Staff Reports | Happenings & Events
A tale of love and adventure sets sail as TheaterWorks presents, “The Old Man and the Old Moon,” a spellbinding musical created by PigPen Theatre Co. Running from March 28 through April 1, on the Gyder MainStage at the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts.
Directed by Chris Hamby, executive director at TheaterWorks; with music direction by Lincoln Wright, TheaterWorks’ music director, this imaginative tale follows an old man tasked with refilling the moon’s light each night. When his wife unexpectedly embarks on an adventure of her own, he sets off on a sweeping journey across land and sea to find her, encountering whimsical characters, extraordinary challenges, and breathtaking revelations along the way.
“The Old Man and the Old Moon” is an original folk musical that seamlessly blends live music, inventive shadow puppetry, and dynamic ensemble storytelling to create a truly one-of-a-kind theatrical experience.
Bringing this story to life is an exceptionally talented ensemble of seven local actors and musicians, who will not only portray multiple characters but also perform live music throughout the show, playing their own instruments on stage:
*Ryan Monaghan
*Naya Dell
*Eeshan Kumar
*Norine Lindeman
*Isaac Greenland
*Brenna Keck
*Brady Anderson
“The Old Man and The Old Moon is a different kind of story for TheaterWorks to tell,” Mr. Hamby said. “I am excited about the raw storytelling aspects of this show where the ensemble of performers use music, puppetry, and their own performance to take us on this exciting adventure.”
Mr. Wright offers a similar reflection on the power of the show.
“I had the opportunity to see a production of this show last year; it renewed my faith in the power of theater to enchant and inspire an audience. I was totally caught up in it — it’s an adventure tale, but also a charming love story,” he said. “We’ve been so fortunate to find a group of tremendously talented actors, all local, who will sing and play instruments live on stage while bringing this story to life. I can’t wait for TheaterWorks audiences to see it.”
