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A very extraordinary tour of the kingdom.
On the docks of an unfamiliar city by the sea, a boy stumbles across a mysterious old man, who proclaims he is a peddler of dreams and memories. Over the course of six nights, the man takes the child through six fantastical dreams, mirroring the evolution of life itself: Pisces, Amphibia, Reptilia, Insectum, Mammalia, and Aves. As the dreams grow in strangeness and complexity, the man’s curious past unfolds, hurtling toward a triumphant and staggering conclusion.
In April of 2014, the Fox & Beggar unveiled its first feature-length theatrical production, Animalia. Based on Nat’s poetry series "The Galapagos Nocturnes" (© Gold Wake Press 2010), Animalia expanded the poetry of the Nocturnes into a full-on theatrical narrative, using the six classes of animals to create a surreal and visually-striking fairy tale designed to lend a touch of mystery to our empirical world.
Implementing dance, circus arts, mask-and-puppet theater, elaborate costuming, and a live orchestra, Animalia wove Asheville’s performing arts community together like never before, into a mind-blowing collaboration of ninety-seven artists and performers. The show broke attendance records at Asheville’s iconic Hazel Robinson Amphitheater.
Written, Directed, and Produced by Nat Allister
Pisces2
Pisces1
Amphibia1
Amphibia2
Reptilia2
Reptilia1
Insectum2
Insectum1
Mammalia1
"Animalia" artwork by the Lady Octavia
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