Sea of Birds
Directed by Sebastienne Mundheim
Philadelphia Live Arts Festival Event




August 29th - Sept. 2nd 2008
Location: The Ice Box
Hours: Various (click here for showtimes / tickets)

“…welcome to the mind of Mundheim, where seemingly incongruous notions converge in arresting and unexpected ways.” –Deni Kasrel, City Paper

Structured like Homer's Odyssey and reminiscent of The Little Prince, Sea of Birds parallels one child's memories of an Eastern European displacement camp in wartime with fantasy characters from an American child's imagination. Along the narrator’s journey, we meet Ivars the Butterfly Catcher, Gregor the Tormented Meadow Dweller, a Serpent with a Supercilious Eyebrow, and Others, who live in a sea of blue and black birds. Known for integrating historical themes with lyrical storytelling that engages children and adults alike, performance artist and writer Sebastienne Mundheim (Currently Franklin, 2006) creates a three-dimensional story book of delicate paper sculpture, dance-based puppetry, and live musicians. Sea of Birds will transport audiences to a fantastical world, exploring history, memory, and the power of imagination.

Creation/Direction: Sebastienne Mundheim
Choreography: Kate Watson-Wallace
Musicians:Chad Kinsey, Sean Matteo
Original Composition: James Sugg
Performers: Karin Bookbinder-Otto, Charlie Delmarcelle, Sebastienne Mundheim, Danielle Paloumpis, Marcelo Rueda
Photography: Jacques-Jean Tiziou
Technical/Installation: Andrew Warner
Videography: Andrea Campbell

Sea of Birds is made possible in part by a grant from the Philadelphia Theatre Initiative, a program of the Philadelphia Center for Arts and Heritage, funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts and administered by The University of the Arts.

Additional support for Sea of Birds comes from Sigi Berwind.

Executive Producers: Anne, Catherine, and Steven Bohnenberger

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