THE TORTOISE, THE HARE, AND OTHER AESOP'S FABLES Returning to Center for Puppetry Arts, 8/13-9/20

Center for Puppetry Arts presents five timeless tales of fun and friendship in The Tortoise, the Hare, and Other Aesop's Fables. On stage August 13-September 20, this piece takes tots and parents on a playful carnival ride complete with a bandwagon of animal friends that will have audiences bouncing, clapping and singing along to the catchy tunes! Featuring some of Aesop's most famous fables: The Lion and the Mouse, The City Mouse and the Country Mouse, The Fox and the Crane, The Ant and the Grasshopper and The Tortoise and the Hare, this charming and energetic production, specifically designed for the very young, is a must-see summer sensation!

The Tortoise, the Hare, and Other Aesop's Fables is a Theatre for the Very Young production that employs lively original music, vibrant colors, engaging puppets, circus skills and minimal dialogue to appeal to the unique developmental process of preschoolers. Audience members can come before show time to hear some of Aesop's fables and to color a special puppet to use during the performance. The show is directed by the Center's head puppeteer Amy Sweeney, who performed in the 2012 debut.

"When I performed in this show in 2012, something delightful happened," says Sweeney. "Time after time, I saw the youngest of audience members believe that these puppets were real and that these characters needed their help in order to finish the stories. The sense of playfulness filled the theater as both children and parents were thoroughly engaged. The audiences laughed at the tap dancing mouse and lion, scolded the food-stealing fox, traveled with the mouse who went to the big city and empathized with the tortoise who thought he was too slow. There was a real connection that happened, a journey was taken together and it was magical. That's why we do theater, that's why Theatre for the Very Young is so important to me."

Adapted for the puppet stage by Michael Haverty, The Tortoise, the Hare, and Other Aesop's Fables features body, rod, shadow and tabletop puppets designed by the Center's resident puppet builder Jason Hines and performed by puppeteers Jake Krakovsky and Kristin Storla. The original music was created by Dolph Amick and all of the puppets, props and scenery were created onsite by the Center's talented artists.

Recommended for ages 2 and up, The Tortoise, The Hare, and Other Aesop's Fables is presented in the Downstairs Theater August 13- September 20. Visitors can enjoy discount preview days on Tuesday, August 11 and Wednesday, August 12.

Special Sensory-Friendly Programming: Sunday, August 30, 12-2:30 p.m. (with show at 1 p.m.)

This special afternoon will allow guests with autism spectrum disorder to experience a sensory-friendly performance of The Tortoise, the Hare, and Other Aesop's Fables as well as a sensory-friendly Create-A-Puppet workshop. Several alterations will be employed to create a comfortable setting for guests with ASD. Performance alterations include theater lights dimmed down but not out, consistent sound levels and lower volume of show soundtrack, freedom for children to talk and to leave their seat if necessary, and permission to bring quiet, contained snacks and beverages. There will also be a quiet zone in the lobby. Create-A-Puppet Workshop classrooms will be brighter, quieter, and feature less-messy puppet building materials and slightly simplified puppet designs. Guests will be welcomed by staff members who have been trained in interactions with patrons with ASD.

Regular show times are as follows:

· Thursday and Friday: 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

· Saturday: 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

· Sunday: 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Tickets for the show include entrance to the Create-A-Puppet Workshop (or To-Go Kit), where children can make their own Hopping Hare Rod Puppet to take home!

NOTE: Due to construction for the Center's ongoing expansion and renovation project, all museum exhibits are closed at this time. The Center will continue to present performances, workshops, and films throughout the expansion; the new museum will open this fall. For more details, visit www.puppet.org/believeinmakebelieve.

TICKETS ARE $9.25 (MEMBERS) / $16.50 (NONMEMBERS) AND CAN BE PURCHASED ONLINE AT WWW.PUPPET.ORG OR BY CALLING THE TICKET SALES OFFICE AT 404-873-3391.