El Paso production “The Scarecrow” to debut in New York City
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- It's a project more than three years in the making. Now, "The Scarecrow" will make its world premiere in less than two weeks in New York City.
"Half of the cast is from El Paso," Melissa Nichelle Stokes, the show's producer, said. "This is El Pasoans making it to the New York stage, and that's just the beginning."
The show performed back in April in the El Paso Community Foundation Jewel Box Series at the Philanthropy Theatre, and now it will be part of the 20th Annual Puppet Festival at La Mama Experimental Theatre Club in New York City.
"During the summer, we had the opportunity to really start building up this show," cast member Leigh Marie said.
"We were there for two weeks for our residency at La Mama...it was just like we said, the journey of coming from still getting the cast set, building these puppets, creating it, and then getting it set so we can be ready for the premiere this fall."
The production by KESSTO Kreatures features music and puppetry.
Inspired by the character from "The Wizard of Oz", the play follows the journey of the scarecrow down the Yellow Brick Road to rediscover the life he led before he became a scarecrow — and the lynching that ended it.
The play aims to captivate audiences, provoke thought, and inspire change by exploring the connections between Oz and the United States of the early 1900s.
