Immersive Show CRANE: ON EARTH, IN SKY Begins in Nebraska

Ibex, Inc, previously announced that the world premiere for CRANE: ON EARTH, IN SKY, created by Heather Henson and Ty Defoe with direction by Maija Garcia, will take place at the Lied Center for the Performing Arts in Lincoln, Nebraska (www.liedcenter.org) tonight and tomorrow, March 9th and 10th.

This will be followed by an engagement at the Merryman Performing Arts Center in Kearney, Nebraska (www.merrymancenter.org) on March 13th.

A national tour and possible return to New York City are planned. An earlier version of the show was performed as part of the La Mama Theatre Puppet Series.

CRANE: ON EARTH, IN SKY is a spectacle of environmental theatre, music and dance told through immersive rituals and contemporary ceremony that reflects our connectedness with all of creation. One will journey alongside whooping cranes as they use waterways for maps during their migration cycle. Indoor kite flying, amazing puppetry, video projections, aerial arts will help tell the story. In this day of climate control and the dangerous effects on animals and migration, this story couldn't be more timely and important. This show will show the potential dangers to a crane's life and will celebrate the richness of indigenous cultures as well as Native American traditions that invoke a spiritual essence in honor of these majestic birds.

Heather Henson (Creator) is a contemporary puppet artist and storyteller, as well as the daughter of the legendary Jim and Jane Henson. She and her company, IBEX Puppetry are committed to furthering the fine art of puppetry through productions such as CRANE: ON EARTH, IN SKY. For the past several years, Heathers story telling has been heavily impacted by her sense of kinship with the endangered species of the world, particularly, the Whooping Cranes. Heather is a trustee for the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center and sits on the Board of Directors for The International Crane Foundation and The Jim Henson Legacy. IBEX Puppetry is devoted to health and healing for the planet through artistic spectacle and outreach.

Ty Defoe (Co-Creator) is of the Oneida and Ojibwe Nations, playwright, composer, performance artist and educator. He was just announced as a recipient of the American Theatre Wing's 2017 Jonathan Larson Grants, which are awarded to emerging book writers, lyricists and composers. Ty has also received a Grammy Award for Best Native American Music album for his work on "Come to Me Great Mystery Native American Healing Songs". He is a member of the Dramatist Guild of America

Executive Producer, Jean Marie Keevins noted, "Building on Heather's 25 years of commitment to the art forms of puppetry, animation and theater, "Crane" is a deeply moving and important work. Combined with her highlighting the voices of indigenous people and giving voice to the land all creatures who inhabit it, Henson, and her top-notch team of collaborators including, co-writer Ty Defoe, director Maija Garcia and composer Dawn Avery are bringing something special to talk about to the world stage.

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