Lunar New Year Shadow Play Workshop
Celebrate the Lunar New Year with an enchanting and interactive Shadow Play Workshop hosted at the cozy and creative Red Poppy Art House. This free event invites children, families, and community members to dive into the magical world of shadow puppetry. Together, we will explore the art of storytelling and puppet-making, culminating in a collaborative shadow theater performance.
During the workshop, participants will:
Learn how to transform a children’s story into a shadow play with this workshop’s focus on the myth and origins of the Lunar New Year.
Create their own puppets, designing characters, scenery, and other story elements.
Collaborate with professional artists to bring their creations to life in a live shadow performance.
For small children or attendees with limited time, we will offer the chance to create simple snake puppets to celebrate the Year of the Snake, allowing everyone to participate and enjoy the experience at their own pace. Guided by skilled artists and storytellers, this hands-on workshop is a perfect opportunity for attendees of all ages to get creative, celebrate culture, and experience the joy of shadow theater.
No prior experience is needed—bring your curiosity and creativity. All materials will be provided. We can’t wait to celebrate the Lunar New Year with you!
Featuring:
Jessica Nguyen – Puppeteer
Ya Wen Chien – Puppeteer
Sharon Shao- Puppeteer
Sunday, February 9th 2025
Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
THIS IS A FREE EVENT!
ABOUT:
ShadowLight Productions was founded in 1972 by filmmaker/theatre director/shadow artist Larry Reed. We have served San Francisco as a nonprofit theater company for nearly 30 years.
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.
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ABOUT THE WORKSHOP:
Red Poppy Art House has partnered up with ShadowLight Productions for free monthly programs by ShadowLight artists for children and families. With instruction and guidance by ShadowLight teaching artists, attendees will be given the opportunity to make a shadow puppet, learn performance techniques, and use our screen and lights to perform their own short plays. This event is appropriate for children ages 3 to 12.
This FREE event creates an opportunity for youth in our neighborhood (Mission), who may otherwise not be able to attend such an event for lack of funds, to have access to art education with high-caliber teaching artists. By providing an opportunity to watch, interact, and play, we are encouraging participation and engagement with a vital storytelling art form. Storytelling is an important skill; it helps us to understand ourselves and one another, encouraging empathy.
Jessica Nguyen (she/her)
Pupeteer
Jessica is a science illustrator, educator, dancer, and circus artist turned to the dark side. Her favorite medium is mischief and punnery but she confesses that a bit of paper and ink will always lift the spirits. She currently works and lurks in Alameda, and loves waxing poetic about flora and fauna and bones and stones over a warm cup of tea.
Yawen Chien (she/her)
Puppeteer
Yawen is an illustrator, painter- trained in Chinese painting and watercolor, a digital designer, puppet maker, and shadow-play artist born in Taiwan and currently lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Sharon Shao (she/her)
Voice Actor
Sharon is a Bay Area native actor and teaching artist. She holds a double B.A. in Theatre Arts and Psychology from UC Santa Cruz. Recent local credits include Sleeping Beauty (Presidio Theatre), Man of God (Shotgun Players), The Paper Dreams of Harry Chin (SF Playhouse), The Winter’s Tale, Good Person of Szechwan (CalShakes), Vinegar Tom, Iron Shoes (Shotgun Players), and UTOPIA (CuttingBall Theater). Aside from acting, Sharon is passionate about teaching voice and drama to young students. www.sharonshao.biz