The Theater at the 14th Street Y continues to honor the edgy, diverse, and rich history of innovative culture-making in the East Village for people of all ages with the 2018-2019 Family Series.
The series kicks-off on October 20, 2018 with The Not-So-Spooky Ghost and runs through May 2019.
"Ever since I was a child, I can remember sitting in the theater, waiting as the lights went down for the magic to start. From the age of two, my mother would schlep us to see new worlds and experience foreign types of movement, sounds and music. She believed in exposing us to all parts of our imagination, building paths towards new unknowns.
Here at the 14the Street Y Theater, we also believe that all children should experience that magic, sit excitedly for unknowns, and meet new characters for their imagination to take into new worlds. We want to create a platform that will enable artists to weave their magic for our kids. That is why we have started incubating and supporting a Theater for Young Audiences series. This year we are launching this series with 5 new plays and events that will share the creative process with the children.
Let the magic begin we can't wait to share it." - Ronit Muszkatblit, Director of Arts + Culture at the 14th Street Y
The magic will also continue through our engagement activities. After one performance of each of the shows, there will be a curated activity elaborating on the themes of the show. Activities will include a program with a Tenement Museum educator, improvisational dance led by one of the performers, crafting projects led by puppeteers, and even a talk back with the writer and actor of a show so the kids can delve into their unique understandings and critiques of a performance.
2018-2019 Family Series:
The Not-So-Spooky Ghost
October 20-21, 27-28
WonderSpark Puppets
Written and directed by Chad Williams
A timid ghost, his skeleton father and a mysterious scarecrow have lots of laughs in this all-ages show. The little ghost can't scare a soul to please his Big Bad Dad, but help is on the way as the audience and some friends scare up some fun fright. Hand puppet show in a traditional puppet booth.
Fox Fables
November 3-4
WonderSpark Puppets
Written and directed by Chad Williams
This puppet adaptation of an Aesop's Fable is about a fox who loses his precious tail and with it his identity. He tries to be several other animals instead-with hilarious results- before realizing the moral lesson of this ancient story.
Layer the Walls
November 7-11
Created by Liz Parker & Rachel Sullivan
Directed by Spica Wobbe
Set within a tenement that is about to be torn down and whose interior is plastered with 40 layers, this show uses masks, toy-theater techniques and puppets designed by Spica Wobbe to imagine the proud and perilous histories of the building's Italian, Jewish and Irish occupants. Ages 7+.
The Fantastical Dangerous Journey of Q
Rebel Playhouse
December 1-16
Written by Ric Averill, music by Dax Dupuy, Directed & choreographed by Sarah Sutliff, Music direction by Christina Bottley
Q, an upper elementary student struggling with gender and identity issues, faces the daily difficulties of preoccupied parents, bullying peers, and communication with challenging teachers... but with a bag of tricks everyday objects grow and are endowed with powers that allow Q to face larger than life threats head on! This new hour long musical features song, dance, and puppetry.
Old Turtle and the Broken Truth
Rebel Playhouse
May 4-19
Written by Catherine Bush, music by Dax Dupuy, Directed & choreographed by Sarah Sutliff
Based on the Children's Book by Douglas Wood, In Old Turtle and the Broken Truth, a truth falls like a star from the sky and breaks into two pieces. When the villagers discover only half of the truth, it causes so many problems that Little One, a brave young girl, decides to search for the missing half. With the help of Old Turtle, and many animal friends, Little One is able to mend the broken truth and make it whole again creating a better world for everyone.
Full Season Tickets and detailed information on shows available at www.14streety.org/tickets.
$14@14Y Flex Pass
Subscribe to the 14th Street Y and save with Flex Pass. For $42, choose any three shows from the upcoming season at https://14streety.secure.force.com/ticket#details_a0S36000007O40PEAS.
About The Theater at the 14th Street Y
The Theater at the 14th Street Y focuses on social awareness and change through big picture narrative. Inspired by works that welcome artists of all backgrounds, we place artists at the heart of our community and seek to create an inclusive and open cultural experience for all. Art is incubated here.
About LABA: Laboratory for Jewish Culture
At the core of LABA's mission is the belief that classical Jewish text study can and should be a source of inspiration and creativity for contemporary culture-makers and thinkers. All of the public art created through LABA aims to transcend cultural and social borders by bringing to light the universal themes and questions our artists encounter through their engagement with Jewish thought.
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