“The Light of Early Morning” – Presented by Redwing Blackbird Theater

Appropriate for Mature Audiences. War themes will be addressed.

“The Light of Early Morning” is a giant adult puppet & new music theater production honoring local Esopus native matriarch, Sunksqua Mama Nuchwe. We discover & celebrate anew her footsteps that walked softly & swiftly beneath our now paved-over Ulster County highways & byways.

We are searching for what Mama Nuchwe can teach us about living through our own world crises. Ones that we share may reverberate the local annihilation & displacement of her Esopus tribe from Rosendale’s surrounding neighborhoods. Giant puppets preceded religion on world stages. Your children are welcome to accompany you as we aspire to become our better selves together.

Native American local author & expert, Evan Pritchard, is culminating the hour-long puppet presentation with a talk & launch of his new book honoring Mama Nuchwe. His books are for sale.

Local musicians are creating new music raging from Congolese West African eclectic to Pauline Oliveros inspired ‘deep listening’ soundscapes.

Everyone is invited to a reception at Redwing Blackbird Theater’s 413 Main St. Puppet Museum immediately following this historic puppet show & book launch. Thanks also to the Rosendale Library for publicizing this event & to the Rodney L. White Foundation for its substantial financial support.