Performances
My work arises to investigate a particular topic or to celebrate a particular moment in time. I draw much inspiration from the heartland of the U.S.A as I seek to articulate its transformative soul. I’m often inspired by ancient stories or stories from the news of the current day. All my work integrates image with word, sound, and movement, and much of it is generated and enacted with the close participation of teams of people. See also: Works for the Water and Mayday and Ceremony.
The Story of Crow Boy
The life story of Taro Yashima who wrestled with brutality, discrimination, and the ravages of WWII to build work of social conscience, compassionate insight, poetic visual form, and ultimately – of joy.
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La Natividad
The Christmas Story created as a partnership between In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre and St Paul’s Lutheran Church with 130 performers of all ages (bi-lingual).
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La Guadalupana
With the Kalpulli KetzalCoatlicue Aztec Dancers, In the Heart of the Beast Theatre and The Basilica of Saint Mary (at the Basilica of Saint Mary, Minneapolis), 2013.
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Come to the Well
Invigorate the Common Well Episode 1
Water is essential to all of life on our planet, human and non-human. Water is literally our Common Health and Wealth.
Beneath the Surface
Invigorate the Common Well Episode 2
A Circus of Wonderments Investigating Water Quality and Local Water Systems.
Decorate the Well in Gratitude
Invigorate the Common Well Episode 3
A Street Carnival Honoring… Water! …and the newly restored drinking fountain in the lobby of In the Heart of the Beast Theatre.
The Magic Flute
With the Minnesota Orchestra, 2011. Thanks to Bob Neu, stage director, Cecilia Schiller, puppet build technology, and Jim Koplin, Jenna Thorsett, Paul Robinson for production support.
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Hansel and Gretel
With the Minnesota Orchestra, 2005-12.
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The Most Beautiful Thing in My Kingdom
H.C. Anderson’s classic story of The Nightingale deconstructed for a cabaret at In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre. 1998
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Gyre: Song for a Millennium
A gyrating meditation to open the human heart and soul to the immense majesty of the Universe and the growing human destruction of the Earth.
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The Nightingale
A surreal adaptation of the fairy tale classic by H. C. Anderson, adapted to address exploitation of the female body. In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre, 2002.
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The Reapers’ Tale
A Celebration in the House of the Dead Featuring the Grand Feast of the Skeletons and Their Reenactment of the Great Voyage of Christopher Columbus in Honor of the Life of the World.
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Table, Table
Visual poem based on The Origins of Corn by Meridel Le Sueur, contextualized by current farmer suicides. In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre 1987.
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A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings
Based on the story by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre, 1997.
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Prayer for Mutual Living in Harmony
A collaboration with Iraqi, Korean, and USA artists for the opening of the International Gwacheon Hanmadang Festival, Gwacheon, South Korea 2003
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Befriended by the Enemy
A true story of forgiveness between a KKK leader(Larry Trapp) and a Jewish family (Michael and Julie Weisser) In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre, 1993, 1996.
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Lake Street Excavations
A funky walking tour investigating the layered history of the 3 block area around In the Heart of the Beast Theatre with mini-performances in 8 different sites, July 2005
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A Life of HOH
1983. A surreal journey through the physical, industrial and primal worlds of Water.
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Circle of Water Circus
Mississippi River Tour from Minneapolis to New Orleans 1983. We traveled with 25 adults, 5 children and 2 dogs to honor this great River in hopes of turning attention to the importance of this Water.
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Shoes of Infant Light
To honor of the Winter Solstice, we perform in the empty unheated 3rd Floor of the ‘Antiques Minnesota Building’ on Lake Street using the existing architecture for scene structure.
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