Theatre Nova and Spinning Dot Theatre to Partner for New Children's Series

Theatre Nova is teaming up with Spinning Dot Theatre to present a series of three family shows, to be presented at Theatre Nova's space at the Yellow Barn. The first of these will be THE CAT WHO RAN, Naoko Kudo and Toyoko Nishida's adaptation of a Japanese folktale about the unlikely friendship and adventures of a cat and a fish. Director Jenny Anne Koppera's production combines puppetry, movement, and music to bring the story to life. THE CAT WHO RAN will be at Theatre Nova on August 22, 2015 at 11am. THE CAT WHO RAN features Tae Hoon Yoo, Kelly Joyce Fielder, Darius T. Fowlkes

In September, Spinning Dot will bring THIS GIRL LAUGHS, THIS GIRL CRIES, THIS GIRL DOES NOTHING to Theatre Nova. Australian playwright Finegan Kruckemeyer's acclaimed play, winner of the 2010 Rodney Seaborn Playwright's Award, follows Albienne, Beatrix and Carmen, three orphaned girls who pursue different paths through a magical world. THIS GIRL LAUGHS, directed by Jenny Anne Koppera, will be at Theatre Nova on September 26, 2015 at 11am. THIS GIRL LAUGHS, THIS GIRL CRIES, THIS GIRL DOES NOTHING features Tae Hoon Yoo, Kelly Joyce Fielder, Michelle Poniewozik, Vicki Morgan, and Chenise Lockett.

And in October, the theatres will present SEDNA, an Inuit fairy tale adapted and directed by Kelly Joyce Fielder, from a book by Joel Rudinger. The play brings to life the ancient tale of Sedna, the goddess of the sea, with a unique mix of storytelling, puppetry, in... a pillow fort. Space is limited for this one-of-a-kind performance. SEDNA will be at Theatre Nova on October 24, 2015 at 11am. SEDNA features Kelly Joyce Fielder.

Carla Milarch, Artistic Director of Theatre Nova, said she was "thrown for a loop" the first time she saw Spinning Dot's work. "This was crazily inventive, beautifully adapted theatre with serious range. Not only did my 5 year old sit rapt for the entire 45- minutes, so did I - it was pure magic." Milarch and other Spinning Dot fans note that the company's shows seek to challenge and engage young audiences as well as entertain them, and in so doing, create unique, fun, and powerful experiences for theatre lovers of all ages.

All performances will be at the Yellow Barn (416 W. Huron, Ann Arbor), which Theatre Nova has revamped as a professional performance venue. The location offers free parking, as well as quick walking access to downtown; nearby reference points are the Ann Arbor YMCA, the Big City Small World bakery, The Last Word, and the Sun Moon Yoga Studio. The entrance for parking is near the intersection of Huron St. and Chapin St/3rd St.

Tickets are $5 for children under 16, and $10 for adults. Theatre Nova members receive free admission as a party of an annual membership that include tickets to all six-season productions, every show in the New Play Readings series, and each children's show. Memberships can be acquired by making a donation of $50 or more to Theatre Nova. To make reservations, visit theatrenova.org.

Theatre Nova is Michigan's only theater exclusively producing new plays. Its mission is to raise awareness of the value and excitement of new plays and rising artists, and provide resources for playwrights to develop their craft by importing, exporting, and developing new work. It seeks to create a sustainable theater for generations to come, built on the cornerstones of accessibility, transparency, artist-leadership, and equality. It is a nonprofit 501c(3) organization. Visit theatrenova.org for more information.

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