Performances and Artist Demonstrations
Burmese Puppetry
Featuring members of the Mandalay Marionettes Theatre
Sunday, October 25 through Sunday, November 1
The Burmese marionette tradition traces its roots back long before the earliest records of performances in the 1400s. By the 1700s, this tradition became an important part of Burmese royal court life. With British colonization in the 1800s, however, the form went into decline. It enjoyed a period of revival as a popular tradition in the early 1900s when puppeteers, who no longer had royal patronage, established themselves in outlying villages.
The Mandalay Marionette Theatre was founded in 1986 by two Burmese women who extensively researched this tradition. Drawing on their research and collaborations with descendents of ancient puppeteer professionals, they have successfully built their artistic team of puppeteers, musicians, and dancers. Over the years, the troupe has traveled internationally to France, the Netherlands, Japan, Australia, and the United States to expose more people to the art form and to cultivate its appreciation.
The museum is proud to feature performers from the Mandalay Marionettes Theatre. Through an array of programs, this team of four puppeteers will present a variety of demonstrations and talks. Kicking off their residency with performances at the museum’s Family Festival on October 25, the performers will demonstrate the process of making traditional Burmese puppets for the public through the museum’s AsiaAlive program from October 25 through 31. The performers will also demonstrate during the museum’s evening MATCHA program on October 29, and on Target First Free Sunday on November 1.
AsiaAlive: Burmese Puppet Troupe
Tuesday, October 27 through Sunday, October 31
12:00 noon–4:00 pm
North Court
FREE with museum admission
Members of Mandalay Marionette Theatre from Burma demonstrate the traditional puppet making process. Watch them manipulate puppets and create an artwork of your own to take home.
Burmese Puppet Performance
Target First Free Sunday*, November 1
12:00 noon and 2:00 pm
Samsung Hall (Limited seats available, on a first-come, first served basis)
FREE admission courtesy of Target*
Enjoy puppet shows by performers from the Mandalay Marionettes Theatre filled with Himalayan adventures, love stories, and dance.
*Target First Free Sundays—free general admission on the first Sunday of every month and the family programs offered on that day—is made possible by Target. Free admission is granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to capacity restrictions, admission is not guaranteed. Galleries may be crowded. Special exhibition surcharge of $5 is applicable for Emerald Cities.
AsiaAlive: Thai Mask Painting
Tuesday, November 3 through Sunday, November 8
12:00 noon–4:00 pm
North Court
FREE with museum admission
In Thai performing arts, gorgeous costumes with richly gilded crowns and colorful masks play an important role in conveying the gestures and meanings of the dance. Watch an artist from Thailand demonstrate how to create intricate patterns and colors on papier mache masks using paint, gold leaves, and colored glass.
