Baba Yaga: A circus play for the family

The Cherry Arts is delighted to present the new production Baba Yaga, from the team that created last season’s Cherry family hit, Peter and the Wolf. Baba Yaga opens Friday, Feb. 21 at the Cherry Artspace. 

Baba Yaga is woven from a tapestry of Slavic folktales, using physical theatre, aerial performance, and shadow puppetry. Director Jen Pearcy-Edwards, the General Manager of the Cherry Arts, brings a wealth of expertise in devising and physical theater from a long career in London theater.

Flying in as Baba Yaga is aeralist and actor Mara Neimanis, bringing her signature airborne performance skills to the Cherry after her 2023 solo show Air Heart. 

“To play a character like Baba Yaga and to have her fly is a wonderful recipe,” says Neimanis. “She’s a witch, she’s the Earth mother! She has a lot of twists and turns, just like the aerials. The flying becomes like a character.”

The production is devised by the company, in collaboration with Russian theater artist Arthur Groys, an Ithaca City of Asylum (ICOA) and Artist Protection Fund Fellow in residence at Ithaca College. 

“As a native Russian speaker, Baba Yaga is a cherished part of my childhood memories,” says Groys. “When the Cherry Arts team invited me to take Baba Yaga to a higher level of artistic presentation, I couldn’t resist the temptation.”

Actor Lucy Purnine (Kitchen Theatre’s Extended Stay and Syracuse Shakespeare) plays Vasilia. The ensemble includes Sylvie Yntema (Rosa and Blanca, Peter and the Wolf) and Barbara Geary (And What Happens If I Don’t, House of Ithaqua’s The Skriker). 

Live music is performed by Isaac Sharp, classical guitarist and member of Lilypad Puppet Theatre. The team is joined by movement director Robin Guiver, internationally celebrated puppeteer and motion-capture performer, known for his work in Wicked, The Little Mermaid, and Star Wars. 

The production stage manager is Emily Pugh, lighting design is by Claire Chesne, scenic and costume design is by Mo Dransoff, and projection design is by Norm Scott. 

Interviews with members of the creative team are available upon request. More information is available at https://thecherry.org/baba-yaga/. Tickets are available on a sliding scale, starting at $15.

Performances:

Fri Feb 21, 7:30 PM // Sat Feb 22, 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM // Sun Feb 23, 2:00 PM

Fri Feb 28, 7:30 PM // Sat Mar 1, 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM // Sun Mar 2, 2:00 PM