It all started
in 1972

About ShadowLight

ShadowLight’s vision is to expand the scope of Shadow Theatre as an artistic expression and as a tool for cross-cultural understanding.

The mission of ShadowLight Productions is to expose the general public to the art of Shadow Theater. The means of providing such exposure includes but is not limited to live theater, film and other media. We strive to preserve indigenous shadow theater traditions, and to explore and expand the possibilities of the shadow theater medium by creating innovative interdisciplinary, multicultural works.

ShadowLight was founded in 1972 by filmmaker/theatre director/shadow artist Larry Reed.  The driving forces were Reed’s interests in and appreciation of shadow theatre traditions, film and world cultures, and the passion to express them in an integrated fashion. He is one of the few Westerners to have trained in the traditional Balinese shadow theatre and is a dalang or “shadow master.” After over 15 years of studying and performing in this tradition, Reed began expanding the scope of ShadowLight’s artistic activities in order to create a deeper connection with contemporary American audiences. Through much exploration and experimentation, he successfully integrated traditional shadow theater techniques with modern theater and film styles. The outcome was a “live animation film” - a completely original way of using shadows in theatre that is not culture-bound. Performed behind and in front of a 15’x 30’ screen, these works orchestrate silhouettes of puppets, actors, and cutout sets illuminated by multiple electric light sources to create cinematic effects live on stage.  Each show features live music and is created by a collaborating ensemble of writers, choreographers, composers, designers, actors, dancers, musicians and puppeteers from various cultural backgrounds, artistic disciplines and styles. To better support the larger scale of productions, ShadowLight Productions was incorporated as a 501 (c)(3) organization in 1994.

Featured at:
Henson International Festival of Puppet Theater
Spoleto Festival USA
World Puppetry Festival
Huddersfield Festival in England
Walter Spies Festival in Bali
Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's National Puppetry Conference

Collaborations with:
American Conservatory Theatre
Santa Fe and LA Operas
Minneapolis Children’s Theater
Mabou Mines
The Karuk tribe of Northern California
Mark Taper Forum
Smuin Ballet
Lee Breuer
Gamelan Sekar Jaya
Puppet & Its Double of Taiwan
Octavio Solís
Wan-Chao Chang
Karen Kandel
Coco Zhao
Wu Na
Tetsuro Koyano
OKI
MAREWREW

Awards:
UNIMA/USA: Citation for Excellence from the International Puppetry Association American Theater Wing: Nomination for Theatrical Design Award
SF Bay Guardian: Most Memorable Productions in 2009
Isadora Duncan Dance Award in 2010: Outstanding Achievement in Visual Design by the

Publications
Schattentheater (Germany), 1st and 2nd volumes
Eileen Blumenthal’s Puppetry: A World History

About Larry

Larry Reed is a nationally and internationally acclaimed artist, and is a trailblazer in the contemporary shadow theatre. He is one of the first Westerners to have trained in the traditional Balinese shadow theatre (wayang kulit) and is a “dalang,” or “shadow master,” who manipulates over 20 carved leather shadow puppets while simultaneously serving as the conductor of the accompanying gamelan orchestra, the director, and the stage manager. Over the years, he has performed over 250 shows in this tradition around the world. 

In the early 1990’s, Reed entered a new phase of his career by inventing an ingenious shadow casting method, integrating traditional shadow theatre techniques with film, modern theatre and dance styles.

Truly a multidisciplinary artist, Reed has also written, directed and produced films in the US and Mexico. Shadow Master (1979), his unique “dramatic documentary” on the family of a Balinese shadow artist, has been shown on PBS and Discovery Channel. He also served as Assistant Director of National Theater of Costa Rica, and performed with Anna Halprin and her SF Dancers’ Workshop in the 60’s. Fluent in five languages, his articles and translation have been published in Asian Theatre Journal and Shattentheater (Germany) among others. Reed has garnered numerous awards and honors, and was named one of Top 50 artists in the SF Bay Area by Metropolitan Magazine in 1995 and 1996.

Reed has collaborated with numerous artists and organizations from various disciplines and cultural background including: American Conservatory Theatre (The Tempest); Santa Fe and LA Operas (Orfeo); Minneapolis Children’s Theater (Whale); Mabou Mines (MahabharAnta); Mark Taper Forum (Freedom Song); Smuin Ballet (Ain’t Necessarily So); Ballet Austin (The Magic Flute); Lee Breuer (Peter and Wendy); Octavio Solis (7 Visions and Ghosts of the River); Puppet & Its Double of Taiwan (Monkey King at Spider Cave); Taiyuan Puppet Theatre Company and Cengiz Ozek (Silk Road); Karen Kandel, Coco Zhao, and Wu Na (The Good-for-Nothing Lover); OKI (Poro Oyna); and Hamid Rahmanian (Feathers of Fire) among others.

Our Team