![]() Where do we go from here? What if we were humble enough to listen? We come bearing the heavy knowledge that our beloved humanity maybe finding itself in darkness, on a planet trying to say goodbye. Tonight we come to celebrate the unknown with hearts full of gratitude. Multiple ideas, perspectives, realities, or visions can co-exist simultaneously without attempting to synthesize or simplify the experiences and world views of those involved-but only if we listen. One where every voice can be heard and every anxiety shared freely. We believe that a successful performance comes from a positive, sacred, collaborative, and radically inclusive space. ![]() All of this we need to listen to and witness. We heard the sounds of violence in our country echoing the toxic hum of racism and imperialism that reverberates from generations before. We heard our fears, our guilt, and our shame in a chorus of voices all feeling the same crap. We heard our sorrows harmonizing with those around us. We began by asking ourselves: “what happens if we listen.” As directors, we had no specific images to share, or lessons to teach. Through listening comes the necessary understanding of our loved ones, our friends, our community members, and of our shared experiences, of the earth.Īt the beginning of this process there was no story. ![]() Each of us needs to find better ways of listening to those experiencing pain, grief, oppression, or cruelty to our friends and neighbors in marginalized communities, and those who are affected by the weight of our broken systems. We are all called upon to relearn how to truly listen. How do puppets play an energetic session under the sheets? Well, we can’t give away all their secrets.The condition of our world in 2017 requires listening. To simulate sadness, the puppet slouches slightly. “The puppeteer has to find other ways to do that.”įor example, to make a puppet smile, the puppeteer opens its mouth and “gives it an energetic body movement,” said Louis, who also portrays Trekkie Monster. “The biggest thing about puppets is that their faces don’t emote like human faces,” Linser said. His credentials include creating a nationally syndicated live action and puppetry children’s television series and participating in the Sesame Workshop, where his teachers included one of the stars of Avenue Q’s Broadway production. MNM’s cast members are experienced puppeteers, but having Louis on hand is a big help, Linser said. Unlike Sesame Street, Avenue Q’s black-clad puppeteers are on stage and mirror their characters’ movements and emotions. The characters express themselves with tongue-in-cheek tunes such as “It Sucks to Be Me,” “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist” and “I Wish I Could Go Back to College.” The show delves into issues such as racism, accepting commitments, finding a sense of home and overcoming the self-absorption that can be a consequence of listening to too much Sesame Street as a child. You can push the commentary more because you’re using puppets.” They can say things that if people said them would be offensive. “They can be touching without being schmaltzy and risque without being raunchy. “What I love about puppets is that they’re endearing,” he said. Building a show around puppets gave creators Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx and Jeff Whitty a lot of leeway, Linser said.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |