Community Theatre Experience in NYM
12th Annual Kalevala Puppet Pageant Performances August 20 & 21
The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center announces its 12th annual Kalevala Puppet Pageant, a large-scale community street theater experience taking place in New York Mills. All are invited to attend the culminating performances on Friday August 20 at 7pm at the NYM VFW and Saturday August 21 at 1:45pm at Finn Creek Museum.
Each year, an original play is created based on characters and tales from the Kalevala, the Finnish book of legends. This narrated play is brought to life by local community members through larger-than-life puppet costumes, stilt-walking, songs and music by award-winning duo Curtis & Loretta of Minneapolis. This year’s performance will tell the story of “The Rage of King Kraken,” and attendees will see familiar characters from year’s past, including King Kraken Iku-Turso and Ukko the Thunder God.
Community members of all ages create the puppets, costumes and scenery, and learn to walk on stilts throughout two weeks of workshops, build sessions, and stilt practices leading up to the August 20 & 21 performances.
Acting, costume design, performance skills, and stilt walking are taught by Anne Sawyer, Creative Director and Puppeteer from Minneapolis, who has worked with In the Heart of the Beast, Artstart, Chicks on Sticks, and Lifeworks, along with Assistant Director Lisa Winter of Wadena, who is a long-time puppeteer and stilt-walker, and has been involved in the Puppet Pageant all 12 years.
Audience members have two opportunities to see this free outdoor theater performance: first in New York Mills (following the NYM Civic & Commerce Corn Feed) at the NYM VFW Post 3289 on Friday, August 20 at 7:00 p.m., and second at Finn Creek Museum (during Finn Creek Festival) on Saturday, August 21 at 1:45 p.m. Both performances are free to attend, family friendly, and open to all.
The Cultural Center would like to thank the many supporters of the Puppet Pageant, with special thanks to the Finlandia Foundation National for their grant support, and local main event sponsor, the New York Mills Civic & Commerce Association.
