In September, 2010, Anne will be heading to the New York Mills Artist Retreat for two weeks to work on her children’s book Nalah and the Pink Tiger. The book was inspired by her husband’s lively niece. Sawyer-Aitch developed a style which she calls Illuminated Illustration, featuring multiple layers and backlighting. She hopes to complete the second third of the book during her time in New York Mills.

Magic Lantern Puppet Theater Presents: Children and Other Optical Illusions, an original multi-media puppet show by Anne Sawyer-Aitch.

• June 17-19, 2010
• Dreamland Arts,
  677 North Hamline Ave, St Paul
• 651-645-5506.
• All performances at 7:30 pm
• ASL Interpretation Friday, June 18th by Gretchen Toay

Tickets $12 in advance, $14 at the door. Order tickets online.

Children and Other Optical Illusions is an original multi-media puppet show featuring shadow animation, live-feed video, rod puppets, and actors. The piece explores the questioning and grief that two couples experience in their unsuccessful quest to become parents. Optical illusions are often about missing information – what the eye is drawn to, instead of what it should be looking at – or a simple lack of available data. For couples struggling with unknown causes of infertility, this metaphor can be a very poignant one.

The show stars award-winning puppeteer Janaki Ranpura, Jennifer Weaverling, and Reid Knuttila and Patricia Gage. Music created by visiting New York Artist Lisa Abbatomarco, with Matt Larson.

Children and Other Optical Illusions also depicts rituals and customs from around the world surrounding the topic of miscarriage. The script was born from the playwright’s own quest to become a mother, and is in part autobiographical. It is our hope that it can both entertain and raise awareness of a subject which is still somewhat “taboo” and misunderstood.

Because of its subject matter, this show is not recommended for children. This activity is made possible in part by the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council through a grant from The McKnight Foundation and an appropriation from the Minnesota Legislature. Additional funding provided by the Twin Cities Pregnancy and Newborn Loss Coalition and private donors.

Links

• Janaki Ranpura
• Lisa Abbatomarco
• Metropolitan Regional Arts Council
• The McKnight Foundation

To everyone who attended Pasta for Puppets, or wished us well from afar:

I am sending a very belated THANK YOU for a wonderful evening. Pasta for Puppets was a roaring success. Great food, great music, great people! You support meant so much to me.

For those of you who are curious, we met our budget goal to match the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council Community Arts Grant we received to produce the original work Children and Other Optical Illusions. The funds will help support seven artists, a theater technician, and the very worthy Dreamland Arts, where our show is being performed.

Children and Other Optical Illusions will run June 17-19 at Dreamland Arts in St. Paul.

Click here for more information about the show.

Special thanks to Tracy Yue of One Dish At a Time and the jazz trio Fermentation. Both graciously donated their time to this event.

With gratitude,
Anne

Ganesh is the God that people in India pray to when they start anything new: planting a crop, moving house, getting married. Ganesh removes obstacles and makes wishes come true. He didn’t always have this elephant head, and this is the thrilling story of how it came to be.

This show features shadow and pillow puppets and is geared to the youngsters. Starring Rachel “Olli “ Johnson, Janaki Ranpura, Liz Schacterle, and Anne Sawyer-Aitch.

• Saturday, February 6th
• at In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater
• 1500 East Lake Street, Minneapolis
• Shows at 10 am & noon
• Tickets $5 per person
• More info

Save the Date!
Saturday, February 27, 7-10 pm

Pasta for Puppets Fundraiser

To support Magic Lantern Puppet Theater’s new multi-media puppet show Children and Other Optical Illusions.

Performances will take place at Dreamland Arts June 17-19, 2010.

Enjoy a delicious pasta dinner prepared by professional caterer Tracy Yue of One Dish at a Time! Silent Auction and live music by jazz fusion trio Fermentation. Drink wine and be merry!

We thank you for your support. This project supported in part by the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council.

• Saturday, February 27, 7-10 pm
• Anne & Jemiah’s House,
• 3131 17th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 555407
• $12 per adult, $5 per child, no one turned away.

Thanks to the following people and organizations who have already pledged their support by donating to our “Pasta for Puppets” Fundraiser:

Minnesota Children’s Museum
North Star Roller Girls
May Day Cafe
Maude Salon
Freewheel Bike Shop
Open Eye Figure Theater
Peace Coffee
Karmas Wheels
Bicycle Artist Mark Amboe
Krista Post, Licensed Psychologist
Steppingstone Theater
Dawn Wittenberg, Massage Therapist and Kettlebells Instructor
One Dish At A Time, Catering by Tracy Yue
Artist Chrys Laramy
Minneapolis Institute of Arts
In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater
Hi-Lake Liquor
Janet Johnson
Midwest Mountaineering
Joel Walther

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