Dixon Place's Puppet BloK! to Close for the Year with Margarita Blush and Betsy Tobin

Puppet theatre artists Margarita Blush and Betsy Tobin who have collaborated on their respective productions over the course of the last seven years will share a one-night-only billing at Dixon Place in lower Manhattan on Wednesday, October 12 at 7:30pm.

The shared evening of works-in-progress excerpts is presented as part of Puppet BloK!, a works-in-progress series dedicated to presenting ground-breaking new works of puppetry & other innovative forms of storytelling.

Both performances deal with women's journeys and transformation, though each does so in a very unique way.

Unfolding is an original puppet theatre production delving into the themes of women's wisdom and empowerment and features hand-crafted puppets, live acting, unique design, and original music. The inspiration for the show arises from the desire to take a journey into the deep feminine where the wise, wild woman awaits. Unfolding is a magical "21st century fairy tale" that provides a metaphor for the contemporary woman's path to self-discovery and empowerment.

The international creative team for Unfolding is comprised of Bulgarian-American director and project lead Margarita Blush, Bulgarian scenographer Dimitar Dimitrov, American performers Lucia Rich, Madison Coppola, and Betsy Tobin, and Iranian-American composer and musician Amir Khosrowpour,

The Auspicious Adventures of an Improbable Princess is an original story performed with shadow puppets and video sequences accompanied by live music by Jesse Manno. This quirky comedy about culture shock and what we gain from exposure to other ways of life incorporates ceremonial aspects of Balinese performances and draws inspiration from the fantastic characters and inventive storylines of the great Hindu epic, the Mahabharata.

The show was designed and directed by Betsy Tobin, assisted by Kathryn Moller and performed by Margarita Blush and Betsy Tobin.

Recommended for audiences ages 10 and up. The show runs Wednesday, October 12, 7:30. Advance tickets: $15, At the door: $18, Students and Seniors: $12. Tickets & more info at dixonplace.org/performances/unfolding-plus-the-auspicious-adventures-of-an-improbable-princess.

The Dixon Place Lounge is open before, during and after our shows. Proceeds directly support Dixon Place's artists and mission. Dixon Place is located at 161A Chrystie Street (between Rivington and Delancey) in Manhattan's Lower East Side. (By subway: F to 2nd Ave, J/Z to Bowery, 6 to Spring St, M to Essex St).

Dixon Place, an artistic incubator since 1986, is a non-profit institution committed to supporting the creative process by presenting original works of theater, dance, music, puppetry, circus arts, literature & visual art at all stages of development. Presenting over 1000 creators a year, this local haven inspires & encourages diverse artists of all stripes & callings to take risks, generate new ideas & and consummate new practices. Artists, such as Blue Man Group, John Leguizamo, Lisa Kron, David Cale & Reno began their careers at DP. In addition to emerging artists, we have been privileged to present established artists such as Justin VivIan Bond, Karen Finley, Martha Wainwright, Kate Clinton, Mac Wellman, Mark Dendy, Sarah Michelson, Wally Shawn, Big Art Group, James Lecesne & Peggy Shaw.

After spawning DP as a salon in her Paris apartment in '85, Artistic Director Ellie Covan pioneered the organization in her NYC living room for 23 years. After organic development & expansion, DP is now a leading professional, state-of-the-art facility for artistic expression. Covan received a NY Dance & Performance Award (a Bessie), two Obies, a BAXten Award & the NY Innovation Theater Foundation's Stewardship Award for service to the community. DP has also received CUNY's Edwin Booth Award, & the Alliance of NY State Arts Organization's Celebrate the Arts Award for outstanding contributions to NYC. Visit www.dixonplace.org for more.