Calendar

Love, loss, and creation merge in unexpected ways in this thrilling classic gothic tale conceived by Manual Cinema. Stories of Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein, and his Monster expose how the forces of family, community, and education shape personhood—or destroy it by their absence.

Internationally-renowned multimedia company Manual Cinema stitches together the classic story of Frankenstein with Mary Shelley’s own biography to create an unexpected story about the beauty and horror of creation. Manual Cinema combines handmade shadow puppetry, cinematic techniques, and innovative sound and music to create immersive visual stories for stage and screen.

No Blue Memories: The Life of Gwendolyn Brooks brings to life the story of one of Chicago’s most beloved figures. She was an icon, a poet laureate, and a Pulitzer Prize winner—but she was also a treasured educator and mentor to the countless writers and children who knew her as their very own “Miss Brooks.” Weaving together poetry, storytelling, and striking visuals, No Blue Memories is an exploration of Brooks’s beloved city and a story of how she navigated identity, craft, and politics over the course of one of the most remarkable careers in American literary history. The performance combines intricate paper puppetry, live actors working in shadow, and an original score for an unforgettable multi-media experience.

No Blue Memories is a production of Manual Cinema, written by Eve L. Ewing and Nate Marshall, with original music from Jamila Woods and Ayanna Woods. Commissioned by the Poetry Foundation for the Brooks Centenary, No Blue Memories will receive two weeks of free performances in November 2017 for both the general public and Chicago Public School students.

Love, loss, and creation merge in unexpected ways in this thrilling classic gothic tale conceived by Manual Cinema. Stories of Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein, and his Monster expose how the forces of family, community, and education shape personhood—or destroy it by their absence.

Internationally-renowned multimedia company Manual Cinema stitches together the classic story of Frankenstein with Mary Shelley’s own biography to create an unexpected story about the beauty and horror of creation. Manual Cinema combines handmade shadow puppetry, cinematic techniques, and innovative sound and music to create immersive visual stories for stage and screen.

No Blue Memories: The Life of Gwendolyn Brooks brings to life the story of one of Chicago’s most beloved figures. She was an icon, a poet laureate, and a Pulitzer Prize winner—but she was also a treasured educator and mentor to the countless writers and children who knew her as their very own “Miss Brooks.” Weaving together poetry, storytelling, and striking visuals, No Blue Memories is an exploration of Brooks’s beloved city and a story of how she navigated identity, craft, and politics over the course of one of the most remarkable careers in American literary history. The performance combines intricate paper puppetry, live actors working in shadow, and an original score for an unforgettable multi-media experience.

No Blue Memories is a production of Manual Cinema, written by Eve L. Ewing and Nate Marshall, with original music from Jamila Woods and Ayanna Woods. Commissioned by the Poetry Foundation for the Brooks Centenary, No Blue Memories will receive two weeks of free performances in November 2017 for both the general public and Chicago Public School students.

Love, loss, and creation merge in unexpected ways in this thrilling classic gothic tale conceived by Manual Cinema. Stories of Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein, and his Monster expose how the forces of family, community, and education shape personhood—or destroy it by their absence.

Internationally-renowned multimedia company Manual Cinema stitches together the classic story of Frankenstein with Mary Shelley’s own biography to create an unexpected story about the beauty and horror of creation. Manual Cinema combines handmade shadow puppetry, cinematic techniques, and innovative sound and music to create immersive visual stories for stage and screen.

Love, loss, and creation merge in unexpected ways in this thrilling classic gothic tale conceived by Manual Cinema. Stories of Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein, and his Monster expose how the forces of family, community, and education shape personhood—or destroy it by their absence.

Internationally-renowned multimedia company Manual Cinema stitches together the classic story of Frankenstein with Mary Shelley’s own biography to create an unexpected story about the beauty and horror of creation. Manual Cinema combines handmade shadow puppetry, cinematic techniques, and innovative sound and music to create immersive visual stories for stage and screen.

