"Tales from the Bayou" combines and embraces the hypnotic wonder of oral storytelling with the visual magic of puppetry. Taking inspiration from "Jim Henson’s The Storyteller" (one of my all-time-favorite shows), "Tales from the Bayou" is a series of short, original, musical folktales that all take place in the mystical regions of the swamp. Stories of magic and fantasy, involving unique original creatures: gumbo goblins; a potato child; tall, silent, mossy nomads called bog walkers; a jug-band of ghosts; a muck monster at the bottom of a lake; a girl made from sawdust...just to name a few. Each story will be told by a central storyteller, as he sits on a sparse stage, in the dark. As the stories unfold, the space comes to life with actors and puppets, emerging from the shadows. The settings and environments will be created with imaginative uses of props, lights, shadows, and projections. The goal is to seamlessly weave the art of puppetry and storytelling together in a way that feels classically nostalgic and familiar, while still being new and inspiring. The stories themselves deal with topics of facing one’s fears, finding your own voice, learning to let go, learning to trust, learning to express your love for others, and more. Learn more below about how you can be involved!