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MG 3436 Marc Perlish

Mementos Mori

When Death takes an unexpected holiday, an elderly film projectionist finds a new lease on life; a ghost explores the afterlife with her iPhone; and a seven-year-old girl discovers her own mortality. Manual Cinema’s ambitious staging uses a cast of six puppeteers, hundreds of paper puppets, seven overhead projectors, two cameras, and three screens to create a live “movie” in front of the audience. Accompanied by four musicians and live sound effects, the result is a rich mosaic of cinematic storytelling all performed live with puppets. Mementos Mori is a lively, beguiling meditation on death and dying.

Mementos Mori premiered in 2015 at the Museum of Contemporary Art as part of the Chicago International Puppetry Festival.

Premiered in 2015

Written by Co-Artistic Directors Drew Dir, Sarah Fornace, Julia Miller, Kyle Vegter and Ben Kauffman
Directed By Julia Miller

Honors & Awards

LAUREL NOORDERZON MEMENTOS
LAUREL BAM NEXT WAVE MEMENTOS NEW

Credits

Written by Co-Artistic Directors Drew Dir, Sarah Fornace, Julia Miller, Kyle Vegter and Ben Kauffman

Directed By Julia Miller

Production

Puppet Design: Drew Dir

Associate Puppet Design: Lizi Breit

Original Score and Sound Design: Kyle Vegter

Costume Design: Mieka van der Ploeg

Choreography: Sarah Fornace

Shadow Mask Design: Julia Miller

Stage Manager and Live Video Editor: Mariana Green

Company Manager: Shelby Sparkle

Sound Engineer: Mike Usrey

Puppeteers

Lizi Breit (Laura/Puppeteer)

Linsey Falls (Mel/Puppeteer)

Diane Maire (Anna Francesca/Puppeteer)

Sara Sawicki (Lady/Puppeteer)

Shay Turnage (Marie/Puppeteer)

Musicians

Maren Celest (Vocals, Live SFX)

Alex Ellsworth (Cello)

Michael Hilger (Synthesizer, Guitar, Vocals)

Deidre Huckabay (Flute, Vocals)

Music Credits

‘Make Yourself Comfortable’ Written by Bob Merrill

Arranged and Performed by Maren Celest, Michael Hilger, Alex Ellsworth, and Deidre Huckabay

Produced by Kyle Vegter


‘The Stars Will Lead Me to You’ Written by Ben Kauffman

Performed by Ben Kauffman, Kyle Vegter, Michael Hilger, Deidre Huckabay, Alex Ellsworth

Produced by Kyle Vegter

Original Cast

Kasey Foster (Lady/Puppeteer)

Charlotte Long (Anna Francesca/Puppeteer)

Diane Mair (Marie/Puppeteer)

Nicole Richwalsky (Laura/Puppeteer)

Mitch Salm (Mel/Puppeteer)

Myra Su (Puppeteer)


Maren Celest (Vocals, Live SFX)

Alex Ellsworth (Cello)

Michael Hilger (Synthesizer, Guitar, Vocals)

Deidre Huckabay (Flute, Vocals)


Live Video Editor: Sarah Fornace

Stage Manager: Kate Hardiman

Sound Engineer: Mike Usrey

Costume Design: Marisa Chilberg

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