Rabbit Rhymes
October at the Ohio Theatre will take on a decidedly funky tone for the first two weeks when this year’s Hip-Hop Theater Festival takes up residence with a menagerie of works, including a new kind of creation myth written and performed by Psalmayene 24 (Psalm). A contemporary, high-energy take on an African tale, Zomo the Rabbit (October 9-11) tells the story of a rapping rabbit, Zomo, frustrated that he has been dissed and dismissed by the other mythical tricksters in his world. When he calls the Sky God to get the gift of power, he must complete three impossible tasks — which gather the tenants of hip-hop — to succeed. Looking Glass Theatre will venture into the realm of African folktales and mythical tricksters as well with Ready, Set, Story! How Katie Saved the Sneaky Spider’s Tales (October 10-November 22). When the mischevious Katie lets three stories escape from Anansi the Spider’s book, the two team up to travel the world trying to recover the stories from the clever characters of Norse, Native American, Japanese, and African folklore.
The Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College will also play host to a few storytellers. The Little Orchestra Society Lolli-Pops Fall Series will present Peter and the Wolf (October 3-4), Prokofiev’s classic tale brought to life by Mr. Maestro, Bow the Panda, Toot the Bird, Buzz the Bee, and Bang the Lion. The Little Orchestra gang will also present Animal Tales (October 24-25), featuring Daniel Pinkham’s music, based on the Caldecott Award-winning children’s book Make Way for Ducklings. Barnes & Noble will present a storytelling hour, Barnes & Noble @ John Jay Storytime! – It’s the Fall! (October 7), featuring four story from the likes of Sesame Street, SpongeBob Squarepants, Mickey Mouse, and Blues Clues.
New Victory Theater will continue its Scottish Theater Festival this month with The Man Who Planted Trees (October 2-11), Puppet State Theatre Company’s theatrical adaptation of French novelist Jean Giono’s environmental classic. Meant for children 8 years old and up, this blend of comedy, puppetry, and storytelling tells the story of a thoughtful shepherd who plants a forest, acorn by acorn, transforming a barren wasteland. For much younger children, under 3 years old, New Victory has another option in their festival from The Starcatchers Project, titled My House (October 2-18), which transforms a simple cardboard box into a haven of colors, textures, shapes, and sounds. Finally, the Festival will present the Catherine Wheels Theatre Company production of Hansel and Gretel (October 15-November 1), a “promenade” rendition of the Brothers Grimm fairytale set throughout the New Victory Theater.
For a dose of musical theater with a lilt, be it Scottish or Irish, the options include The Blue Hill Troupe’s Brigadoon (October 30-November 7) and Finnian’s Rainbow (previews begin October 8). Lerner and Loewe’s Brigadoon tells the story of two modern tourists would stumble upon a mysterious village that emerges in a shrouded Scottish glen for only one day every century. For the tween set, Broadway’s Finian’s Rainbow follows Finian and his daughter Sharon to the magical world of Missitucky where Finian plans to bury a pot of gold next to Fort Knox so it will grow. The options don’t stop there for musically inclined tykes. The Players Theatre will offer Percussion People (opening October 4), an interactive family concert that dances through the family of percussion instruments, including marimba, xylophone, rope drum, drumset, bongos and djembe just name a few.
