On Thursday, April 9, the Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre Company will present three free performances of their hit show, “Appleseed!” in the museum’s Salsbury Room. The production, made possible by a grant from the Bertha Stebens Charitable Foundation, explores the true-life stories of John Chapman—better known as Johnny Appleseed—and his unique relationships with settlers, Native Americans, and the wilderness. Audiences can expect to see Johnny befriending wolves, rescuing horses, and navigating the American frontier through a variety of puppetry styles, including hand puppets, tabletop puppets, and pop-ups.
The show also highlights other apple heroes with local ties, including Henderson Luelling. Luelling famously traveled from Iowa across the Rocky Mountains to Oregon with a wagon carrying 300 growing apple trees, a feat of endurance that helped shape the agricultural landscape of the West. The visual storytelling is accompanied by whimsical music composed by Ron Hillis and performed live by Alex Flesher.
Showtimes are scheduled for 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 6:00 PM. All performances are free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, with doors opening 15 minutes prior to each set. Organizations or school groups of ten or more are asked to register in advance for the daytime shows by calling 641-421-3666. Local schools may be eligible for a bus subsidy while funds remain available, and no registration is required for the 6:00 PM performance. The MacNider Art Museum is located at 303 2nd Street SE in Mason City. For more information on this and other upcoming programs, residents can visit the museum’s website.
(Image: The “Appleseed!” puppet show will be presented in three performances on Thursday, April 9, at the MacNider Art Museum.
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