Little Blue Moon Theatre specializes in intimate performances that have been characterized as "bright, sparkling, witty, clever, sophisticated and very, very adult."

Little Blue Moon Theatre Repertoire

SHOWS AND GALLERY CLICK HERE to go to the repertoire of the Little Blue Moon Theatre

CALENDAR LISTINGS CLICK HERE

BREAKING NEWS:

PREETZ PAPER THEATRE FESTIVAL 2008 PHOTOS ARE ONLINE AT http://www.volkshochschule-preetz.de/pptt/pptt2008/archiv08/01moon08.htm - LITTLE BLUE MOON'S DRACULA DEL LOBO IS THE FIRST LISTING (scroll down the photo page to see all the images, click on the right arrow to see images of other festival shows)

JULY, 2008: LITTLE BLUE MOON THEATRE WINS HIGHEST NATIONAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PUPPET THEATRE! CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE.

From Professor John Bell, Co-Director of Great Small Works International Toy Theatre Festival, NY: "Michael and Valerie Nelson's Little Blue Moon Theatre is a remarkable and unique puppet enterprise that fully exploits the artistic possibilities of toy theater as a contemporary art form. Such productions as "Japanese Ghost Story," "Mutiny on the Bounty," and "Natalie," have taken the nineteenth-century form of toy theater and brilliantly adapted it for the twenty-first century. The flat, cut-out proscenium-arch paper theaters of the 1800s and early 1900s always had very significant and profound implications, and the Nelsons have understood how those implications can be artfully reiterated today. The Nelsons' toy theater shows are marked by enthralling designs, innovative manipulation and transformation, skillful operation, compelling musical accompaniment, joyous good humor, and, of course, the added attraction of risque "adult" content, which nonetheless is always able to maintain a certain amount of propriety in the midst of deep innuendo. It is wonderful to see in the Nelsons' shows how this century-old performance tradition can be re-invigorated, not as a quaint period piece, but as a living medium of live theater that can captivate its audience in a short amount of time on a small stage."

It all started at a local aphrodisiac factory...

Little Blue Moon's repertoire was inspired by a chance meeting between two loving puppeteers and an aphrodisiac maker, resulting in 2 exciting and popular seasons of underground theatre at Wild Swan Aphrodisiac Factory in Napa, California, where Little Blue Moon would present short humorous theatre pieces. Wild Swan Aphrodisiacs, sadly, is no longer in business, but Little Blue Moon's adult repertoire has proved a festival favorite in Europe and excited audiences coast to coast in the U.S.

Small enough to fit into the most intimate venue, be it parlor, dining room, bedroom, or small theatre setting, Little Blue Moon may be just what you have been looking for but never knew it!

Interested? Read on.

Want to contact Little Blue Moon for your next intimate soiree or affair? CLICK HERE TO SEND AN EMAIL

The tales....

-A young woman timidly ventures into a natural history museum diorama to find herself captured by poachers, rescued, and seduced in the jungle fantasy world just behind the glass wall. -A widow who owns a lonely inn on the moors is seduced by the devil ...or does she seduce him? -A street puppeteer in Paris removes all of her clothes inside her puppet booth during a heat wave, and in doing so, starts a chain of events that change her life...who knows what one will discover when one peeks behind the curtains of Little Blue Moon Theatre? (Want to view them all? Click Here.)

TOY THEATRE: Toy theatre is small! Even in a crowd as small as 20 opera glasses are welcome (and usually provided by Little Blue Moon Theatre). The hand drawn and painted paper figures move across the tiny stage (complete with full lighting system including colored gels, foot lights, etc.) arranging themselves in tableaus that illustrate the text or song, presented live by the human performers. These intimate shows have delighted (and excited) audiences at puppet festivals, arts festivals and intimate soirees. The material, while adult in nature, is presented with humor and finesse so that the audience is drawn into the miniature world of the characters on the stage. The show has the ability to adapt to its audience so that viewing can be anywhere from quiet and pleasurably subdued to raucous and participatory. Either way the experience of watching this unusual theatrical offering is one not to be forgotten.

OBJECT THEATRE: Everyday objects can take on lives of their own in the hands of the puppeteer who can, with dexderity and imagination, animate the ordinary and the extraordinary. The sexy fashion icon Barbie is a favorite of Little Blue Moon Theatre, and as she is stripped of her artifice, she often reveals intimate secrets about our popular culture.

SHADOW THEATRE: The mysterious and beautiful world of shadow puppets can transport the audience into a realm of color, shadow and light.

INTERNATIONAL PERFORMANCES AND REVIEWS

International press reviews on Little Blue Moon performances at the Preetz (Germany) Toy Theatre Festival, 2005 -(read review excerpts and see images from international press on LBMT performances in Germany)

Report from the Preetz Toy Theatre Festival, 2005 written by Little Blue Moon Theatre

Listen to an archived web interview with Little Blue Moon Theatre from 3/8/2006 (Puppet Caberet; Dirty Dollies or Art):

QUOTES FROM THE 'CRITICS'

From presenters:

"Michael and Valerie, I didn't really get the chance to tell you my thoughts about the show.  I found the development of your work exceptional within the toy theatre.  I appreciate the subtleties of light and rhythm, even within a predictable tale, your story emerged and kept everyone captivated.  I'm a bit of a rascal when it comes to theatre so it was such a relief to once again be delighted by your artistry.  The sets were brilliant.  And, yes, my dreams that night were erotic."

"...bright, sparkling, witty clever, sophisticated and very, very adult. Even on the tinest of stages they played with nuance, scale and special effects!"

"...drop dead brilliant: inventive, outlandish, and outrageously funny. I don't think I've laughed so hard in years. The Nelsons are on a roll, exploring a new medium, with a sure hand, deft timing and great good humor."

"The Nelsons' toy theater shows are marked by enthralling designs, innovative manipulation and transformation, skillful operation, compelling musical accompaniment, joyous good humor, and, of course, the added attraction of risque "adult" content, which nonetheless is always able to maintain a certain amount of propriety in the midst of deep innuendo. "

from the audience:

"...charming and beautifully executed production..."

"...a perfect blend of visual, music and story. Both productions were extremely playful and beautifully crafted in every sense."

"...We truly had a great time and the evening theme inspired us many evenings thereafter."

"...(the show has) the ability to imply without making the audience uncomfortable, all sorts of other possibilites."

"...You two blow me away with your multi-faceted creativity. The drawings, the sets, the singing, and the tiny technology just amaze me."

"... Thank you for a memorable and wonderful evening. Your toy theater show was great. This morning I woke up with the song '...the wind blew cold and lonely..' in my head. Seriously! (We) were so inspired!

Read the article from the Fall/Winter 2003 Issue of Puppetry International on "Natalie." Click Here.

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