the *new* DOW kids

The (trash) Little Mermaid

age: kindergarten and up!
audience size: up to 150 or so
style: comedic acting and "found object" hand puppets
length: 30 minutes
The classic tale from Hans Christian Andersen, retold by DOWkids. The tale of the youngest and most beautiful of six mermaid princesses emerges out of suitcases and comes to life using litter often found on our beaches. We use puppets, props and sets made from seashells, found objects and toys to create a magical landscape. A lot of actual water and imaginative acting brings the story to life.

How the Earth Got Its Color (an aztec tale)

age: very young and up!
audience size: up to 150 or so
style: mask and large toy theater puppets
length: 30 minutes
Follow Wind as he must find his place in the pantheon of Aztec gods and prove himself to all when he decides to save his best friends, the Musicians of the Earth from the Palace of the Sun God. With the help of the audience and various characters along the way, he finds the courage to use his unique gifts to do right by the people of the Earth.

Louie’s Fabulous Mardi Gras Adventure
(or gumbo isn’t gumbo without the okra)

age: 1st grade and up!
audience size: up to 500!
style: acting, overhead projection and shadow puppetry
length: 45 minutes
This is a shadow play combining an overhead proector, traditional shadow puppetry and acting to tell a tale of rural Cajun country. Follow our hero as he rides from house to house, searching for that one special gumbo ingredient to share at the mardi gras feast, meet his new best friend the alligator and join in all his fabulous adventures along the way.

(not too scary) Poe Stories

age: 4th grade and up!
audience size: up to 150 or so
style: acting, shadow and bunraku puppets
length: each segment is 20 minutes
Something for the older kids, a collection of Poe Stories told in various mediums: The Raven done with acting and moody overhead projection/shadow puppets and The Black Cat told with mime, acting and one devilish hand puppet. We are working on our version of The Tell Tale Heart. All employ period costumes and images and compelling design - a fresh new take on the classics.

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears
(and other African tales)

age: very young and up!
size: up to 150 or so
style: all different kinds!
length: each segment is 15 minutes
The first part of this piece was commissioned by Brooklyn's Prospect Park Zoo for their Wild Arts Weekend. Based on the beloved folk tale and children's book, the piece teaches the great lesson of action and consequence. More stories are already in development!

And more to come...

We were just commissioned to create a new piece based on James Joyce's Ulysses for the Rosenbach Museum and Library in Philadelphia, we are considering projects based on the Chinese tale Lon Po Po, Cinderellas from around the world, and a few others. Ask us about our rates to create a new show specifically for your event!

And please do check out our main DOW show page: Sleepy Hollow, WARRIOR and DoubtingDorothy are all appropriate for all ages.

Please email with any questions or for a rate quote. Thanks!

All shows were conceived, written, built and designed by John Ardolino, Karim Muasher & Gretchen Van Lente.

	*The (trash) Little Mermaid* age: kindergarten and up! audience size: up to 150 or so style: comedic acting and "found object" hand puppets length: 30 minutes The classic tale from Hans Christian Andersen, retold by DOWkids. The tale of the youngest and most beautiful of six mermaid princesses emerges out of suitcases and comes to life using litter often found on our beaches. We use puppets, props and sets made from seashells, found objects and toys to create a magical landscape. A lot of actual water and imaginative acting brings the story to life.
	*How the Earth Got Its Color (an aztec tale)* age: very young and up! audience size: up to 150 or so style: mask and large toy theater puppets length: 30 minutes Follow Wind as he must find his place in the pantheon of Aztec gods and prove himself to all when he decides to save his best friends, the Musicians of the Earth from the Palace of the Sun God. With the help of the audience and various characters along the way, he finds the courage to use his unique gifts to do right by the people of the Earth.
	Louie’s Fabulous Mardi Gras Adventure (or gumbo isn’t gumbo without the okra) age: 1st grade and up! audience size: up to 500! style: acting, overhead projection and shadow puppetry length: 45 minutes This is a shadow play combining an overhead proector, traditional shadow puppetry and acting to tell a tale of rural Cajun country. Follow our hero as he rides from house to house, searching for that one special gumbo ingredient to share at the mardi gras feast, meet his new best friend the alligator and join in all his fabulous adventures along the way.
	(not too scary) Poe Stories age: 4th grade and up! audience size: up to 150 or so style: acting, shadow and bunraku puppets length: each segment is 20 minutes Something for the older kids, a collection of Poe Stories told in various mediums: The Raven done with acting and moody overhead projection/shadow puppets and The Black Cat told with mime, acting and one devilish hand puppet. We are working on our version of The Tell Tale Heart. All employ period costumes and images and compelling design - a fresh new take on the classics.
	Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears (and other African tales) age: very young and up! size: up to 150 or so style: all different kinds! length: each segment is 15 minutes The first part of this piece was commissioned by Brooklyn's Prospect Park Zoo for their Wild Arts Weekend. Based on the beloved folk tale and children's book, the piece teaches the great lesson of action and consequence. More stories are already in development!
	And more to come... We were just commissioned to create a new piece based on James Joyce's Ulysses for the Rosenbach Museum and Library in Philadelphia, we are considering projects based on the Chinese tale Lon Po Po, Cinderellas from around the world, and a few others. Ask us about our rates to create a new show specifically for your event! And please do check out our main DOW show page: Sleepy Hollow, WARRIOR and DoubtingDorothy are all appropriate for all ages. Please email with any questions or for a rate quote. Thanks!