Photos by Erin Profaci Nuzzo
Tickets
General Ticket: $20
Members: $15
Students (18 and under): $15
The Modern Marionette Company, led by artist and educator, Kim Profaci invites people of all ages to learn about the genius of Martha Graham! Inspired by the exhibition Martha Graham: Collaborations, Profaci has created new puppets and costumes that provide a creative new medium for understanding the forms, movements, and expression of the Graham technique, Martha’s life and work, and the ingenuous use of costumes – a hallmark of Graham’s legacy – that require activation by the performer. In this beguiling presentation, Profaci’s custom, hand-made 3-foot marionette puppets will even perform Lamentation and other key Graham moments.
Those who have attended a Profaci puppet show know that this is one for lovers of wonder and awe of all ages – as captivating as they are unique, with an edge of sophistication. Much-loved by our community, Profaci’s natural ability for story-telling and the care she brings to her craft, captures the wonder and hearts of people of all ages. Come learn about the iconic legend in a fun and magical afternoon program.
This program has been developed in tandem with our exhibition Martha Graham: Collaborations. The exhibition is on view through March 22nd during our normal exhibition hours of Thursday – Monday, 11AM – 5PM.
KIM PROFACI
Puppeteer
Photo by Erin Profaci Nuzzo
-
Kim Profaci and The Modern Marionette Company have been capturing the imaginations of the young and the old, and everyone in between, for over twenty years.
The craft of puppet-making and the art of teaching and performing come naturally to Kim. She was raised in Irvington, New York in a highly creative family of artists and educators. She earned her bachelor’s in English from Boston College and her master’s in education from Fordham University. And in modern dance class, she developed a fascination for movement and an understanding of body language and nuance that are central to puppetry.
Kim envisions and builds the puppets, props, and sets using every imaginable resource. Driftwood becomes a puppet’s limbs, blades of grass morph into a praying mantis, and scarves take on a life of their own. She adapts classic stories, such as Tomie DePaolo’s Strega Nona, and has developed her own take on music legend Elvis Presley. With the right inspiration, Kim and her marionettes can bring magic to any character and tell any tale. As she says, “It’s a great joy for me to inspire children to want to create for themselves. And to watch adults look on with a sense of wonder is a special experience all its own.”