No Blue Memories: The Life of Gwendolyn Brooks brings to life the story of one of Chicago’s most beloved figures. She was an icon, a poet laureate, and a Pulitzer Prize winner—but she was also a treasured educator and mentor to the countless writers and children who knew her as their very own “Miss Brooks.” Weaving together poetry, storytelling, and striking visuals, No Blue Memories is an exploration of Brooks’s beloved city and a story of how she navigated identity, craft, and politics over the course of one of the most remarkable careers in American literary history. The performance combines intricate paper puppetry, live actors working in shadow, and an original score for an unforgettable multi-media experience.

No Blue Memories is a production of Manual Cinema, written by Eve L. Ewing and Nate Marshall, with original music from Jamila Woods and Ayanna Woods. Commissioned by the Poetry Foundation for the Brooks Centenary, No Blue Memories will receive two weeks of free performances in November 2017 for both the general public and Chicago Public School students.

No Blue Memories: The Life of Gwendolyn Brooks brings to life the story of one of Chicago’s most beloved figures. She was an icon, a poet laureate, and a Pulitzer Prize winner—but she was also a treasured educator and mentor to the countless writers and children who knew her as their very own “Miss Brooks.” Weaving together poetry, storytelling, and striking visuals, No Blue Memories is an exploration of Brooks’s beloved city and a story of how she navigated identity, craft, and politics over the course of one of the most remarkable careers in American literary history. The performance combines intricate paper puppetry, live actors working in shadow, and an original score for an unforgettable multi-media experience.

No Blue Memories is a production of Manual Cinema, written by Eve L. Ewing and Nate Marshall, with original music from Jamila Woods and Ayanna Woods. Commissioned by the Poetry Foundation for the Brooks Centenary, No Blue Memories will receive two weeks of free performances in November 2017 for both the general public and Chicago Public School students.

Manual Cinema's 'Frankenstein' Official Edinburgh 2019 Trailer from Manual Cinema on Vimeo.

Love, loss, and creation merge in unexpected ways in this thrilling classic gothic tale conceived by Manual Cinema. Stories of Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein, and his Monster expose how the forces of family, community, and education shape personhood—or destroy it by their absence.

Internationally-renowned multimedia company Manual Cinema stitches together the classic story of Frankenstein with Mary Shelley’s own biography to create an unexpected story about the beauty and horror of creation. Manual Cinema combines handmade shadow puppetry, cinematic techniques, and innovative sound and music to create immersive visual stories for stage and screen.

Manual Cinema's 'Frankenstein' Official Edinburgh 2019 Trailer from Manual Cinema on Vimeo.

Love, loss, and creation merge in unexpected ways in this thrilling classic gothic tale conceived by Manual Cinema. Stories of Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein, and his Monster expose how the forces of family, community, and education shape personhood—or destroy it by their absence.

Internationally-renowned multimedia company Manual Cinema stitches together the classic story of Frankenstein with Mary Shelley’s own biography to create an unexpected story about the beauty and horror of creation. Manual Cinema combines handmade shadow puppetry, cinematic techniques, and innovative sound and music to create immersive visual stories for stage and screen.

Manual Cinema's 'Frankenstein' Official Edinburgh 2019 Trailer from Manual Cinema on Vimeo.

Love, loss, and creation merge in unexpected ways in this thrilling classic gothic tale conceived by Manual Cinema. Stories of Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein, and his Monster expose how the forces of family, community, and education shape personhood—or destroy it by their absence.

Internationally-renowned multimedia company Manual Cinema stitches together the classic story of Frankenstein with Mary Shelley’s own biography to create an unexpected story about the beauty and horror of creation. Manual Cinema combines handmade shadow puppetry, cinematic techniques, and innovative sound and music to create immersive visual stories for stage and screen.

Manual Cinema's 'Frankenstein' Official Edinburgh 2019 Trailer from Manual Cinema on Vimeo.

