Since childhood, I have always loved the Wizard of Oz & all its iterations, along with other fantasy stories & fairy tales. Even so, I often wondered where are the people of color in these stories of munchkins, witches & other magical creatures. This piece, as well the rest of the kind of work Kessto Kreatures does, showcases a purposefully truly diverse company both on & off stage while also raising visibility for the different type of artists of color that exist & showing that we exist in our own unique powerful ways, because representation matters.

How did he come to be hanging there in that corn field? This original adaptation of an OZ story follows the newly appointed “His Majesty the Scarecrow,” as he is tasked to save the citizens of Winkie country from an ever-increasing horde of crows. The narrative follows his journey back down the yellow brick road to discover his life before becoming a scarecrow & the lynching of an African American man that ended that life. Joined by his companions; the Wogglebug, the Sawhorse, the Patchwork girl & a perpetually puckish crow - his journey explores connections between Oz & the United States in the early 1900’s.

Through its innovative use of puppetry, powerful storytelling, & culturally relevant music, The Scarecrow aims to captivate audiences, provoke thought, & inspire change. This production serves as a testament to the transformative power of imagination, history & the human spirit. My show The Scarecrow premiered at La Mama Experimental Theatre Club as a part of the puppetry festival this Nov 1st-3rd and will be a part of the Chicago International Puppetry Festival January 2025! Performances are January 24 at 7 pm, Saturday, January 25 at 5 pm, and Sunday, January 26 at 2 pm