Kerfuffle

Doors open on the left four our last stop, Vodak-East Side! 🚂 🚂 🚂

The Conductors finishes its journey throughout Chicago, and there's just one stop left! Join us at the Vodak-East Side Library this Saturday, July 25th at 10:30am for our finale performance.

RSVP & more information here: https://bit.ly/ConductorsKerfuffle

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟

Summer's just getting started and so are we 𓂃 ོ⋆☀︎𓂃⛱!

This week marked our first rehearsal for our upcoming co-production of "The Dinosaur of Lake Michigan" as part of this summer's Night Out In The Parks summer programming. We're so excited to share our work alongside such a talented cohort and to share sneak peeks as we approach the date of our opening performance on Friday, August 21st at Auburn Park.

And now- announcing our incredibly talented cast:

🗺️ Myanne Zachary as M
🗺️ AiRos Sung-En medill as Muscician (air/airs & they/them)
🗺️ Sharaina (Shay) Turnage as Puppeteer (she/her)
🗺️Emilie Wingate as Puppeteer (she/they)
🗺️Rachel Hartmann as Puppeteer (she/they)
🗺️Abby P***n as Puppeteer (they/them)
🗺️ Caroline M. Watson as M & Muscician Understudy (she/her)

Mark your calendars and join us as we journey across nine Chicagoland parks in search of the mysterious Dinosaur of Lake Michigan!

RSVP here: https://bit.ly/DoLMKerfuffle

The Dinosaur of Lake Michigan is presented as part of the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks series, supported by the Mayor’s Office and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. The Night Out in the Parks program presents cultural events year-round in neighborhood parks throughout the city. The Chicago Park District in partnership with local artists and organizations, presents engaging events and performances that enhance quality of life across Chicago and amplify the artistic and cultural vibrancy in every neighborhood.

Through multiple disciplines, which include theater, music, movies, dance, site-specific work, nature programs, and community festivals, the series aims to support Chicago-based artists, facilitate community-based partnerships and programs, cultivate civic engagement, and ensure equity in access to the arts for all Chicagoans. For more information, please visit www.nightoutintheparks.com.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
✨

Where should we go? Who shall we visit? This week- we visited the Chicago Public Library's Edgebrook Branch for our first performance of the Conductors 🚂 📚!

Thank you so much to everyone that joined us for this special performance and the start of our summer programming ☀️ 🏖️ ! There's still time to board the train to our next destination- Woodson Regional Library this Sunday, July 12th! And if you can't meet us at that stop, there's still plenty more stops along the way to join us!

RSVP here: bit.ly/ConductorsKerfuffle

As part of Kerfuffle's summer performances- The Conductors features original music and celebrates themes of community, friendship and new experiences - while exploring everywhere a train may take you and everyone it may connect you with. A perfect first theater experience for the very young, our whimsical show encourages audiences to “find their treasure” in everyday adventures, whether it be in blanket forts with grandma or meeting new friends in outer space.

This Summer! Kerfuffle & Rabbitfoot Puppetry present- the Dinosaur of Lake Michigan! 🦕☀️ 🌊

Funded in part by Night out in the Parks, this special performance invites audiences to join us on our treasure hunt for the elusive “dinosaur of Lake Michigan”. Taking place near Chicago's bodies of water, this play highlights the importance of community care in light of the ever growing climate emergency. The Dinosaur of Lake Michigan is an outdoor puppet play designed for very young children aged 3-6 with their caregivers.

We're excited to join a cohort of incredible creatives this summer to share our art across the city. Stay tuned for behind the scenes photos, a sneak peek at rehearsals and the announcement of our incredible performers!

The Dinosaur of Lake Michigan is presented as part of the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks series, supported by the Mayor’s Office and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. The Night Out in the Parks program presents cultural events year-round in neighborhood parks throughout the city. The Chicago Park District in partnership with local artists and organizations, presents engaging events and performances that enhance quality of life across Chicago and amplify the artistic and cultural vibrancy in every neighborhood.

