Clack, Clack, Moo: Cows That Types Comes to Center for Puppetry Arts!

Get ready for a brand-new barnyard tale like you’ve never “herd” before!

Featuring Farmer Brown and his clever, comical cows, Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type grazes the Center for Puppetry Arts stage with its debut June 9-July 26.  Directed by the Center’s artistic director Jon Ludwig, this bovine bunch illustrates what happens when cows learn to type and chickens go on strike!

Supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type is adapted from the award-winning children’s book for the puppet stage by Ludwig and resident puppet builder Jason Hines.  This fun farm tale features rod marionettes and rod puppets performed by veteran puppeteers Brian Harrison, Mandy Mitchell, Amy Sweeney, and Tim Sweeney, with narration and original musical accompaniment by Dolph Amick.  All of the puppets, props and scenery were created onsite by the Center’s talented artists. 

Based on the book

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, written by Doreen Cronin with illustrations by Betsy Lewin, is a New York Times bestseller and a 2001 Caldecott Honoree.  The book is also on the National Education Association’s list of “Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children” and the School Library Journal’s list of “Top 100 Picture Books of All Time.”

Creating the show

To research and develop this production, the Center partnered with Georgia State University’s Early Childhood Education department and Georgia Organics, a nonprofit that promotes sustainable foods and local farms in the state.  GSU paired the Center with several preschools and elementary schools where Ludwig and the Center’s education director Aretta Baumgartner presented in-classroom activities.  Through sing-alongs, discussions, drawing, and other educational exercises, more than 200 preK-3^rd grade students influenced script development as well as puppet, scenic, and costume designs.  Each student was awarded a free ticket to the show in appreciation for their significant impact on the production.  Georgia Organics advised Ludwig on elements of the script that involved farming; the show’s artistic team also toured nearby organic farms for design inspiration.

“The children's input was instrumental to the creation of the show,” said Ludwig. “We were also able to create content with local farms and organic farming advocates to emphasize healthy eating and an understanding of where food comes from.”

Recommended for ages 4 and up, Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type is presented in the Mainstage Theater June 9– July 26.  Visitors can enjoy discount preview days on Tuesday, June 9, and Wednesday, June 10. 

Regular show times are as follows:

·         Tuesday- Friday: 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.         

·         Saturday: 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

·         Sunday: 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

*The Center will be closed Saturday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day.

Additional fun

What’s a typewriter!?

Let's face it: most kids don't know what a typewriter is!  When you visit the Center during the run of Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, children will be able to see, touch, and type on a real typewriter—just like the cows do in the show!  Free with admission to the Center.

Mobile Dairy Classroom

Saturday, June 13

Operated by the Agricultural Commodity Commission for Milk and Georgia Dairy Farmers, the Mobile Dairy Classroom features a fully operational milking parlor with a live cow used for milking and feeding demonstrations!

The program provides children with a better understanding of where milk comes from, how it is processed, the healthy benefits of consuming dairy products, and dairy farmers' management of natural resources.  For more information, visit www.milkcow.org. Free with admission to the Center.

Tickets for the show include entrance to the Create-A-Puppet Workshop (or To-Go Kit), where children can make their own Click, Clack, Cow Hand Puppet to take back to their own “barn!”  Due to construction for the Center’s ongoing expansion and renovation project, all Museum exhibits are closed at this time.  The new museum will open this fall.

TICKETS ARE $9.25 (MEMBERS) / $16.50 (NONMEMBERS) AND CAN BE PURCHASED ONLINE AT WWW.PUPPET.ORG OR BY CALLING THE TICKET SALES OFFICE AT 404-873-3391.

###

The Center for Puppetry Arts is supported in part by: Fulton County Arts Council • City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs • Georgia Council for the Arts • Zeist Foundation • The Wish Foundation Fund of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta • PNC •  Aetna Foundation • The Coca-Cola Foundation • Regency Suites Hotel • WSB-TV Family 2 Family Project • YP • For a complete list of the Center’s major supporters, visit www.puppet.org/about/sponsors.shtml.

Kermit and friends are getting a new home at the Center for Puppetry Arts!

The nation’s largest nonprofit dedicated to the art of puppetry is constructing a 7,500 square foot museum expansion.  Set to be completed in fall 2015, the museum will feature objects from the Center’s extensive global collection and will display the world’s most comprehensive collection of Jim Henson's contributions to the world of puppetry.  The project also includes a major renovation to existing spaces, including a renovated entryway, expanded research library, and many other upgrades that will enhance the overall experience for all visitors to the Center.  Due to construction for the project, all Museum exhibits will be closed beginning May 24, 2015 and will reopen with the unveiling of the newly renovated project this fall.  For more details, visit www.puppet.org/believeinmakebelieve.

Center for Puppetry Arts® is a unique cultural treasure – a magical place where children and adults are educated, enlightened, and entertained.  Since 1978, the Center has introduced millions of visitors to the wonder and art of puppetry and has touched the lives of many through enchanting performances, curriculum-based workshops, and the hands-on Museum as well as Distance Learning and Outreach programs.  Center for Puppetry Arts is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization and is supported in part by contributions from corporations, foundations, government agencies, and individuals. Major funding is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners and the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.  These programs are also supported in part by the Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly.  GCA is a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.  The Center is a member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre; Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA/USA/ASSITEJ); and International Performing Arts for Youth (IPAY).The Center also serves as headquarters of UNIMA-USA, the American branch of Union Internationale de la Marionnette, the international puppetry organization.