Show Recommendation: MOJO – by Margaret Hart
I had the opportunity to see a fantastic show this past weekend in New York City. It’s called “MOJO,” and is playing at The New Victory Theater through November 4th. If you have a chance to see it before it moves on, hurry and buy tickets for you and your kids–you won’t be disappointed. The show is recommended for children age five and older, but I saw younger ones in the audience, and they were laughing, clapping, and cheering along with everyone else!
MOJO originates from London’s Theatre-Rites, heralded by critics across the pond as “producing the most outstanding theatre of the past decade,” (The Guardian). MOJO explores the self-discovery of a child through the most incredible use of puppetry I’ve ever seen. The unique staging, range of musical instruments, lighting, and dance, all combine in a visual treat to tell a delightful story.
The audience is taken on a topsy turvy trip full of visual transformations and revelations. Bursting with color, energy, movement and music, MOJO features dancers, puppeteers, and live musicians, including world jazz percussioniast Adriano Adewale and folk/blues/jazz singer, trumpeter and guitarist Leo Altarelli.
To watch a short video clip from MOJO, click on this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKTIp1D19X4&list=PL5864BD448F8C397D&index=5&feature=plpp_video
MOJO is directed by Sue Buckmaster with original choreography by Arthur Pita and stage revival by Claire Cunningham. Music composition is by Adriano Adewale and Leo Altarelli, set and lighting design is by Peter Mumford, puppetry design is by Michael Fowkes, music design is by Keith Clouston, and costume design is by Suzy Peters. Mojo is a co-production between Theatre-Rites, the Barbican (London) and the Salzburg Festival, and features Adriano Adewale, Leo Altarelli, Rachel Donovan, Sarah Fitzpatrick, Mohsen Nouri, Simon Palmer, Tanya Richam-Odoi and Robin Beer.
General Ticket Information Tickets for MOJO at The New Victory Theater (209 West 42nd Street) cost $25, $18, $12 and $9 for New Victory Members and $38, $28, $18 and $14 for Non-Members based on seat locations. Theater-goers who buy tickets for three or more New Victory shows qualify for free Membership benefits, including up to 35-percent savings on tickets all season long. To purchase tickets online, visit NewVictory.org, and to purchase by phone, call 646-223-3010. The New Victory Theater box office (209 West 42nd Street) is open Sunday and Monday from 11am-5pm and Tuesday through Saturday from 12pm-7pm.
About Theatre-Rites (London, England)
Theatre-Rites has a distinct and unique approach to creating theatre for young people, and has established an outstanding reputation for excellence and innovation since its formation in 1995. The company’s prime aim is to create work which inspires, challenges and feeds the imaginations of young people. The company is committed to working with artists of all kinds, whether sculptors, poets, painters, video or installation artists in order to present children with unusual contemporary imagery and to push the boundaries of the theatrical form. This, together with performance, puppetry and sound creates a rich and memorable theatrical experience.
About The New 42nd Street
An independent, nonprofit organization, The New 42nd Street was created to assume long-term responsibility and oversight for seven historic theaters between 42nd Street and 7th and 8th Avenues. The projects of The New 42nd Street include: The New Victory Theater, a performing arts theater devoted to kids and families; the New 42nd Street Studios, a state-of-the-art, 10-story rehearsal studio/office/theater “complex”, and The Duke on 42nd Street, an intimate 200-seat black-box theater that opened in 2000 and is available on a rental basis to international and domestic nonprofit organizations to present their work.
Tags: color, dance, Margaret Hart, MOJO, music, off broadway, puppetry, show review, The New Victory Theatre
