The Magic of Light – Mar 7-16

ABOUT

“There are those who cannot see and who are not seen.  But their music can open our eyes. Light pours in, like magic, and we are brought home…” Yara Arts Group’s “The Magic of Light” interweaves puppetry, language, music and poetry to illustrate the cultural and spiritual awakening of an artist in the 1870s.  Inspired by the haunting epic songs of Ukrainian blind bards (kobzari), a young man embarks on a lifelong quest to record, preserve and illuminate Ukrainian traditions against the tremendous pressures of history.  Performed with an intimate, transforming puppet stage by bandura master Julian Kytasty and puppeteer Tom Lee.  Conceived and directed by Virlana Tkacz with poetry co-translated by Wanda Phipps.

 

CREDITS

Yara Arts Group creates visually stunning original theatre pieces that explore overlooked cultures of the East, especially Ukraine, through our diverse perspectives.

 

The Cast:

Martynovych, the artist: Tom Lee

Veresai, the epic singer: Julian Kytasty

 

The Crew:

Directed by Virlana Tkacz

Music composed & performed on bandura by Julian Kytasty

Puppetry by Tom Lee

Production designed by Tom Lee & Andreea Mincic

Shadow puppet design & video by Linda Wingerter

Puppet design & carving by Kevin White

Light design by Kat Zhou

English translations by Virlana Tkacz & Wanda Phipps

Assistant puppeteer: Zlata Godunova

Intern Assistant: Caitlin Nugent 

Stage manager: Erin Gray

Asst director: Olenka Tsyhankova

Research Nadia Sokolenko

Graphics by Waldemart Klyuzko