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Minnesota Zoo and History Theatre Team up to Create Play for Young Audiences Alongside New Black Bear Exhibit
"Tales Along the Minnesota Trail” runs September 21-30, 2012

Apple Valley, MINN – September 7, 2012 – The Minnesota Zoo and History Theatre have teamed up to create a new musical, interactive play for young audiences that tells the history of our state in 40 kid-friendly minutes. From September 21-30, “Tales Along the Minnesota Trail” will be performed alongside the Zoo’s new black bear exhibit which opens September 15.  

The idea for a collaborative project between The Minnesota Zoo and History Theatre has been championed by the Zoo’s Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer, Connie Braziel. “With any new exhibit we always try to add a cultural component,” says Braziel. “Being able to premier a children’s musical that tells the story of early Minnesota culture truly supports the Zoo’s mission of connecting people, animals and the natural world.  This play will put a smile on every one’s face, young and old, as they join in the fun provided through each performance.”

For History Theatre, the opportunity to create work specifically for young audiences is an exciting challenge. “Sharing the stories of Minnesota is what we do best at History Theatre but we don’t often get to share those stories with the youngest Minnesotans,” says History Theatre Artistic Director Ron Peluso. “Laurie and Marya (playwright and composer) are having a lot of fun channeling their experiences with young people to create a play that is just as enjoyable for the artists as it will be for the audiences.”

This new play by collaborators Laurie Flanigan Hegge and Marya Hart is an adventure through time told in an interactive storytelling style. Two young friends are guided through a musical journey that takes them back in time to meet some of the people and animals who have called Minnesota their home. The play explores the languages and stories of our state’s people beginning with the first people, the Ojibwe and Dakota, then the Voyageurs, then the Loggers, followed by the Homesteaders, with a singing Tree, a directionally-challenged eagle, and some dancing fish along the way. Young audiences are invited to join in the fun, to ask questions, and to make some new friends during this interactive storytelling romp through time. The playwright and composer worked with Native American consultants Jim and Pat Northrup to weave in the lore and language of the First Minnesotans. The French language of the Voyageurs and the Swedish spoken by many of the first white settlers also pepper the story. The new programming partnership between The Minnesota Zoo and History Theatre is made possible through the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.

Tales Along the Minnesota Trail will play in the Minnesota Zoo’s Target® Learning Center. Tickets range from $15-$25 per household. Seating is limited; tickets can be purchased online at mnzoo.org.

“Tales Along the Minnesota Trail” Performance Schedule:
September 21    7 p.m.
September 22    4:30 p.m.
September 23    4:30 p.m.
September 28    7 p.m.
September 29    4:30 p.m. & 6 p.m.
September 30    4:30 p.m. & 6 p.m.

About the History Theatre:
History Theatre entertains, educates, and inspires through the development and production of plays and musicals that explore Minnesota’s past and diverse American experience. Its work provides a unique lens which links our past to the present, explores our common heritage, and illuminates our understanding of what it means to be American. Historytheatre.com

About the Minnesota Zoo:
The Minnesota Zoo is located in Apple Valley, just minutes south of Mall of America. For more information, call 952.431.9500 or visit mnzoo.org. The Minnesota Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and an institutional member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).