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A grumpy squirrel hides acorns in a verdant meadow, but misplaces some that he hid. Add some rain and sun, and the squirrel’s forgetfulness grows into a beautiful oak grove, with a regal hub tree at the center. Under the oaks animals play through the changing seasons. All is lovely until – you know what’s coming – greedy developers mark the oak grove as a destination for a new housing development. “We Are Here!” they cry in the face of machines designed to destroy their home.
In act two, we are transported to a metropolis undergoing a series of unprecedented attacks. Reporter Bob Flotsam is on the scene as a succession of man-made problems are met with a succession of man-made solutions, and as the two are sometimes confused. Epic fight scenes ensue, and cause us to ask if modern conveniences are worth the trouble.
The final act is a poignant and personal story by co-artistic director Jan Burger. He tells of his travels around North Carolina fighting for environmental justice, and the story of one very special magnolia tree.
Created and Directed by Donovan Zimmerman and Jan Burger
I. The Life of a Tree
II. The Monsters We Create
III. A Walk in the Woods
Puppeteers: Gretchen Adracie, Serah Ashby, Nyssa Collins, A. Maguerite Dubois, Kelley Feeman, Makayla Graybeal, Holmes Graybeal, Jay Hamm, Sarah Howe, Sophie Joy, Maggie Lea, Ginger Lipscomb, Claudia Lopez, Emily McHugh, Danika Moody, Mendal Polish, Cameron Prevatte, Sol Ramirez, Katie Rebich, Lisa Suzanne, Sarah Smith, Anna Wagner, Kathryn Wall
Musicians: Daniel Chambo, Jonathan Henderson, Pete Lewis, Paula Peroutka, Will Ridenour, Omar Ruiz-Lopez
Stage Managers: Kathryn Wall, Maggie Lea
Sound: Charles Jones – Synergen; Assistants: Watson and Aaron
Studio Artists: Gretchen Adracie, Nyssa Collins, Sophie Joy, Ginger Lipscomb, Emily McHugh, Anna Wagner
Interns:A. Marguerite Dubois, Marcus Fiorvante, Danika Moody, Kelley Feeman, Murphy McCully, Jesse Wright
