Z Puppets Rosenschnoz

Z Puppets Rosenschnoz

Official Web Page

Photo by Melissa Olson

About

Z Puppets Rosenschnoz brings people of all ages and abilities into the power of playfulness, through performances, workshops and feats of imagination. Based in Minneapolis, Z Puppets has toured nationally with their 30+ original shows for family audiences — from a glow-in-the-dark performance of cell division to a mindfulness musical. Since 1998, Creative Directors Chris Griffith (Cherokee Nation citizen) and Shari Aronson have delighted children and adults with their inventive programs in Cherokee Futurism, STEM of Puppetry, Arts and Mindfulness and Arts for All Abilities. Chris leads Z Puppets’ production of musical adventures to help keep alive the Cherokee language and increase connections to Indigeneity. Live performances, music videos and web series, "Say It! Sing It! Play It! in Cherokee", "Star Turtle" and "Through the Narrows" have won critical acclaim for their creative approach to language revitalization and Native history. Z Puppets’ superpower is engaging people in complex topics through the arts. Many families tell Z Puppets they share ideas and jokes from their shows for years afterwards. Evaluators describe their work as “sticky” — delivering lasting impact. A career highlight has been seeing the stickiness of "Say it! Sing it! Play it! In Cherokee". Chris and Shari have earned support from the NEA, Jim Henson Foundation, Puppeteers of America, Network of Ensemble Theaters, Parents' Choice, Creative Child Magazine, Ordway Performing Arts Center, MN State Arts Board, Perpich Center for Arts Education, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, Irwin Andrew Porter Foundation, Tiwahe Foundation, NDN Collective and City of Minneapolis Arts & Culture. Behold! The Power of Playfulness.

"They make everyone feel like little kids again – even the kids!"

-Paul Zaloom, star of children's television hit "Beakman's World"

"Zany, wacky and for all ages, 1/2 Monty Python + 1/2 Sesame Street!"

-DeBlaze and Associates

On Tour

"Say it! Sing It! Play It! In Cherokee"

Join Dagsi Turtle and Jisdu Wabbit as they embark on a fun-filled adventure to help Grandmother Turtle get back on her feet. With catchy songs and lovable characters, award-winning Z Puppets' performers, Chris Griffith, a Cherokee tribal member, and Shari Aronson, bring this heartwarming story to life. In just 45 minutes, Turtle, Wabbit, their ukulele, rubber chicken, and inventive original tunes will have you tapping your toes and singing along. This interactive experience is designed to keep the Cherokee language alive, as audiences enthusiastically shout "Wado!" (Thank you) to "Say It! Sing It! Play It! In Cherokee."

Photo by Mellssa Olson

"Say it! Sing It! Play It! In Cherokee"

Z Puppets Rosenschnoz. See it! Sing it! Play it!

Photo by Nicole Neri, Courtesy of MN Public Radio

Grandmother Turtle is upside down. Dagsi Turtle and Jisdu Wabbit must find a way to help her get back on her feet.

Jump into the fun with the catchy songs and lovable characters by award-winning Z Puppets' performers, Cherokee tribal member Chris Griffith, with Shari Aronson.

In 45 minutes with Turtle & Wabbit, their ukulele, rubber chicken, inventive original tunes and stories, you will be tapping your toes and singing along to help keep alive the Cherokee language.

Featured in Minnesota (Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, American Indian Center, Walker Arts Center, Minneapolis Institute of ArtsMN State Fair, Mill City Museum, South Eastern and Dakota County libraries), Oklahoma (Tulsa Repertory Musicals) and Arizona (The Heard Museum, Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre, Great Arizona Puppet Theatre, Valley of the Moon), audiences have enthusiastically shouted out "Wado!" (Thank you) to "Say It! Sing It! Play It! In Cherokee".

MPR News: Teaching Cherokee using puppets and storytelling (March 24, 2022)

Indian Country Today: Artists use their skills to teach Native languages (March 29, 2022)

Tulsa People: 'Say It! Sing It! Play It! In Cherokee!' with Z Puppets (November 1, 2021)

Cherokee Phoenix: Puppet show shares Cherokee language (October 27, 2021)

Minneculture KFAI: Learning Tsalagi, One Turtle Step at a Time

WXOW: Puppet show bring native languages to life though characters f Turtle and Wabbit

For Complete Individual, Performer and Teachers Go HERE

Chris Griffith and Shari Aronson

For over 3 decades, Chris and Shari have been innovators in arts for youth and family audiences. Chris is a 7th generation descendant of Principal Chief John Ross, the leader of the Cherokee Nation during the intense trauma of the Trail of Tears. When Chris was 6, his grandfather proudly enrolled him as a tribal member in his hometown of Tahlequah, OK just weeks after the tribe ratified its Constitution and embarked on a new era of tribal self determination.

Yet, back at his school in PA, textbooks taught that Indians were people “of the past.” This caused a painful disconnect with the truths he knew from his family. As a person of mixed race and cultural identity, he struggled with having a foot in two worlds and not feeling fully at home in either.

While earning a B.A. in Anthropology at Macalester College, Chris joined Proud Indigenous People for Education (PIPE), interned at the Nez Perce reservation in Idaho and helped produce Macalester’s first three powwows.

Over 30 years in the Twin Cities, he has continued developing leadership skills, community engagement and artistic craft. He directed Education at In the Heart of the Beast Puppet & Mask Theatre and Co-founded/Directed Galumph, an innovative participatory theater. In 1998, he co-founded nationally-acclaimed Z Puppets Rosenschnoz with Shari.

After starting her career as a Playwright in Residence at Bloomington Playwrights Project in Indiana and a McKnight Foundation Screenwriting Fellowship, Shari earned an M.A. in Drama Education from the University of Arizona. Shari also studied physical comedy with Sigfrido Aguilar in Mexico, Theatre of the Oppressed with founder Agusto Boal and puppetry with OBIE award-winner Paul Zaloom. In a Jerome Foundation Puppet Lab Fellowship, Shari developed "Cellula", a joyous glow- in-the-dark performance of cell division through the lens of mother and child. Shari’s stage adaptation of beloved children’s book "Hershel & the Hanukkah Goblins" has been produced by theaters across the country.

In addition to her work with Z Puppets, Shari has developed interactive environments and experiences for the Science Museum of MN, MN Children’s Museum, MN History Center, Mill City Museum and MN Zoo

Photo by Roger Walker

Photo by Kristine Heykants.

Past "Say it! Sing it! Play it!" Presenter Partners:

Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, Cloquet, MN
American Indian Center, Minneapolis, MN
Walker Arts Center, Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, MN
The Heard Museum, Phoenix, AZ
Great Arizona Puppet Theatre, Phoenix, AZ
MN State Fair, St. Paul, MN
Mill City Museum, Minneapolis, MN
South Eastern and Dakota County libraries, MN
Tulsa Repertory Musicals, Tulsa, OK
Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre, Tucson, AZ
Valley of the Moon, Tucson, AZ