New Premiere::The Boy Who Grew Flowers

Happy New Year! Treehouse Shakers is excited to announce that this season we will premiere a new work, The Boy Who Grew Flowers. This is the first time that Treehouse has created a production using a picture book. To be honest, I was wary about using a book. This is the "typical" model in Theater for Young Audiences. We have always prided ourselves on creating original works, based on original stories, that are far from typical. A few years ago though, we sent out a questionnaire to schools, audience members, donors, our agent and presenters. We were hoping the questionnaire would help with our company development. One thing that Presenting Theaters outside of the East Coast (and our agent, who also received these inquiries) asked; would we ever consider presenting a book.

From Barefoot Book's Picture Book, The Boy Who Grew Flowers, Image by Steve Adams

When my daughter turned five, I gave a favorite book to all of her guests as a parting gift; Barefoot Books' The Boy Who Grew Flowers by Jennifer Wojtowicz. It's a beautiful book with illustrations by Steve Adams. After that birthday party, parents would stop me in the neighborhood to tell me how much their family enjoyed reading this book. Fast forward a few years and several productions later, Emily (my creative partner) and I were having a meeting. Planning for the future of the company. We have always alternated ideas of what to make next. For example; Hatched was my creative idea, Under the Tangle hers, Olive & Pearl mine (but we both made the piece.) For the most part, we have always supported each other in the creation, collaboration and production. At this meeting she was particularly excited, "I have the perfect idea for our next show." Up to this point, I was fixated on only making work for the very young, but then she brought out the book I had given at the party, "The Boy Who Grew Flowers." It was a very big A-HA moment for me. It seemed absolutely perfect.

Illustration by Steve Adams, Postcard Design by Appolllo Bey

There was just one giant hurdle. We had no idea how to get the rights to someone else's work. One day I will write an entire post on how this is done, and how long the process really takes. But after many calls to Artistic Friends, companies, and our wonderful former board member and lawyer, Linda Novak, we eventually secured the rights from Barefoot Books. Now I am a BIG fan of Barefoot Books. As a storyteller, I have used their books for years. To be able to adapt one of their books is an honor. But then came the hard part. How to turn a relatively short picture book into a robust 50 minute play. Fast forward nearly a year later, and many creative rehearsals with our incredibly talented company. We have spent hours upon hours of experimentation, exploration and creation to make a piece that reflects our artistry, while being authentic to the original story. As of today, we have a nearly finished production that incorporates original music, puppetry, dance and theater. We are excited to announce that the first production will open this April in New York City.

Experimenting with Shadows during a Fall Space Grant at Flushing Town Hall

The Boy Who Grew Flowers, for ages 5-10 and their families, is a stunning visual performance. It is the story of a young boy, Rink Bowagon, who lives on top of Lonesome Mountain with his unusual family of rattlesnake tamers and shape-shifters. The townspeople agree that Rink's family are quite strange, but they are unaware of Rink's spectacular gifts. Whenever the moon is full, Rink sprouts beautiful flowers from his head. When a new girl, Angelina, moves to town, Rink's life truly begins to grow. The Boy Who Grew Flowers is a thoughtful and magical story that lends itself to themes of diversity, creating empathy & celebrating individualism.

Stay tuned as we continue share posts and information about this exciting new work. And to all the presenters who asked us to use a picture book, I am excited to fulfill their request, while remaining true to Treehouse Shakers' aesthetics and artistry.
                                           You Are Invited
                        Treehouse Shakers’ The Boy Who Grew Flowers 
      Based on the Picture Book By Jen Wojtowicz
                        Play Adaption By Mara McEwin
                        Choreographed By Emily Bunning
                        Costumes & Puppetry By Patti Gilstrap
Set Design & Lighting By Cody Grey
                        Original Music By Martyn Axe
                        Performers: Ashley Chavonne, Katie Montoya, John Noel, Miranda Wilson,         
                        Spencer Wilson Understudy: Cheyenne Mesura

When:      April 11& 12, 2019 @11AM
April 13 & 14, 2019 @3PM

Where:         The Ailey Citigroup Theater
    405 W. 55th St. (Corner of 9th Ave.)
  New York, NY 10019

Purchase Tickets: https://theboywhogrewflowers2019.bpt.me
Info:         (212) 715-1914/ www.treehouseshakers.com

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York Legislature, and Individual Contributions to Treehouse Shakers. Flushing Town Hall provided a 2018 Space Grant for the initial creation of this piece. This event is presented by Treehouse Shakers.