Aimee Louisanne with Triceratops from Dinosaur Zoo Live. Photo by C. Waits
Texas A&M University’s Rudder Auditorium is preparing for the arrival of Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live™. Perfect for families, this larger-than-life entertaining theatre attraction will be here for one performance only on Sunday, Feb. 12, at 1pm. Don’t miss this chance to experience what life was like amongst these giant creatures 65 million years ago. Tickets start at only $25 and are on sale now at the MSC Box Office (979)-845-1234 and online at www.MSCOPAS.org. The performance is sponsored by George Bush Presidential Library & Museum. The OPAS Family Fun series sponsored by Shenandoah Veterinary Clinic, Shannon Morton Photography, and OPAS Encore!
Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live™ is an experiential theatre production which takes audiences on a prehistoric journey into a new dimension where they get to meet a menagerie of insects, mammals, and dinosaurs that once roamed the planet millions of years ago. Featuring a large-scale cast of life-sized dinosaur puppets brought to life by sophisticated design and theatrical presentation and puppet mastery, these amazingly life-like dinosaur recreations connect children to paleontology in a fun and informative setting. This new production will feature nineteen dinosaurs on stage, including the awesome Triceratops which Erth created uniquely for the North American tour. Children can watch and learn, but can also interact with the creatures in this fun, educational, and unique presentation.
Jackson Ether, Kelley Selznick, Aimee Louisanne and friends in Dinosaur Zoo Live. Photo by C. Waits
Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live™ is both entertaining and educational. The Chicago Tribune loved it, saying: ‘A delightful and educational date with the dinos that provides visual oomph to rival ‘The Lion King’”. The New York Times says, “Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo delivers solid science as well as an extraordinary spectacle.”
Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live™ is the creation of one of Australia’s most innovative and creative companies, Erth Visual & Physical, Inc., who bring the impossible to life. For more than 21 years, the company has developed a truly fantastic aesthetic and an extraordinary box of tricks, which now serve as the foundations of its unique visual and physical theatre work. Their work ranges from large-scale interactive environments such as ‘The Garden,’ a prehistoric landscape inhabited by giant insects which premiered at the Melbourne International Festival of Arts, to more intimate in-theatre work and roving spectaculars. The company regularly tours internationally and more than a million people have seen its dinosaurs in museums, and in performance works such as Radio Lab’s Apocalyptical, Dinosaur Petting Zoo™ and Dinosaur Zoo Live™. Writing about Erth, The Sydney Morning Herald says, ‘It’s a rare and pleasurable work that manages technical brilliance, cultural insight, and enchantment all in one go.’
Aimee Louisanne, Jackson Eather, and friend in Dinosaur Zoo Live. Photo by C. Waits
Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live™ is written and directed by Scott Wright the co-founder of Erth Visual and Physical Inc. and its Artistic Director since inception in 1990. He trained as a dancer and choreographer in Victoria, Australia, and is a multi-skilled artist incorporating puppetry (one of his greatest loves), movement, acting, aerial, stilts and pyrotechnics. During this period, Scott steered the company through many twists and turns, creating a successful national and international touring profile. Scott has directed most of Erth’s successful touring shows, and worked with a large variety of national and international companies and institutions, individual artists and community groups. Scott is currently focusing on the survival of indigenous folklore, exploring how ancient stories can be retrieved and presented to new audiences. This exploration takes him to remote communities throughout Australia, to meet with elders, learning and developing methods in which puppetry can tell stories of ancient creatures and landscapes.
Gemma Pepper is the Executive Producer for Erth and Sharon Kerr serves as Associate Director. Steve Howarth serves as their head of design and works very closely with specialist puppet maker Bryony Anderson in the creation of the dinosaurs, puppets, and flora that makes up the set, and Phil Downing is the show’s Composer.
The North American tour of Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live™ is produced by Red Tail Entertainment based in Dallas, Texas.
The company of Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live™ will be led on stage by ‘Host’ Miles Portek with Miron Gusso, Jackson Eather, Brendan Malafronte, and Eryn Malafronte as puppeteers.
