Wednesday, September 5, 2001
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Wednesday, September 5, 2001 |
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Go up the beanstalk for a musical adventure
By MICHAEL
BOYLAN
Jack, a young boy who lives on a struggling farm with his mother, trades the family's cow for magic beans instead of money. The beans, which really are magic, grow overnight into a large bean stalk and lead Jack to a giant's castle. The familiar story of "Jack and the Bean Stalk" has been updated by Lee Bryan, otherwise known as "that puppet guy," and made into a mini-musical titled "The Giant, The Bean Stalk and Jack!" The show features live vocal characterizations and a script written partially in verse by Bryan and Lesley Potts, while the music was written by Barry Nicora. Songs featured in the show include "For Now I'll Just Be Me," "Up the Bean Stalk," and "It's a Giant's Life for Me." Bryan presents over 200 performances annually across the country and is on several regional touring artist rosters. He was recently honored with an Emmy nomination for his work with Georgia Public Broadcasting's critically acclaimed Spanish language series, "Salsa." Bryan constructed the puppets for "The Giant, The Bean Stalk and Jack" with Jane Catherine Shaw. Show times for "The Giant, The Bean Stalk and Jack" are Tuesday through Friday at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.; Saturday at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m.; and Sunday at noon and 2 p.m. The show will be presented through Sept. 16 in the Downstairs Theatre of The Center for the Puppetry Arts. In addition to the performances there will be a Create A Puppet workshop where children ages 5 and up can create a Jolly Giant shadow puppet. Admission to the show is $10 and also includes admission to the workshop and to the museum. Exhibits in the museum include "Puppets: The Power of Wonder," "Masks," "Posters International" and "Velo Theatre," a French street treat. Advance tickets are recommended for all center activities. Call 404-873-3391. The Center for Puppetry Arts is at 1404 Spring St. in midtown Atlanta and is accessible from MARTA. |
