We bring theatre to you! A technically equipped mobile stage that transports engaging and innovative professional theatre to audiences anywhere. We perform in a variety of settings including private events, school yards, public parks, and more. Our performances are geared for all ages.
La Piazza del Duomo by K. Jenkins & Mark Lerman
“Mozart found inspiration in the presence of a common bird. For us, too, the song of the world so often rises in places we had not thought to look.” - Lyanda Lynn Haupt. Mozart’s Starling. 2018.
The aim of the program is to bring audiences into the magic of puppetry, introduce them to reading as creative inspiration, and present a process of puppet story-building. This approximately 40-minute event with puppetry and interactive discussion is meant for all age groups, catering in content to the organization and composition of the audience. The program includes an introduction of the setting in Florence, a puppet performance, and presentation of a book (for adults, Mozart’s Starling by Lyanda Lynn Haupt and for younger audience, Star and the Maestro by Thor Hanson, illustrated by Matt Schu).
Program Content: Introduction of setting and puppet performance (20 minutes)
Two puppeteers invite audience members to travel with them to Florence, Italy. Through the magic of puppetry, they are drawn into the experience of Gloria, a young woman working on a well-planned selfie in front of the famous Duomo cathedral and its impressive 15 th century dome. The life of this dynamic tourist destination has other plans, interrupting and exhausting her efforts. Gloria is visited by birds who disrupt her selfie staging and are determined to turn her attention away from her cell phone. Defeated and weary, Gloria grows close to one brave starling who desires connection and teaches her to fly.
Interactive Discussion: Introduction of Inspiration of Puppets and Story (20 minutes)
The puppeteers call attention to the process and subject that lit the creative spark for this production; in this case, a random book find on a library shelf, Mozart’s Starling. They offer a brief introduction to Mozart and his pet bird associated with one of his well-known piano concertos. The puppeteers then briefly talk about how the puppet story and puppets came to life, followed by questions to the audience related to Starlings and audiences’ experiences with birds.
Booking Fees:
Non-Profit Fees: $250. Includes performance, interactive discussion, and donation of book to space library.
Regular Fee: $350. Includes performance and interactive discussion.
Donation of Book: For non-profit audiences, the Virginia Theatre Machine will donate the book Motzart’s Starling, or Star and the Maestro for younger audiences, with your institution for patrons or residents.
Additional travel fees apply for performances more than 45 minutes from Richmond, VA.
Technical Requirements: 15’ X 15’ clear performance space with an 9’ ceiling minimum required for all shows
