'1001 Nights' Set to Debut at the Center for Puppetry Arts (March 25-April 6)

Audiences will be swept off to fantastical faraway places this spring when “1001 Nights: A Love Story About Loving Stories” hits the stage at the Center for Puppetry Arts for a limited two week engagement, March 25-April 6. Broadway musical powerhouse Robert Lopez, innovative New York company The Flying Carpet and puppetry experts Center for Puppetry Arts, join forces as a “dream team” to create the ultimate “family puppet musical.”

In this celebration of brainy imagination over brawn, a princess uses her wits to save a kingdom from an evil decree as she spins tale after tale for a narrow-minded king.  Featuring genies, jesters, 40 thieves and other captivating characters, the princess’s cliffhanger stories keep the king—and audiences—on the edge of their seats.  This playful adaptation of the “Arabian Nights” fairy tales is recommended for ages six and up.

“1001 Nights” was first conceived in 1998 by Tony winner and Academy Award nominee Robert Lopez (“Avenue Q,” “The Book of Mormon,” “Frozen”) and Adam Koplan, artistic director of Flying Carpet Theatre Company.  This newly reimagined production features early songs by Lopez and is co-directed by Koplan and Jon Ludwig, artistic director of the Center for Puppetry Arts.  All the puppets were designed by the Center’s resident puppet builder Jason von Hinezmeyer and built by the talented crew in the Center’s puppet building shop.  “1001 Nights” is an inspired combination of Lopez’s catchy tunes, Flying Carpet’s inventive staging and the Center’s internationally recognized puppetry expertise.

New York based Flying Carpet credits Atlanta as their “second home.”  Creative Loafing named the company’s “The Mystery of Chung Ling Soo” Best Touring Show of 2005 and deemed their 2009 “The Medicine Showdown,” one of the top shows of the decade. Under Koplan’s leadership, Flying Carpet has premiered multiple productions and toured the U.S. and Europe.  Koplan, an Atlanta native, was first exposed to the “Arabian Nights” tales through a production of “Aladdin and His Magical Lamp” at the Center in the early 1980’s while a student at the Hebrew Academy.

Lopez’s works “Avenue Q” and “The Book of Mormon” have both been critical and commercial smash hits, as well as Best Musical Tony Award winners.  Crediting “1001 Nights” as the show where he found his “voice” as a composer/lyricist, Lopez also co-wrote songs for the 2011 film “Winnie the Pooh” and co-created eight original songs for Disney’s latest film “Frozen,” including “Let It Go” for which he received a Critic’s Choice award as well as Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations.

Ludwig has directed more than 30 original productions for families and adults and created Emmy-nominated work for television. His productions have garnered a record nine UNIMA Citations of Excellence. Von Hinezmeyer’s work has been featured in dozens of Center productions over the last 11 years. Von Hinezmeyer has also designed puppets for Actors Theater of Louisville (Ky.), Dragonfruit Studios and Cartoon Network.

“1001 Nights” will run for two weeks only from March 25 – April 6, 2014 in the Downstairs Theater. Show times are as follows: 

• Tuesday-Thursday: 10 a.m. & 12 p.m.
• Friday: 10 a.m. & 8 p.m.

·         Saturday: 3 p.m. & 8 p.m.

·         Sunday: 2 p.m. & 5 p.m.

Tickets include museum admission as well as the Create-A-Puppet Workshop, where children can make their own Fantastical Friend hand puppet. TICKETS ARE $9.25 (MEMBERS) / $16.50 (NONMEMBERS) AND CAN BE PURCHASED ONLINE AT WWW.PUPPET.ORG OR BY CALLING THE TICKET SALES OFFICE AT 404-873-3391.

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The Center for Puppetry Arts is supported in part by: Fulton County Arts Council • Isdell Family Foundation • Aetna Foundation •The Zeist Foundation • City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs • WSB-TV Family 2 Family Project • YP • Regency Suites Hotel • For a complete list of the Center’s major supporters, visit www.puppet.org/about/sponsors.shtml.

Center for Puppetry Arts® is a unique cultural treasure – a magical place where children and adults are educated, enlightened, and entertained. Since 1978, the Center has introduced millions of visitors to the wonder and art of puppetry and has touched the lives of many through enchanting performances, curriculum-based workshops, and the hands-on Museum as well as Distance Learning and Outreach programs. Center for Puppetry Arts is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization and is supported in part by contributions from corporations, foundations, government agencies, and individuals. Major funding is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners under the guidance of the Fulton County Arts Council. Major support is also provided by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. The Center is a member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre; Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA/USA/ASSITEJ); and International Performing Arts for Youth (IPAY).The Center also serves as headquarters of UNIMA-USA, the American branch of Union Internationale de la Marionnette, the international puppetry organization.

About Flying Carpet Theatre Company:

Using inventive staging to conjure timeless stories, the Flying Carpet Theatre (FCT) transports audiences to unexpected places, where they can experience our modern world from a fresh vantage. Incorporated in 2003 and based in New York City, FCT has created and premiered seven award-winning productions. They have presented work in New York and Atlanta, their second home, and toured to Boston, St. Louis, Philadelphia, New Haven, Phoenix, as well as to Edinburgh, Amsterdam, Dublin and Prague. Adam Koplan, artistic director, founded the company after spending formative time at Playwrights Horizons and Jacques Lecoq's Ecole Internationale de Theatre.

By merging contemporary American story-driven drama and European physical theater, FCT presents strong narratives with imagination-rich acting. Productions draw from the well of staged entertainments-vaudeville, clowning, puppetry, dance, stage magic- to devise new works that delight, inspire, and challenge audiences. With each production, FCT offers rich educational content that deepens audience experience of the work and its themes.www.flyingcarpettheatre.com.