Wood and Strings Theatre, Nashville Ballet present special field trip opportunities at Renaissance Center

Release Date: 9/26/2006. Expired: 11/13/2006

The Renaissance Center is offering two special performances featuring the Wood and Strings Theatre and the Nashville Ballet for field trips this fall.

The performances are open to school groups for $4 per student and each show is limited to 450 students.

The Wood and Strings Theatre will present Ananse! Early in the Day for one performance on Monday, Oct. 16. The show is at 10:30 a.m. in the center’s Performance Hall.

Under the direction of Clarissa Lega, producer, and Leon Fuller, director, this professional touring company is involved in all aspects of production. Collaborating with four highly trained puppeteers and many other talented artists, they create works of puppetry for performance. Their attention to detail from story line through puppet and set construction and on to original music and choreography becomes a complete interplay of the arts in their final works.

Ananse! Early in the Day is recommended for all ages and grade levels. The book and lyrics are written by Clarissa Lega with music by Ekpe Abioto and Carlos Reyes. The show is directed by Cynthia Geiger, and features the voices of LaVerne Fentress & Jeff Obafemi Carr with artistic direction by Leon Fuller.

Ananse, the Spider, trickster of the Ashante folklore, witnesses the early day when animals and life are new. Sharing comical adventures with Ijapa, the Turtle, and dozens of other characters, he leaves his mischievous mark on life, “as the story goes.”

Drawing inspiration from the music, masks, costumes, carvings and oral traditions, this production brings to the stage the vibrant splendor and magic of West Africa. Yoruba, Ashante, Bobo, Fon and Dogon art and folklore are vividly illustrated, transporting audiences to another time and a different world in this 60-minute program.

The Nashville Ballet presents The Emperor and the Nightingale in one special performance at The Renaissance Center at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 13.

Based on a Hans Christian Andersen tale, The Emperor and the Nightingale is choreographed by Heather Maloy with an original Score by Todd London and costumes by Mimi Shimmin.

In his glorious new palace the Emperor of China learns one thing is missing - the beautiful song of the nightingale. It is this very bird that teaches the great Emperor that some things are not meant to be caged, and that the strongest friendship can be found through freedom.

For more information or to make reservations for a field trip to see one of these productions, call (615)740-5533.

The Renaissance Center is a fine arts education and performing arts center at 855 Highway 46 South in Dickson, just 35 miles west of Nashville on Interstate 40 at exit 172.