‘Cover Stories’ Archives
What’s Happening with MayDay?
By the Board of In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre Reprinted with permission by HOBT, edited for length. Find the full announcement at https://hobt.org/home/mayday-released/. The Medicine Woman Mojiganga puppet, crafted and designed by Gustavo Boada with youth from Kalpulli KetzalCoatlicue, looms over the MayDay Festival crowd in 2022, surrounded by Kalpulli KetzalCoatlicue dancers. Photo Credit: Spencer Joles. In February 2023, the Board of In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre (HOBT) decided to release MayDay Celebrations to the community. Following our announcement on March 15, 2023, future MayDay events or actions will be independently produced by community groups, and not part of official HOBT programming. A BOARD DECISIONAfter years of evaluations and consultation with artists, staff, MayDay Council (MDC), and community members, the HOBT Board of Directors voted unanimously to release MayDay, as part of our responsibility to the long-term [...]
Roof Depot Site Lack of Transparency and Call to Attend May 9 Online Hearing
By H. LYNN ADELSMAN It is easy to get lost in the details of the city’s long history of working against a healthy future for East Phillips. This is a history of the city disregarding racism as a public health threat, and ignoring its own prioritization of East Phillips as a green zone. And this comes at a cost that is often unseen but is funded by taxpayers through revenues from the University of Minnesota, the airport, and some Minneapolis suburbs who buy their water from Minneapolis. Which leads to many questions unanswered, including: What is the detailed plan for the Hiawatha Expansion site? How many cars and trucks will be allowed to travel daily in and out of East Phillips? When will the city present its plan to the community? Until now it has only been presented to the park board.What is the total cost for the project and how will it be funded? $75–100,000,000, or more?How many lobbyists and lawyers are working on the city’s plan, and who or what fund is paying [...]
Puppet Fashion Show
By MARY ELLEN KALUZA with ORREN FEN Remember Orren Fen from the June 2022 alley? They were the way cool youth artist featured that month. Orren and I connected recently to talk about a new production they have been working on for the Heart of the Beast Theatre coming up in April. Orren Fen (they/them)Find them on Instagram at @sequined_stardust Where did the idea of a puppet fashion show come from? Orren: About a year ago me and my friend Finley Anderson-Newton went to a fashion show and liked the event, but wished that it had been more energetic and entertaining so we thought about how a fashion show would be if it was centered around puppetry. And thus our vision for “puppet fashion show” was born. What is a puppet fashion show? Orren: It combines the two ideas of fashion and puppetry in a cabaret-style performance. There will be 6 acts by different groups of artists, combining the ideas of fashion and puppetry to tell a story. One of the biggest questions [...]
