PuppetMobile to Bring Over 100 Free CINDERELLA SAMBA Shows to Local Parks This Summer

City Parks Foundation has announced the return of Cinderella Samba, a CityParks PuppetMobile original production launching May 1, 2017 at Brownsville Recreation Center in Brooklyn and running through this fall.

As Brazil continues to celebrate the 100th anniversary of samba, commemorated in 2016, the CityParks PuppetMobile will bring the magic and grandeur of Rio de Janeiro's world-famous Carnaval festivities to neighborhood parks across the five boroughs with over 100 free performances of Cinderella Samba.

Returning to the PuppetMobile stage for the first time since its highly acclaimed debut in 2007, Cinderella Samba is a contemporary twist on the classic "Cinderella" fairy tale. The CityParks PuppetMobile production sets the timeless tale in the lush landscape of Brazil, where, thanks to the help of her fairy godmother, Cinderella attends Rio de Janeiro's biggest Carnaval gala and dances the samba with Prince Paulo himself. After Cinderella is forced to flee the gala just before midnight, the prince sets out to find the mystery woman who stole his heart, in hopes of marrying her.

The lively production features an original commissioned musical soundtrack that brings samba center-stage; handcrafted Carnaval festival floats on parade; and one-of-a-kind marionettes donning their most vibrant Carnaval costumes, created by the expert puppeteers from the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre in Central Park.

The show's run coincides with the tail end of centennial anniversary celebrations taking place this year to commemorate samba's origination in Brazil in late 1916. The beloved music and dance form was officially born in November 1916, when Brazilian musician Donga registered the musical score for the song, "Pelo Telefone," a nationwide hit considered to be the first samba record. Since that time, samba has become one of the most enduring and defining symbols of Brazilian culture at large and Carnaval in particular. In 2005, UNESCO proclaimed samba as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

"We are thrilled to be bringing back one of our most Popular Productions, Cinderella Samba, for the first time since its premiere a decade ago," said Bruce Cannon, Artistic Director of the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre. "What better way to celebrate 100 years of samba than to bring the vibrant sounds and scenes of Rio during Carnaval to audiences in our local NYC parks."

Original Cinderella Samba script written by Michael Alogna. Adaptation by Jennifer Hamburg. Music and lyrics composed and recorded by Daryl Kojak. Direction by longtime Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre Artistic Director, Bruce Cannon.

All CityParks PuppetMobile shows are free of charge to the general public. No reservations are necessary. The show will run from May to early fall 2017. To find out more information on the date, time and locations of all performances visit the City Parks Foundation website at www.CityParksFoundation.org.

City Parks Foundation's PuppetMobile brings free traveling entertainment to over 20,000 New York City children each year. One of the only mobile puppet theaters in the country and the oldest continually operating company of its kind, the CityParks PuppetMobile travels to parks, playgrounds and recreation centers citywide equipped with a stage and staff of professional puppeteers. The PuppetMobile is part of City Parks Foundation's arts programming which engages children and their families in the world of arts and culture.

City Parks Foundation (CPF) is the only independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to offer programs in public parks throughout the five boroughs of New York City. At CPF, we are dedicated to invigorating and transforming parks into dynamic, vibrant centers of urban life through sports, arts, community development, and education programs for all New Yorkers. Our programs and community building initiatives -- located in more than 350 parks, recreation centers, and public schools across New York City -- reach 425,000 people each year. Our ethos is simple: we believe thriving parks reflect thriving communities.

Photo Credit: Aehee Kang Asano