The Amazing Story Machine
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The Amazing Story Machine
The Grimm family is on the verge of unveiling their amazing new Story Machine, which runs on steam and dreams and promises to revolutionize how stories are told and how people connect. But when their fabulous contraption malfunctions, they have to invent a new way of storytelling on the spot, using puppets and help from the audience. The Grimms explore some of their favorite fairy tales, including The Hare and the Hedgehog, Hansel and Gretel, and The Brave Little Tailor.
The show features many styles of puppetry, including tabletop puppetry, object theatre, and shadow puppetry, as well as live music and theatrical clown.
Length of show: 45 minutes
Recommended audience: ages 4 and up
Available for theaters, schools, libraries, festivals and community events.
Created by Ora Fruchter and Stoph Scheer
Performed by Shoshana Bass, Mackenzie Doss & Stoph Scheer
Musical accompaniment by Ben Hemmendinger
Puppets made by Ora Fruchter
Set designed by Jacob Graham
Original Composition by Eleonore Weill
Original Devising Partners: Caroline Lux and Tim Carmello
Sandglass Theater is eligible for touring subsidy support through the New England Foundation for the Arts NEST grant!
For BOOKING
(802) 387 – 4051
info@sandglasstheater.org
The Amazing Story Machine
In 2018, Ora Fruchter and Stoph Scheer of Doppelskope received a Family Grant from the Jim Henson Foundation to develop The Amazing Story Machine. After a developmental residency at the Jim Henson Carriage House, Doppelskope went on to present the full show at The Tank and Symphony Space in New York City, and at Puppet Showplace in Brookline, MA. Amidst the first outbreaks of Covid 19, all production activity ceased and the Machine went to rest in Stoph’s parents’ garage for a few years. Ora and Stoph moved to different areas of the country and Doppelskope transitioned from a production company to a creative collaboration. Then, in 2022, Sandglass Theater Artistic Director Shoshana Bass reconnected with Stoph at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. They restarted conversations about bringing The Amazing Story Machine to Sandglass (a topic they had broached during the Machine’s first touring period.) Since Doppelskope was no longer an active producing company, Stoph proposed a co-production between Sandglass and Doppelskope. The remounted co-production premiered at Sandglass’s Winter Sunshine Series in 2024 and was recently featured in the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival.
Past Funders
This project is a recipient of The Jim Henson Foundation Family Grant and individual donors.
