary Tale for Boys and Girls" in this interactive adventure which brings Pincchio nose-to-wooden nose with Fire Eater, the Blue Fairy, talking donkeys, and a magical penguin. Pinocchio learns to do what is right instead of being manipulated by others in the stunning, national award-winning production. • Learn a "cautionary tale". • Learn one of the earliest stories in Children's literature. • Learn about Scicilian rod puppets and black light puppets. Grades K-4 View Curriculum Guide
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