She Took to the Sea, process in development

in development: an hour long puppet show created by Chelsea M. Warren with a variety of puppet styles and starring Harriet the Aguanaut, an underwater scientist-explorer-inventor, on a mission to save the oceans and our planet through human and marine interconnection.

**Check out Storefront Window Installation of the production at the Jungle Theater, summer 2020.

Creator & Performer Chelsea M. Warren. Playwriting Collaborator Ann Boyd Sound Artist Brett Masteller Puppeteer Josephine Everett

MISSION 3: the heart of the whale

  • Toy Theatre with Shadow Puppetry and Traditional Czech Wooden Marionettes

  • Developed in Fall 2020 with Chicago Puppet Festival’s Toy Theatre Online Workshop with instructor Blair Thomas.

  • Further developed in Summer 2021 with Puppet in Prague’s Let’s Make a Puppet Show Workshop with Czech Puppet Master Zuzana Bruknerova & Co-Founder Leah Gaffen.

  • Brief Summary: Harriet the Aguanaut is on a mission to save the oceans and our planet through human and marine interconnection. While attempting to install hydrophones, she is swallowed by a whale. With only her echo for conversation, Harriet hears a low rumble. Deep in the belly of the whale, she finds the whale’s beating heart. A tale told through traditional Czech marionettes, classic toy theatre with scenic transformations, shadow puppetry and live sonic score.

 

Mission 1: The Song of the Sea

  • Shadow Puppetry with rear projected stop animation ink painting

  • Originally performed at Open Eye Figure Theatre’s Sweet Songs & Flying Objects Festival in Summer 2018

  • Brief Summary: Harriet the Aguanaut is on a mission to save the oceans by finding lost secrets from the Minoan civilization. Upon her first exploratory mission she ventures in an outrageously noisy vessel. Scaring away all marine life and any hope of discovery, ultimately her ill-conceived Oceaviator sinks. Floating alone, time suspends and the ocean’s music is unveiled. Harriet’s ability to hear the beauty of the world around her opens. A tale told through shadow puppetry, composed sound scape and rear projection of ink painting as light source.

 

MISSION 2: THE EYE OF THE OCTOPUS

  • Shadow Puppetry

  • In development, currently a draft developed in Chicago Puppet Festival’s online workshop Shadow Puppetry, taught by Tom Lee.

  • To come: additional Minoan Civilization search & profound interaction between Harriet and the Octopus.