The audience can use their imaginations to fill in the large rattan-framed elephants, adorable baby elephant and people represented by just hats and gloves. It’s a story that shows how family can be anything - a beloved, widowed father or even a herd of elephants. In a time when children are feeling so much division and stress, Aanika’s Elephants is play about compassion, love and conservation. She is finally tested when she must save her new family from poachers. Adopted by a small herd of elephants, Aanika learns their very beautiful, civil ways. They become a herd of two, working together to survive and steer clear of humanity. Camping that night in the bush the way her father taught her, she is frightened by crashing branches and discovers Little has followed her. She flees into the African Savannah making one final farewell to Little. When Aanika’s father dies, she becomes the ward of an abusive uncle. They grow together the way only two young girls can, even if one has a trunk. We hope you enjoy this sampling of high quality and exciting moments which highlight the variety of puppet forms and diverse voices currently working in American puppetry arts and beyond.Īanika’s Elephants is the story of a young African girl who meets a baby elephant (Little) at the orphanage where her father works. In the summer of 2022, the Artistic Committee lead by Artistic Chair Yolanda Sampson, reviewed and selected the performances from over 75 applications resulting in the festival program below. Our festival has worked to present an impressive display of puppetry from across the nation and beyond, making it a premier event for anyone interested in learning more about our ancient art form. Puppetry is one of the world's oldest art forms and has a way of connecting with audiences of all ages and backgrounds. PofA provides resources for professional growth to puppeteers, access to world class puppetry performances to the public and learning opportunities to those interested in this unique art form. Most recently they led shadow workshops for Atlas Obscura, The Lewis Latimer House Museum, The Asia Society, and for the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival.Founded in 1937, Puppeteers of America (PofA) strives to encourage and promote the art of puppetry to both puppeteers and the community at large through publications, workshops, festivals, lectures, advisory services, and funding. In addition to dozens of Shadow productions large and small scale that they have created, Fong and Kaplin have also produced numerous shadow slams, forums, workshops and master classes throughout the NYC metro, the US, Canada, China, Taiwan and South Korea. CTW shadows are currently on display in the Field Museum of Chicago and the International Spy Museum in Washington DC and have been featured in “Awkwafina is Nora from Queens”. Blending Stephen’s extensive experience in shadow theater (with Julie Taymor, Ping Chong, Lee Breuer and Great Small Works) and Kuang-Yu’s mastery of Chinese opera, CTW’s original shadow productions have been featured at national and international puppet festivals. He is represented by the Gurman Agency Kaplin and Kuang-yu Fong founded Chinese Theatre Works in 2001 to merge together traditional Chinese shadow and theater with contemporary theater and practice. He also serves as the creator and curator of black_theatre_vinyl_archive on Instagram. Jerrell contributed to the recently released Fifty Key Musicals (Routledge Press), authoring the chapter on Shuffle Along (1921) and co-authoring the chapter on The Wiz (1975). Recent puppet films include a short film version of his signature puppetry piece, I Am The Bear with the Chicago International Puppet Theatre Festival. His latest spectacle creation Ancestral Procession was featured in the Fall 2021 International Physical Theatre Festival at Nichols Park on Chicago’s South Side. ![]() Recent directing credits include Reverie by James Ijames (2022 Pulitzer Prize recipient) with Azuka Theatre and Mlima’s Tale with Griffin Theatre (Jeff Award Nomination for Direction and Best Play). He is the League of Chicago Theatres recipient of the 2022 Samuel G. Henderson is a Theatre Director and Puppeteer.
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