Treehouse Shakers' New Show For Babies: Flutter

After two years, Treehouse Shakers has finally returned to live performances with our new show for babies, Flutter, for ages 6-18 months. Flutter began the rehearsal process in December 2019, after several years of planning and imagining. By the beginning of 2020, though, we had returned to tour with several other Treehouse shows, and had planned on returning to the creation process by the spring. Then, suddenly, the world shut down due to the pandemic.

During the pandemic we quickly pivoted to a virtual performance space. It is hard to collaborate, create dance, stage blocking, sing over zoom. Which meant we were forced to put Flutter on hold. We patiently waited for the virus numbers to get better, and for the vaccines to become available. By June of 2021, we were able to gather safely. And so we began creating together once again. We were able to collaborate with our incredible performers Ashley Chavonne, Ashley Ervin, Miranda Wilson, Katie Montoya and Max Gayford, to finish. We then paused in August, as we finished up several other virtual projects, to return to rehearsals in full force by September. By October we were determined to present the piece in November. One big obstacle, none of the NYC theaters we normally presented in, were yet open. Theaters that were open, were seemingly already booked. Luckily, the piece is created to be small and intimate. Eventually, we found two different studio spaces in both Brooklyn and Manhattan.

The design and physical creation of the set, puppets and costumes came together very quickly. Our design team is an incredible group of designers: scenic design by Louisa Thompson and Jung Griffin, along with our long-time partners Ben Demarest (Lighting), Patti Gilstrap (Puppetry and Costumes) and Anthony Rizzo (Music Composition.) The show was quickly transformed into a beautiful and exquisitely-made performance for babies. 

Conceived and written by myself, with choreography by Emily Bunning, Flutter explores the seasons through a sensory experiential journey of visuals, sounds, objects, some language, and an open concept of play. Using a non-traditional theatrical set-up, the audience is immediately transformed into a nurturing and welcoming space created by the feeling and ambience of the piece. As the piece begins, caregivers and babies are seated in the round, with the performance in the center. Using original music creates the seasons’ tone, and ambience; music being the first language for the very young mind. Babies and toddlers have the freedom to crawl, walk, and move within the space, investigate hands-on textures, crawl and climb while experiencing the language/sounds/music and engaging visuals. 

We were worried audiences wouldn't come. These were the youngest of audiences. But by the end of our run, we had wonderful houses. Our performance space filled with. the sounds of babies cooing, laughing and and awing. Their parents laughing with delight at their babies reactions. The show was a success. Parents were truly excited to bring their babies to see something, and to interact with one another. As one mother said to me, "We have pandemic babies, they haven't had a lot of social interaction."

We are pleased to announce that Flutter will return this Spring. Dates and Information below. If you are in NYC area and have a baby aged 6-18months, we hope you will join us! Seating is limited. See you at the theater!

What:      Treehouse Shakers’ Flutter: A Discovery Play for Babies (In Manhattan)
When:     Saturday, April 2, 2022 & Sunday, April 3, 2022
Times:    10:00AM & 11:30AM
Where: New York Live Arts
                219 W 19th St, New York, NY 10011
Tickets: https://flutterny.eventbrite.com

When:     Saturday, April 30, 2022 & Sunday, May 1, 2022
Times: 10:15AM & 11:30AM
Where: The Great Room, A.R.T./New York
                138 South Oxford Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11217
Tickets:  https://flutterbklyn.eventbrite.com

**Photos by Christopher Duggan Photography**