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Guest Puppet Troupe Spins an Invisible Yarn at Mum Puppettheatre

For Immediate Release: September 12, 2005

Philadelphia, PA – Hans Christian Andersen's beloved story, The Emperor's New Clothes, takes on a whole new dimension in a fun and hilarious show by renowned puppet troupe Grey Seal Puppets. Presented by Philadelphia's own Mum Puppettheatre this October, the award-winning troupe turns Andersen's classic tale into a fable, portraying the crafty tailors as foxes, the prime minister as a near-sighted camel, and the Emperor's councilor as a befuddled old walrus. The Emperor himself is a big fat pig!

The Emperor's New Clothes tells the story of a vain ruler who loves dressing up in fancy clothes. The Emperor easily falls for two tailors' story of a magic cloth that can only been seen by those who are smart and good at what they do. According to their yarn, those who can't see the cloth are not fit for their jobs and should be fired. Of course, the Emperor pretends he is able to see the cloth, and all the townspeople follow. In the end, it takes the honesty of a child to see through the scheming tailors' lies.

The show features lively music and audience participation, and keeps theatre-goers in stitches even as it teaches a valuable lesson. Children will love the silly characters, the chance to go up on stage, and the fact that a child himself points out what all the adults are unable to see. Adults will appreciate the importance placed on honesty and the fun humor that is Grey Seal's trademark.

Founded in 1976, Grey Seal Puppets regularly tours its theatre productions such as The Emperor's New Clothes, performing over 250 shows annually at venerable venues such as the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta and the Smithsonian's Discovery Theatre. The company also performs in film and on television, and in addition designs and creates custom-made puppets and mascot characters.

Mum Puppettheatre provides high-quality, educational and engaging experiences for families to enjoy together. Prior to every performance of The Emperor's New Clothes, Mum will offer fun activities in the lobby. And as always, after the show, families are encouraged to take a captivating look behind the scenes and find out from the performer what happens behind the puppet stage! A long-standing Mum tradition, children will delight in asking questions and finding out how theatre magic is made.

The Emperor's New Clothes runs from October 8 to 30, 2005, and is appropriate for all ages. All tickets cost $15. Performances take place on Saturdays at noon, 2pm and 4pm, and on Sundays at 2pm and 4pm. Discounted group rates are available for parties of ten or more. All performances take place at Mum Puppettheatre, 115 Arch Street in Old City, Philadelphia.

Mum Puppettheatre is proud to partner with Operation Warm, a non-profit organization that works to enhance the self-esteem of disadvantaged children by providing them with new winter coats, promoting a positive self-image and reducing some of the shame and embarrassment these children feel about living in poverty. Mum will be collecting new winter coats, as well as tax-deductible contributions, at every performance throughout the run of The Emperor's New Clothes for Operation Warm. For every new coat or contribution of $30 or more donated, patrons will receive a voucher for one free ticket to any Mum Family Series show this season. For more information on Operation Warm, visit www.operationwarm.org.

If you enjoy The Emperor's New Clothes, you'll love Mum's whole season! Subscriptions for the 2005-2006 Family Series are now on sale for just $40, which includes one ticket to each of Mum's three Family Series shows: The Emperor's New Clothes, The Velveteen Rabbit and The Adventures of a Boy and His Dog in Outer Space. Subscriptions can be purchased Monday through Friday, 10am to 5pm, by calling 215-925-7MUM; or 24 hours a day by logging on to www.mumpuppet.org. Mum Puppettheatre also offers gift certificates, which make a unique present for all ages!

Mum Puppettheatre makes art that moves, creating theatre beyond the scope of human actors, often without words. We integrate the plastic, visual and performing arts by creating stunning, emotionally compelling and breathtakingly beautiful theatre, using puppets, masks and the human body. Our mission is to collaborate with artists of all disciplines and backgrounds to explore the interdisciplinary nature of puppetry, and share the results with people of all ages, independent of language or culture, on stage, on tour and in the classroom.

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