Mary Cassatt & Me, an original play for ages 4-10, is based on the works of impressionist and artistic innovator, Mary Cassatt. Mary Cassatt & Me, written and directed by Mara McEwin, choreographed by Emily Bunning is full of wonder, visuals and intertwines multiple layers of intriguing storytelling.
Composed of a diverse ensemble of four performers, Mary Cassatt & Me is told through theater, dance and puppetry, as well as projected and interactive videos in which the performers use the images as scenery, color washes, and climactic moments within the performance, transforming the audience’s passive viewing into an interactive, multi-sensory experience.
The story follows Lucy, a young girl who makes friends with her upstairs neighbor, a retired art teacher, who often shares his knowledge about the many impressionist painters, particularly the American artist Cassatt. Lucy, an avid, young artist herself, keeps a small visual notebook that she uses to sketch not only her fascination with the people and objects around her, but also the artistic techniques and subjects of the impressionists. Following the trajectory of Cassatt’s artistic life, Lucy takes audiences on a vibrant & visual journey through colors, shadows and light, as well as the paintings of Cassatt and her contemporaries.