“Pictures at an Exhibition” premieres April 24

“Pictures at an Exhibition,” a world-premiere devised theatre production created through a two-month collaboration between the Cornell College Department of Theatre and the New York City-based theatre company, Puppet Kitchen, will open April 24 at 7:30 p.m.

The family friendly production spins a tale of friendship, loss and adventure told through an extraordinary combination of puppetry, video and live performance. Directed by guest artist Emily DeCola, and featuring guest artist Eric Wright as Puppet Captain, this production was inspired by the paintings of architect and artist Viktor Hartmann and the music of Modest Mussorgsky. Running under an hour with performances April 24, 25 and May 1, 2 at 7:30 pm and April 26 at 2:00 pm in the Plumb-Fleming Black Box Theatre, “Pictures at an Exhibition” will take audiences on a journey from outer space to the ocean, and through a world of fairy tale witches and giants. Many styles of puppetry, along with masks and projections, offer an ever changing landscape through which our hero must journey to make it home.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for seniors, students and youth. Seating is limited and reservations are strongly encouraged. Tickets can be reserved at the box office by calling in advanced at (319) 895-4293 or e-mailing Boxoffice@cornellcollege.edu. Seating is limited and reservations are strongly recommended.

With a cast that includes Cornell College students, this production highlights scenic and puppet design by Emily DeCola and Eric Wright, costume design by Cornell’s resident costume designer, Jenny Nutting Kelchen, and lighting and projection design by Cornell’s Head of Production, Scott Olinger. Mussorgsky’s work by the same title, arranged and orchestrated by Maurice Ravel, underscores the piece.

Dozens of Cornell College students have spent this spring semester collaborating with Puppet Kitchen’s trio of “Head Chefs,” who have been in residence to create the production and teach courses in puppetry performance and puppetry design. Co-founded by Emily DeCola, Eric Wright and Michael Schupbach, Puppet Kitchen is an award-winning company known for their ability to blend style with engineering to create dynamic visual stories.