French Theater Company to Bring CITE to the New Vic, 5/13-22

In Cité, a work of theatrical magic by Le Clan des Songes (Fragile, New Vic 2013), a man chases the sun as a city comes alive in fun and surprising ways in this enthralling, wordless exploration of shape, color and shadow puppetry. Cité, which is recommended for ages 3-5, will make its New York debut at the New 42nd Street Studios May 13-22.

Set to whimsical original music, Cité is a modern fairy tale that follows a solitary man as he leaps and bounds through a vibrant, dreamlike urban landscape. He is mesmerized by the sun, which takes on a life of its own as it flies freely, darting from place to place high above the city's towering skyscrapers. From scene to scene, the figures and buildings transmute into new formations, color combinations and hues of every shade in this ethereal concrete jungle.

The world of Cité is inspired by the contemporary art of New York-based painter Evsa Model, whose works are created by combining large blocks of solid bright colors and geometric shapes. This muted piece, accompanied by an original score by Laurent Rochelle, is a fascinating exploration of the vagaries of shape, color, shadow and light that is sure to captivate the imagination.

Since 1990, Marina Montefusco and her company, Le Clan des Songes, have developed theater that enlists puppetry and animation in its unique, fanciful storytelling. The bodies of work produced by the company are created with all age groups in mind, although young children remain the company's primary focus. Subsidized by the Midi-Pyrenees Regional Department of Cultural Affairs and the Midi-Pyrenees Regional Council, Le Clan des Songes is recognized nationally and internationally for the exceptional quality of their work. Following La Nuit S'en Va le Jour and Fragile, Cité is the final chapter in Le Clan des Songes' trilogy for the very young.

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