- Sandglass Theater, Putney, VT

Oma

About the show

Oma on Tour
Mayo Street Arts
Portland, ME
Performance - Saturday, May 11, 2pm
Workshop - Saturday, May 11, 11am

Oma says that knitting is not just pom pom hats and sweaters. Oma's knitting contains whole stories! This new family show by Shoshana Bass and Jana Zeller is an intergenerational tale that revolves around Grandma or “Oma." It is her birthday and all are preparing for the celebration. While the grown-ups manage work phone calls, playdate logistics and other such tasks, the children get into mischief with party decorating, present wrapping, cake baking. Finally they all gather around for one of Oma's stories told in yarn. One character emerges from the tangle of wool and nearly ruins the party. But not to worry, all ends well at Oma's house.

Oma is for audiences Pre-K - 4th (ages 4 - 9/10)

Created, built and performed by Shoshana Bass and Jana Zeller

Directed by Ines Zeller Bass

With music composed by Molly Gawler.

What audience is saying

"I thought it was funny, entertaining and great. Your acting was really good. Oma's birthday is the best show I have ever seen in my life !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love it so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" -- Nina Violet, The Grammar School, 3rd Grade

"...thank you for the invitation to the Sandglass Theater's recent performance of Oma here at school. Our pre-k class was absolutely beside themselves! I loved watching the childrens' outbursts of laughter at the hilarity of certain scenes, and their rapt and earnest attention to the story as it unfolded. They clearly loved the show, as did the teachers. This performance was one of the best things I've seen at TGS in all my [many] years teaching. Such a joy! Please thank the artists, from all of us!" -- Kan Brautigam, Preschool Teacher, The Grammar School

For BOOKING
(802) 387 – 4051
info@sandglasstheater.org

For high resolution photos
Video promo

Oma Artist Bios

Shoshana Bass (performer) is Artistic Director of Sandglass Theater based in Putney, Vermont on the unceded lands of the Abenaki people. Having been raised in a traveling family of internationally acclaimed puppeteers, she has spent her life witnessing and in dialogue with artistic voices of diverse cultures, heritages, and perspectives. Now she performs, directs, and choreographs internationally. She is a touring ensemble member with the company in Babylon, Journeys of Refugees ; Rock the Boat; and PUNSCHI and her solo performance When I Put On Your Glove .

Jana Zeller (performer) has been drawing and painting since she was a child. She trained for many years as an oil painter and portrait painter, worked as a set painter for the theater, the TV and movie industry, and the opera. As one of the daughters of Sandglass Theater, she began painting puppets, sets and props early on, and later became a working puppeteer creating original shows that have been presented in the US, Canada, Mexico, Germany, and India. She performs and teaches puppetry across New England, and art classes for children in her studio in Brattleboro, Vermont.

Ines Zeller Bass (director) Co-Founding Artistic Director of Sandglass, has been performing with puppets since 1968, when she became a member of the Munich marionette theater, Kleines Spiel. In 1978, she created her children’s hand puppet theater, PUNSCHI , which toured Europe, Australia and the US. In 1982, Ines co-founded Sandglass Theater with husband Eric. Ines started Sandglass Theater’s program for family audiences. Together with Eric, she teaches their approach to puppetry performance and devised composition in workshops in Vermont and abroad. An UNIMA citation winner, Ines also received the Vermont Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts in 2010.

Molly Gawler (composer/musician) grew up on Buttermilk Hill on a small farm in Maine. She plays fiddle, banjo and sings in the “Gawler Family Band” as well as her trio of sisters, “The Gawler Sisters.” She grew up playing music with the traditional roots passed on to her from her Mom and Dad – Ellen and John Gawler. Molly is also a professional dancer which has taken her around the world.

Thank you to our funders

This project is partially funded by grants from The Jim Henson Foundation and the Puppeteers of America Rose Endowment Fund, and the SBA Shuttered Venues Operators Grant.