The Center for Puppetry Arts and NACA-Atlanta
present A WEEKEND OF CHINESE CULTURE
ATLANTA, March 2009 – The Center for Puppetry Arts (CPA) and the National Association of Chinese Americans-Atlanta (NACA-Atlanta) are pleased to present a Weekend of Chinese Culture, March 7 & 8. The weekend will feature performances of Old Man and the Monkeys & Other Chinese Tales, by Dragon Art Studio (Tigard, OR), one of the few professional Chinese puppetry companies in the United States, as well as special tours highlighting the Chinese hand puppet collection in the Center’s global puppet Museum, Puppets: The Power of Wonder and other fun-filled activities focused on Chinese culture.
Old Man and the Monkeys & Other Chinese Tales is presented as part of the Center’s 2008-09 Family Series, and runs March 3 – March 15, 2009. In this compilation of five traditional and non-traditional tales of Ancient China, stories of compassion, consideration, and the greatest ping-pong match of all time, are told with the grace and precision that only classically trained, veterans of the puppetry stage can tell. Critically acclaimed puppeteer, actress and Beijing Opera singer, Yuquin Wang and master puppeteer and graduate of the Beijing Puppetry Art School, Zhengli Xu, perform short vignettes that are told with beautiful music, ornate characters and, remarkably, no dialogue!
In addition to the performances, the schedule for the weekend includes guided tours of Puppets: The Power of Wonder by Museum Curator Jeremy Underwood at 12pm and 2pm on Saturday and 2pm on Sunday. This tour highlights the Chinese hand puppets in the permanent collection. As an added treat on Sunday from 4-5pm, there will be a Dragon Art Studio backstage tour (included with admission to 3pm show) given by Brenda Xu. This behind-the-scenes peek gives an in-depth look at how Dragon Art Studio successfully blends puppetry and music with elegance, humor, and special effects to create a uniquely entertaining theatrical experience.
Old Man and the Monkeys and other Chinese Tales will be presented in the Downstairs Theater. Showtimes are: Tues – Fri @ 10:30am & 12pm; Sat @ 11am, 1pm, & 3pm; Sun @ 1pm & 3pm.
Tickets for patrons ages 2 and older are $14.82 + tax for the general public and $8.33 + tax for Members.
The All-Inclusive ticket price includes a performance, the Create-A-Puppet Workshop,* and admission into the permanent Museum exhibit Puppets: The Power of Wonder, and special exhibits including Jim Henson: Wonders from His Workshop. *Dual/Family Level and above.
During this special Weekend of Chinese Culture, the All-Inclusive ticket price includes all of the above plus the special tour of the Chinese hand puppet collection on a first-come, first served basis (limit 20 people per tour). Please visit www.puppet.org/museum/index.shtml for more information on the Museum.
Order your tickets “FEE-FREE” online at www.puppet.org or call the Ticket Sales Office at 404.873.3391. The Ticket Sales Office is open Monday through Saturday from 9am – 5pm and Sunday 11am – 5pm, with extended hours during evening performances. The Center is located in Midtown Atlanta, across the bridge from Atlantic Station, is accessible from MARTA, and has limited free parking.
About the National Association of Chinese Americans-Atlanta
The National Association of Chinese-Americans (NACA) is dedicated to the advancement of cordial relationships between the United States and China. It is a non-profit organization, which was founded in 1977 by Dr. Cheng Ning Yang, a Nobel laureate in Physics. Its initial objective was to assist in achieving and promoting full diplomatic recognition between these two countries. This notable goal was achieved in 1979.
The Atlanta Regional Chapter was inaugurated in 1980 in conjunction with Chinese Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping's successful state visit. The Atlanta Chapter of NACA has continued to organize and sponsor activities that bring together Chinese dignitaries, local Georgia government officials as well as community and business leaders. NACA's mission has been as a facilitator to promote cultural, educational, scientific and business relationships between these parties. It also strongly encourages Chinese-Americans to participate in the American political process while preserving Chinese heritage in the American culture. Visit www.naca-atlanta.org for more information.
About Dragon Art Studio, Tigard, OR
Dragon Art Studio blends puppetry and music with elegance, humor and special effects to create a beautiful theatrical event. Dragon Art Studio's style of Chinese rod puppetry, seldom seen in America, is an ancient art form revered throughout China. Additionally, critically acclaimed Dragon Art puppeteers Yuqin Wang and Zhengli Xu were honored by the National Endowment for the Arts with the 2004 National Heritage Fellowship Award, the highest honor given by the United States to folk and traditional artists. Visit www.dragonartstudio.com for more information.
About Center for Puppetry Arts
The Center for Puppetry Arts' mission is to entertain and enlighten audiences, nurture the world community of artists, expand the puppetry art form, and explore the past, present, and future of puppetry. Since 1978, the Center has introduced millions of visitors to the wonder and art of puppetry, and has touched the lives of many through enchanting performances, curriculum-based workshops and the hands-on Museum, as well as Distance Learning and Outreach Programs.
2008-09 Season supported in part by: City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs, Fulton County Arts Council, Georgia Council for the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts • 2008-09 Family Series sponsored in part by: AT&T The Real Yellow Pages, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, WSB-TV Family 2 Family Project • Old Man and the Monkeys & Other Tales is funded in part by a grant from the Southern Arts Federation in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Georgia Council for the Arts • Puppets: The Power of Wonder sponsored by: The Coca-Cola Foundation • 2008-09 Official Airline Partner: Delta Air Lines • 2008-09 Official Hotel Partner: Regency Suites Hotel • 2008-09 Official IT Partner: Leapfrog Services, Inc. • 2008-09 Official Catering Partner: Carlyle's Catering
Center for Puppetry Arts is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization and is supported in part by contributions from corporations, foundations, government agencies, and individuals. Major funding is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners under the guidance of the Fulton County Arts Council. Major support is provided by the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs. This program is supported in part by the Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) through the appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly (GCA is a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts). The Center is a participant in the New Generations Program, funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation/The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and administered by Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American Theatre. The Center is a Member of TCG and the Atlanta Coalition of Performing Arts. The Center also serves as headquarters of UNIMA-USA, the American branch of Union Internationale de la Marionnette, the international puppetry organization.