Love, loss, and creation merge in unexpected ways in this thrilling classic gothic tale conceived by Manual Cinema. Stories of Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein, and his Monster expose how the forces of family, community, and education shape personhood—or destroy it by their absence.

Internationally-renowned multimedia company Manual Cinema stitches together the classic story of Frankenstein with Mary Shelley’s own biography to create an unexpected story about the beauty and horror of creation. Manual Cinema combines handmade shadow puppetry, cinematic techniques, and innovative sound and music to create immersive visual stories for stage and screen.

Manual Cinema's 'Frankenstein' Official Edinburgh 2019 Trailer from Manual Cinema on Vimeo.

Love, loss, and creation merge in unexpected ways in this thrilling classic gothic tale conceived by Manual Cinema. Stories of Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein, and his Monster expose how the forces of family, community, and education shape personhood—or destroy it by their absence.

Internationally-renowned multimedia company Manual Cinema stitches together the classic story of Frankenstein with Mary Shelley’s own biography to create an unexpected story about the beauty and horror of creation. Manual Cinema combines handmade shadow puppetry, cinematic techniques, and innovative sound and music to create immersive visual stories for stage and screen.

Manual Cinema's 'Frankenstein' Official Edinburgh 2019 Trailer from Manual Cinema on Vimeo.

Love, loss, and creation merge in unexpected ways in this thrilling classic gothic tale conceived by Manual Cinema. Stories of Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein, and his Monster expose how the forces of family, community, and education shape personhood—or destroy it by their absence.

Internationally-renowned multimedia company Manual Cinema stitches together the classic story of Frankenstein with Mary Shelley’s own biography to create an unexpected story about the beauty and horror of creation. Manual Cinema combines handmade shadow puppetry, cinematic techniques, and innovative sound and music to create immersive visual stories for stage and screen.

Manual Cinema's 'Frankenstein' Official Edinburgh 2019 Trailer from Manual Cinema on Vimeo.

Love, loss, and creation merge in unexpected ways in this thrilling classic gothic tale conceived by Manual Cinema. Stories of Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein, and his Monster expose how the forces of family, community, and education shape personhood—or destroy it by their absence.

Internationally-renowned multimedia company Manual Cinema stitches together the classic story of Frankenstein with Mary Shelley’s own biography to create an unexpected story about the beauty and horror of creation. Manual Cinema combines handmade shadow puppetry, cinematic techniques, and innovative sound and music to create immersive visual stories for stage and screen.

Lula del Ray is a mythic reinvention of the classic coming-of-age story. Told almost entirely without dialogue, Lula del Ray tells the tale of a lonely adolescent girl who lives with her mother in a mid-century American Southwest setting. After a chance encounter over the radio, Lula becomes obsessed with the country music duo the Baden Brothers. Inspired by their music, she runs away from home and encounters a world of danger, deception, and disappointment along the way. The production features an original score inspired by the music of Hank Williams, Roy Orbison and Patsy Cline.

Manual Cinema – Lula del Ray (Official Trailer) from Manual Cinema on Vimeo.

Lula del Ray is a mythic reinvention of the classic coming-of-age story. Told almost entirely without dialogue, Lula del Ray tells the tale of a lonely adolescent girl who lives with her mother in a mid-century American Southwest setting. After a chance encounter over the radio, Lula becomes obsessed with the country music duo the Baden Brothers. Inspired by their music, she runs away from home and encounters a world of danger, deception, and disappointment along the way. The production features an original score inspired by the music of Hank Williams, Roy Orbison and Patsy Cline.

Manual Cinema – Lula del Ray (Official Trailer) from Manual Cinema on Vimeo.

Manual Cinema's 'Frankenstein' Official Edinburgh 2019 Trailer from Manual Cinema on Vimeo.

Love, loss, and creation merge in unexpected ways in this thrilling classic gothic tale conceived by Manual Cinema. Stories of Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein, and his Monster expose how the forces of family, community, and education shape personhood—or destroy it by their absence.

