KID CITY MN

Spotlight on CELLULA! Z-Puppets gets Glowing with CELLULA! Puppets and Music, Mitosis, OH MY!

Hello my fellow KID CITIANS! 

Gaosong here with your weekly blog, and do I HAVE A GOOD ONE FOR YOU TODAY! 

Today's blog is a special SPOTLIGHT and EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW about CELLUA! Produced by Chris Griffith and Shari Aronson, KID CITY Partners and Z-Puppets' Co-Creative Directors! As well as In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre! 

Cellula is like a bedtime story as told by biologists, illuminating the true marvels of cell science inside of all of us. This innovative show uses dazzling glow in the dark puppetry and live accapella music to tell the story of Mitosis! 

Yeah, I said Mitosis! (featured above).

This performance is directed by master puppeteer Kurt Hunter and features highly acclaimed improvisational vocalists Mankwe Ndosi and Libby Turner with blacklight puppetry from our very own, award winning, favorite Creative Director duo, SHARI AND CHRIS! 

Now, raise your hand if you remember learning about Mitosis in middle school? (Me! Pick me!) 

Very good, now raise your hand if you actually remember what Mitosis IS. 

...............

Yeah, I don't remember either. Here's a refresher in case you have forgotten, OR if this is your first microscopic lesson on Mitosis (Get it? See what I did there? Microscope, cells. CELLULA. Microscopic, because this is a tiny lesson?)

Definition courtesy of Google.com.

Definition courtesy of Google.com.

Now that we are all on the same page, let's dive right into the interview with Shari and Chris!

1) What was your inspiration for Cellula?

I wanted to create an experience for kids that conjured the same feeling of awe and wonder that I had when I first looked through a microscope with my mother. My father, my mother and most of the 2 generations before me are all scientists. People often overlook how close and deep the connections are between science and art. Cellula is an homage to my family lineage, my DNA!

2) What is the coolest thing you have learned about Cells in this process?

There are so many amazing facts about cells! I find it fascinating that cells signal each other and the different agents of action (like DNA and RNA) within their own membranes to communicate their readiness to move onto the next phase or to express or suppress the genes written into the codes of their DNA.

3) If you had to use 3 words to describe the show, what would those words be and why?

Joyous, swirl, mama Cellula is a joyous swirl of color and music in celebration of science. The show is like looking through the lens of a microscope along with a mother and her child. It is like a bedtime story as told by biologists.

Wow! CELLULA sounds SO AMAZING! I love how this show was inspired by memories Shari has of her parents. This would also be a wonderful show to share with your family. Even more though, just imagine all that you are going to learn about Mitosis (and I promise it will be more fun than that definition I posted above.)

I am so excited to see CELLULA on opening weekend and you can too! To buy your tickets today click on this link -->

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2592121

Lastly, if you come an hour early for each show, you can explore the Microscope Fun Gallery! FREE, Hands-on activities with state of the art, vintage magnification devices hosted by volunteers from the MN Microscopy Society, MIA and Mill City Museum!

Congrats again to Z-Puppets and In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre for your amazing production of CELLULA. KID CITY is so lucky to have Chris and Shari's creative minds' and playful hearts' guiding our programs, every step of the way!

For more details about CELLULA, keep scrolling down or visit the Facebook invite at https://www.facebook.com/events/1195440917176342/

Till next week! 

Have a Ctellula Weekend!

-Gaosong 

Purchase your tickets here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2592121

Tickets: $15
Children: $8

  • Friday, January 27: 7pm
  • Saturday, January 28: 2pm* and 7pm
  • Sunday, January 29: 2pm**
  • Friday, February 3: 7pm
  • Saturday, February 4: 2pm* and 7pm
  • Sunday, February 5: 2pm**

Recommended for ages 5 and up

* Saturday matinees are pay-what-you-can at the door
** All matinees are sensory-friendly

Show Length: 50 minutes - no intermission

Brainstorm Theater with Fairview Alternative High School!

Students at Fairview showing us how to use masks in Image Theater!

Students at Fairview showing us how to use masks in Image Theater!

This past fall, KID CITY had the honor and pleasure of working with a group of talented and inspirational students at Fairview Alternative High School. We met with these students twice a week for 9 weeks and in that short period of time, explored concepts of "Brainstorm Theater." Now, some of you may be wondering, 'What is Brainstorm Theater?'

WELL! "Brainstorm Theater" (formally known as "Theater of the Oppressed") is a form of social justice theater created by a Brazilian theater maker and social activist, Augusto Boal. It is a form of theater that allows you to rehearse for revolution as you "re-play" stories from your life. With help from the audience, you explore different solutions to personal injustices previously experienced, in order to find alternative endings that turn your tragedies into personal victories! 

On the last day, KID CITY Teaching Artists took their last photo with this amazing group of students. 

On the last day, KID CITY Teaching Artists took their last photo with this amazing group of students. 

We shared stories, tears and laughed every single day. At the end of the residency, we were able to have a forum, showcasing 4 collective stories that were work shopped and performed by our very own students from Fairview! The stories included topics such as: (1) Familial Obligation; (2) Generational Gaps; (3) Unfair Rental Practices and (4) Strict punishments in Schools. 

All in all, we BRAINSTORMED different tactics and applied them in our scenes to try and resolve these issues. However, an important part of Brainstorm Theater and life, is knowing that sometimes, not all things can be solved, nor will it always go your way. With Brainstorm Theater, the students from Fairview are now better equip to find strategies and solutions when confronted with difficult situations in the future. As students, staff and teaching artist learned and grew to be more empowered by one another, we felt it was important to share the power of community with everyone we could. 

Presenting, Fairview Alternative High Schools very own "Mannequin Challenge!" 

Thanks for tuning in this week and make sure to follow us on social media following our hashtag #KIDCITYMN and liking our pages at Z-Puppets Rosenschnoz and Maplewood Parks and Recreation

May you all find a little inspiration from the students from Fairview and KID CITY to empower those in your life! Till next time, stay warm my friends! 

-Gaosong