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.
Directed By Julia Miller
Photo by Marc Perlish
Photo by Marc Perlish
Photo by Marc Perlish
Honors & Awards
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