Through multiple disciplines, which include theater, music, movies, dance, site-specific work, nature programs, and community festivals, the series aims to support Chicago-based artists, facilitate community-based partnerships and programs, cultivate civic engagement, and ensure equity in access to the arts for all Chicagoans. For more information, please visit www.nightoutintheparks.com.

We've got a big announcement!

We're excited to introduce our incoming Managing Director Molly Burris (she/her) 🎉! Molly is an arts administrator, actor, and teaching artist originally from Austin, Texas. She has spent the last four years working with Metro Theater Company in St. Louis, MO - most recently serving as the Senior Manager of Artistic Engagement and Advancement. Molly is passionate about creating joyfully immersive and inclusive productions curated for young people and their caregivers. At MTC Molly developed and produced programs like Baby Rave and If Art Could Talk and served as the director for Groove in the Galleries.

Molly has also worked as a teaching artist in Texas, Missouri, and South Carolina. As an actor, Molly has worked with The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, Charleston Stage Company, The New Jewish Theatre, Metro Theater Company, Piknik Theatre, and COCA. Molly holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from The Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University.

We're excited to welcome Molly to the team as we dive headfirst into preparing our upcoming summer performances. We can't wait to share them with you!

This week, we're giving a bittersweet farewell to our Managing Director, Jeff Sachs! Since 2016, he's not only been Managing Director, but also the playwright of Bookworms and production designer for wonderwander (2017), The Caterpillar's Footprint (2016), and Goose & Gert (2021). Jeff's kindness and dedication to Kerfuffle over the years has truly been an absolute gift- we wouldn't be where we are without him!

Thank you and happy trails- we'll miss you Jeff!!!

Auditions are now live for our next performance, The Dinosaur of Lake Michigan! 🌊🦖🌊

Kerfuffle and Rabbitfoot Puppetry are seeking adventurous and enthusiastic performers for The Dinosaur of Lake Michigan, an interactive play for very young children and their caregivers that will perform at Night Out in the Parks this summer. This is a world premiere co-production conceived by Rachel Hartmann, Ashley Laverty, and Emilie Wingate, directed by Alyssa Vera Ramos.

Synopsis: The Dinosaur of Lake Michigan is an outdoor puppet play designed for very young children aged 3-6 with their caregivers. Taking place on and near the beaches of Chicago, it examines the climate emergency using hyper realistic animal puppets made out of recyclable items, live music, and physical storytelling. This interactive play is an exciting introduction to site specific theatre for very young children that highlights the importance of community care in light of the ever growing climate emergency.

More information about the audition process, important dates & pay rate can be found on our audition page here!: https://bit.ly/KerfuffleDoLM

Please direct any audition-related inquiries to Production Manager Miranda Taylor at [email protected].

THIS THURSDAY‼️ Join co-creator of the TYA Artistic Innovation Award winning production of Red, for our April PD!

Curious about the possibilities of looking to children as experts in your own creative practice? Join us for an interactive workshop focused on collaborating with very young children (ages 1-3) as artistic partners in the development and staging of new work.

This PD workshop might be best enjoyed by artists interested in developing their own work for the first time; artists who have been developing their own work and want to learn new tools or techniques; early childhood teaching artists; artists who self-produce or are interested in self producing; emerging theatre producers, directors, playwrights, devisers, and artists, and anyone interested in the greater field of theatre and dance for the very young.

Amanda Pintore is an Assistant Professor in Theatre for Youth and Community and Acting at Arizona State University and is an award-winning author for her book Theatre and Dance with Children as Artistic Partners: Devising Performance for the Very Young.

Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026
Time: 7:15pm CT-8:30pm CT / 8:15pm ET - 9:30pm ET
Location: Online! 🛜
Registration Cost: $15

Register at: bit.ly/KerfuffleAprilPD

We're looking forward to seeing you there! ✨