Internationally-renowned multimedia company Manual Cinema stitches together the classic story of Frankenstein with Mary Shelley’s own biography to create an unexpected story about the beauty and horror of creation. Manual Cinema combines handmade shadow puppetry, cinematic techniques, and innovative sound and music to create immersive visual stories for stage and screen.

Loosely adapted from Edith Nesbit’s 1910 novel, Manual Cinema’s Magic City tells the story of nine-year-old Philomena, whose great love is building miniature structures out of books, toys, and other found objects from around her house. One day, her older sister (and only legal guardian) Helen announces that she is engaged to marry, and the two go to live at the mansion of Helen’s fiancé, Brandon. Left alone in her vast new home, forced to make friends with her annoying stepbrother Lucas, Philomena secludes herself in the attic where she builds the biggest miniature city she’s ever made. Later that night, Philomena wakes up to discover that his city has come alive. As she steps through the city gates, her adventure begins.

Told with wit, insight, and imagination, Magic City was one of the first “modern” fantasy novels. Using overhead projectors, paper shadow puppets, live actors in silhouette, miniature toy theater, and live musical accompaniment, Manual Cinema’s adaptation of Magic City will update the novel for a contemporary retelling.

Loosely adapted from Edith Nesbit’s 1910 novel, Manual Cinema’s Magic City tells the story of nine-year-old Philomena, whose great love is building miniature structures out of books, toys, and other found objects from around her house. One day, her older sister (and only legal guardian) Helen announces that she is engaged to marry, and the two go to live at the mansion of Helen’s fiancé, Brandon. Left alone in her vast new home, forced to make friends with her annoying stepbrother Lucas, Philomena secludes herself in the attic where she builds the biggest miniature city she’s ever made. Later that night, Philomena wakes up to discover that his city has come alive. As she steps through the city gates, her adventure begins.

Told with wit, insight, and imagination, Magic City was one of the first “modern” fantasy novels. Using overhead projectors, paper shadow puppets, live actors in silhouette, miniature toy theater, and live musical accompaniment, Manual Cinema’s adaptation of Magic City will update the novel for a contemporary retelling.

Loosely adapted from Edith Nesbit’s 1910 novel, Manual Cinema’s Magic City tells the story of nine-year-old Philomena, whose great love is building miniature structures out of books, toys, and other found objects from around her house. One day, her older sister (and only legal guardian) Helen announces that she is engaged to marry, and the two go to live at the mansion of Helen’s fiancé, Brandon. Left alone in her vast new home, forced to make friends with her annoying stepbrother Lucas, Philomena secludes herself in the attic where she builds the biggest miniature city she’s ever made. Later that night, Philomena wakes up to discover that his city has come alive. As she steps through the city gates, her adventure begins.

Told with wit, insight, and imagination, Magic City was one of the first “modern” fantasy novels. Using overhead projectors, paper shadow puppets, live actors in silhouette, miniature toy theater, and live musical accompaniment, Manual Cinema’s adaptation of Magic City will update the novel for a contemporary retelling.

Loosely adapted from Edith Nesbit’s 1910 novel, Manual Cinema’s Magic City tells the story of nine-year-old Philomena, whose great love is building miniature structures out of books, toys, and other found objects from around her house. One day, her older sister (and only legal guardian) Helen announces that she is engaged to marry, and the two go to live at the mansion of Helen’s fiancé, Brandon. Left alone in her vast new home, forced to make friends with her annoying stepbrother Lucas, Philomena secludes herself in the attic where she builds the biggest miniature city she’s ever made. Later that night, Philomena wakes up to discover that his city has come alive. As she steps through the city gates, her adventure begins.

Told with wit, insight, and imagination, Magic City was one of the first “modern” fantasy novels. Using overhead projectors, paper shadow puppets, live actors in silhouette, miniature toy theater, and live musical accompaniment, Manual Cinema’s adaptation of Magic City will update the novel for a contemporary retelling.