La MaMa Kids: Don Quixote Takes New York
By Loco7 Dance Puppet Theatre Company
Inspired by the novel The Ingenious Nobleman Sir Quixote of La Mancha
by Miguel de Cervantes
Adapted from the novel by Ivan Cardozo & Beatriz Caballero
Re-imagined and adapted by Denise Greber & Federico Restrepo
Choreographed & Designed by Federico Restrepo
Sound Design & Music by Hao Bai
Costume Design by Becky Hubbert
Video Design / Animation by Laura Restrepo
Featuring:
Federico Restrepo with Zulivet Díaz, Luis Grande,
Chris Ignacio, and Fleur Voorn
Loco7 reimagines this classic text, with puppets, dance and music to show the audience that no dream is too impossible to obtain and that with hope and heart you can conquer fear. The piece focuses on the plight of Quixote – either succumb to the bitterness of despair or let loose the wings of the imagination. Don Quixote Takes New York will be an intuitive voyage that transports the audience through Quixote’s emotions as he travels the City, seeing a new unexplored world. Don Quixote and his friend Sancho Panza travel the five boroughs of New York City on a quest to save the world from evil forces and protect Lady Liberty from the Orange Knight. The audience follows Don Quixote as he explores New York City in his quest for love, honor, liberty and justice for all.
Don Quixote Takes New York is suitable for all ages 4 and up.
LOCO7 productions utilize original rhythmic music, live musicians, dancers, body puppets and larger-than-life marionettes. Restrepo’s intense love and passion for the history of the Americas and his journeys in New York have been a constant source for all his work. Loco7 has premiered sixteen original pieces in New York City, with subsequent tours throughout the world. Most recently Loco7 premiered Undefined Fraction (2015), Seucy and Boto (2014-2016), Plunge (2013), Free Falling (2013), Urban Odyssey (2012), In Retrospect (2010), Room To Panic (2008), Open Door (2006), Bokan The Bad Hearted (2004), 9 Windows (2002), Colores (1998), Aguirre, the Spiral of the Warrior (1996), Cosecha (1990), Loco7 (1989) and two other Gotham fantasies: Locombia (1986), Carrera (1988). In addition Loco7 premiered in Bogotá, Colombia, Piratas de Papel (1994) and Mobile Urbano (1986).
FEDERICO RESTREPO (Co-Creator/Director/Choreographer/Puppet Design) was born in Bogotá, Colombia and founded his company, Loco7, at La MaMa in 1986 to expand the use of puppetry in dance theatre. With Loco7 he has created over sixteen original productions, acting as creator, director and designer. As a performer Restrepo appeared at La MaMa as a member of the Great Jones Repertory Company in Ellen Stewart’s The Raven, Asclepius, Herakles Via Phaedra, Perseus, Antigone, Mythos Oedipus, Dionysus Fillus Dei, Monk and The Hangman’s Daughter, Seven Against Thebes and Draupai. He is a resident choreographer, director, puppet designer, and performer of La MaMa. In addition he has designed lights for productions in New York City as well as abroad.
DENISE GREBER (Co-Creator/Director) has been the managing director and collaborator on all Loco7 productions since 2001. She has performed in Loco7 shows: Undefined Fraction, Urban Odyssey, In Retrospect, Room To Panic, Open Door, Bokan, The Bad Hearted and 9 Windows. She is an artist in residence at La MaMa, and a member La MaMa’s Great Jones Repertory Company, performing in Ellen Stewart’s Asclepius, Herakles Via Phaedra, Perseus, Antigone, Mythos Oedipus, Dionysus Fillus Dei, Seven Against Thebes, Diana di Cantelmo and Andrei Serban/Elizabeth Swados’ Fragments of a Greek Trilogy. She is the Director and Curator of La MaMa Puppet Series.
La MaMa Kids
La MaMa Kids Online presents kids performances and hands-on workshops online, timed especially for “after school” viewing! La MaMa will continue to use emerging technologies to create a new venue for artistic expression that questions how art can function and how we as a society can survive challenging periods of history.
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“An adaptation of an adaptation, it sets Iván Cardozo and Beatriz Caballero’s puppet theater version of Cervantes’s novel in New York City, where Don Quixote and Sancho Panza are trying to shield the Statue of Liberty from a villain known as the Orange Knight. Although adults may detect political satire here, young theatergoers can have fun just watching the onstage adventure” – Laurel Graeber, The New York Times
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“Miguel de Cervantes’ iconic tale gets a funky family-friendly makeover at La MaMa Kids ” – Raven Snook, Mommy Poppins
“Loco7 reimagines this classic text, with puppets, dance and music to show the audience that no dream is too impossible to obtain and that with hope and heart you can conquer fear.”