Contact: Jean Freidl (651) 493-3029 [EMAIL PROTECTED] April 5, 2002
In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre to Stage 28th Annual MayDay Parade Sunday, May 5th MAYDAY! MAYDAY! is the Theme for 2002 (Mpls, MN) In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre (HOBT), is once again preparing for its annual MayDay Parade and Festival, which will take place Sunday, May 5th, starting at 1:00 pm. The theme for the 2002 Parade -- MAYDAY! MAYDAY! -- is a celebration of peace-making and love. "Peace-making is a day-to-day learning experience � it's rising with love and resistance to the systems of violence and vengeance so apparent in the world today," said Sandy Spieler, artistic director for HOBT and director for the MayDay festivities. The annual MayDay Parade, led by hundreds of towering puppets and colorfully masked characters from the highly innovative puppet and mask theater, delights families and children of all ages, drawing some 50,000 visitors to the Phillips and Powderhorn Park neighborhoods. It is considered by many to be a harbinger of Spring. The Parade, which starts at 1 pm, follows Bloomington Avenue from 26th Street south to 34th Street, and then turns west to Powderhorn Park. Over 2000 participants, led by 30 puppetry artists, march in the "storytelling section" of the Parade, which this year will honor the world's greatest teachers of peace such as Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Albert Schweitzer, as well as the common people in our community who teach peace-making through their daily actions. The Parade also includes a "join-in section" of groups of many ethnic and religious organizations, political factions and civic associations championing a cause. On the shores of Powderhorn Lake, the Festival culminates with an amazing pageant in which the 25' Tree of Life, a stunning bird-like puppet, is raised high above the crowds and serves as a centerpiece of the day's activities. Characters on stilts, masked villains, heroes, and various elements of nature, including trees, flowers, birds, insects and animals, delight spectators who arrive at the Park as early as dawn to scope out the perfect spot on the hill to enjoy the Festival. The Festival continues in the Park until dusk, with food, music, dancing, booths of various community groups and more outdoor puppet performances. The MayDay Parade and Festival truly reflects the diversity of the Powderhorn Park neighborhood and is an outstanding example of community in action. The Festival was recently named one of the country's 60 great public places by the Utne Reader. Members of the public are welcome to attend workshops where they will construct puppets, costumes and floats for the MayDay Parade. The free workshops, which take place at the theater, run through May 2nd. Hours are Saturdays from 9-11 am and 1-3 pm, and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-9 pm. No advance registration is necessary. HOBT was originally called the Powderhorn Puppet Theater when it was created in 1973 by artists who shared a commitment to social change. The work of HOBT is strongly grounded in the concerns of its home neighborhood and in regional and global issues. The theater is committed to utilizing its artistry to provide opportunities for hands-on participation in the creation of community events. In addition to its main stage season of six productions at its home at 1500 East Lake Street, the company conducts educational workshops, year 'round programming for youth, and touring productions for schools. It also tours its own productions throughout the United States, and in 2001, took to the international theater arena with shows in South Korea and the Dominican Republic. HOBT is managed by a non-profit board of directors under the leadership of Kathee Foran, executive director, and Sandy Spieler, artistic director. For more information about the MayDay Parade and Festival or the theater in general, please call (612) 721-2535 or visit http://www.hobt.org. MJ Mueller Seward HOBT Office Manager _________________________________________________________________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
