descriptions of shows and films

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Fish Sermon, A Puppet Ballet 2024 by Leah Lara (Puppetry)

Fish Sermon investigates movement and faith in an aquatic and mystical puppet ballet.  The archetype of the mermaid is explored through blackness, religious imagery and ritual using multiple forms of puppetry..

Black Episcopalian by Samuel J. Lewis II (puppetry) 

 The year is 1980, in St. Louis, Missouri. Sam asks his mom a question about their origins in the Episcopal Church. It was a question that wouldn’t be fully answered until almost 40 years later. That incredible answer takes Sam on a journey back to his birthplace in rural Tennessee, through space and time, uncovering a history that he could have never imagined. And through this journey he finally understands his place in the world. 

(work-in-progress)

Maria Reads a Book: Ari’s Anger Eating Dragon Flower- by Maria Camia (puppetry) Humanoid Ari faces inner demons in Aricama, the land of practice, play, and healing. When she finds her energy is being consumed by a mysterious dragon, her anger reaches a whole new level. One person Bunraku-style puppet, toy theater, and puppet surprise.

(7  and Up)

“My Flesh” by Arkay Adkisson, (puppetry and poetry)  My Flesh is the debut of  Adkisson’s most intimate written work yet,a surprisingly joyful exploration of living in a disenfranchised body, and follows what happens when a loved body changes without intention.

Just Another Lynching by Jeghetto (film and discussion) Just Another Lynching is a puppet show that dives deep into haunting truths about our country's past, present, and future. Framed as one man's eulogy to his lost childhood friend, it unfolds as a series of touching memories that refuse to be ignored or mis-remembered. 

(nine and up)

My Mother the Clown by Nia Hampton, (film)  It’s “Bring Your Parents to school day’, and Kia’s mother is a clown, literally.This coming of age tale deals with teenage anxiety and outward appearances.

(Family Audience)

Jim Crow the Puppet by Jeghetto (puppetry) This is a historical piece about Black inventors. 

(Family audience)

 Ecdysiast by Dante Ingram (singing,  puppetry and discussion) is a three part live singing and puppetry performance about memory, identity, and aging. Ecdysiasta is a term coined during the vaudeville era for strip tease artists. The root ecdysis means to molt . Watch as the singer and marionette transform…

Consuewella:  Triptych  in MOVE”, conceived, written, and directed by Jacqueline Wade, (puppetry) This is a moving puppet performance  piece about an African American woman’s journey through MOVE, a radical mostly African American  back-to-nature activist group from Philadelphia and the system.  (This performance is for mature audiences-late teens  through adults.).

(work-in- progress)

Rocket and Friends  by the Puppet Company  (Steven Widerman) (puppetry)
Rocket & Friends by The Puppet Company, performed by Steven Widerman and Connor Asher, is a fantastic family friendly show. It features wonderful characters, including the Haywire (above), the Roamin' Gnomes doing acrobatics on a see-saw, a dancing pink elephant, Rocket the Roller Skater, a puppet choir and much more. 

(Family Audience)

Agape Love Train by Yolanda Sampson (puppetry) “All aboard!” Come along with Lovuro, a princess from the fictional planet Peacuro. In this life changing journey,  she learns about the biblical principles of love and forgiveness one station stop at a time. Watch as Lovuro overcomes ‘unforgiveness’ with the help of her down-to-earth friends. An “out-of-this-world” experience told with colorful hand puppets, Scripture, music, storytelling, and audience participation.

(Family audience)

Praise Worthy by Samuel J. Lewis II (puppetry)   African American family history weaves these short works together, featuring multiple forms of puppetry and accompanied by live musicians. He Worked Hard, The Story of James "Jim" Lewis....

(Family audience)