The Bird Parade was an opportunity to build an interactive large puppet in the context of the story of the Phoenix. We recreated this story by choreographing five birds meeting in a circle in front of a fire dragon and transforming into birds of fire. We represented the fire by releasing fabrics in yellow, orange, red, or golden tones. The design team chose birds represented in the landscape of the lake in Evanston as this is one of the hotspots for birds in Chicago. Assisted by the Wirtz Shop, I built a Barn Swallow, a small bird that makes mud nests in the buildings by the lake.
Wirtz Production Team:
Creators and Directors: Dassia Posner and Jessica Thebus
Producer: Heather Basarab
Design Team: Nora Smith, Joe Johnson, Max Grano De Oro, Kaitlyn Landry, Daphne Agosin
Video Production: Peter Anderson, Yun Lin, Max Grano De Oro
Shop Builders: Matt Buettner, Shannon Perry
Puppet Construction Consultant (for Dragon): Skye Strauss
Remote Bird Director: Ana Díaz Barriga
Producer: Heather Basarab
Design Team: Nora Smith, Joe Johnson, Max Grano De Oro, Kaitlyn Landry, Daphne Agosin
Video Production: Peter Anderson, Yun Lin, Max Grano De Oro
Shop Builders: Matt Buettner, Shannon Perry
Puppet Construction Consultant (for Dragon): Skye Strauss
Remote Bird Director: Ana Díaz Barriga
