Puppetry
Puppetry is more than whimsical characters and playful skits. It's a powerful tool for social change, and Tanya leverages its unique ability to address racial justice issues.
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She creates puppet shows that tackle complex themes of prejudice and discrimination, making them relatable and engaging for audiences of all ages. Through vibrant characters and interactive storytelling, she sparks conversations about equality and empower viewers to become agents of positive change.
My Night in the Planetarium
"My Night in the Planetarium" is an unique puppet show, a collaboration between Tanya Nixon-Silberg, Sarah Nolen, Innosanto Nagara and Roxanna Myhrum . The show tackles complex themes like colonialism and dissent for young audiences. The show brings Innosanto Nagara's vivid illustrations to life with an intricate pop-up book world built by Nolen and skillful puppetry, encouraging audience participation and aligning with Little Uprising's mission of youth empowerment. Funded by the Puppet Showplace Theater's incubator program, The Jim Henson Foundation, Boston Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts, the show offers families an engaging artistic experience that sparks conversations about fairness, justice, and the power of protest.
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Interested in collaborating with Tanya and Sarah? Reach out!
But, Rather (2021)
"But Rather" is a puppetry exploration with the goal of creating a story of joy for a little Black girl. Created with the support of Danza Organica's We Create Festival in 2021, "But, Rather" features Lambe Lambe and rod style puppetry. The moving screen or "crankie" highlights a poem by Clint Smith called "No more Elegies Today" with typesetting by Annika Sarin Designs. This exploration catalyzed my public art piece They Did Not Know We Were Seeds (2023) funded by The Boston Triennial's (formally Now and There) Accelerator program. ​
More Puppetry Explorations Coming Soon!
Photo Credit: Tess Scheflan, Sarah Nolen