All Of It: A Celebration of Chinese Shadow Theater at Flushing Town Hall

Episode Release Date: January 24, 2025
Host: Alison Stewart
Produced by: WNYC

Introduction

In this episode of All Of It, host David Fuerst delves into the vibrant cultural celebrations surrounding the Lunar New Year in Flushing, New York. Centered around the Year of the Snake, the episode spotlights a remarkable exhibition at Flushing Town Hall titled "Red Gate Pauline Benton and Chinese Shadow Theatre in America." This showcase honors the legacy of Pauline Benton, a pioneering puppeteer who played a crucial role in preserving the ancient art of Chinese shadow theater. Alongside exhibition insights, the episode explores additional Lunar New Year events, offering listeners a comprehensive view of the cultural festivities in one of New York City's most diverse neighborhoods.

Chinese Shadow Puppetry: Preserving a 2,000-Year-Old Art Form

Timestamp: [00:38] - [08:14]

David Fuerst introduces the episode by highlighting the significance of the Chinese shadow puppetry exhibition at Flushing Town Hall. The show, Red Gate Pauline Benton and Chinese Shadow Theatre in America, features over 600 antique shadow figures and scenic backdrops, some dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. Pix11 News has lauded these puppets as "beautiful, magical and mysterious," underscoring their artistic value.

Pauline Benton's Legacy

Stephen Kaplan, co-founder and co-artistic director of Chinese Theatre Works, provides an in-depth look into Pauline Benton's contributions:

"Pauline Benton was... in the 1920s, she traveled to China to visit her aunt... saw some of the shadow theater, traditional Chinese shadow performances, and decided, oh, I should bring that back to New York. And so she bought a few figures, tried it out with her friends in New York, and was a big hit."
[05:55]

Benton's dedication led her to accumulate a vast collection of shadow puppets, which became the cornerstone of her performances with the Red Gate Players—the first professional company to perform Chinese shadow theater in North America. Her efforts not only introduced this art form to American audiences but also inspired a generation of puppeteers.

Preservation and Exhibition

The preservation of these delicate artifacts owes much to Joe Humphrey of the Yue Long Shadow Theater. When Humphrey retired, she entrusted her collection to Chinese Theatre Works, ensuring their restoration and continued display. Kaplan emphasizes the meticulous care involved:

"They needed to clean off the tung oil used to preserve the donkey hide... making these panels [for the exhibition]."
[13:03]

Artistic and Cultural Significance

The exhibition goes beyond mere display, offering interactive panels that tell individual and collective stories through the puppets. Ellen Kodadek, Flushing Town Hall's executive and artistic director, highlights her favorite exhibit piece:

"There's this really beautiful... almost a dome that is carved out so that the shadow passes through when it's being performed... the bride and the groom in their really beautiful regala, all dressed up for their wedding."
[09:34]

Kaplan adds that the collection includes not only traditional figures but also those inspired by Western fairy tales and Mother Goose rhymes, showcasing a fusion of Eastern and Western cultures:

"These artists also made these set of figures based on... early 20th century great figures of flower fairies and mother Goose and elephants and three men in a tub."
[11:11]

Lunar New Year Celebrations at Flushing Town Hall

Timestamp: [01:46] - [19:32]

The episode transitions to broader Lunar New Year festivities in Flushing, a neighborhood renowned for its large Asian diaspora. Ellen Kodadek elaborates on the cultural importance of these celebrations:

"The Lunar New Year is celebrated actually across the world in Asian countries and Asian diasporic countries... this is a very important time for our local neighborhood and our local community because of the celebration of the Lunar New Year."
[02:13]

Rabbit Days and Dumplings Performance

One of the highlighted events is Rabbit Days and Dumplings, featuring Elena Moon Park and friends. This family-friendly performance blends various Asian musical traditions, with songs in Mandarin, Korean, and Hindi. Ellen Kodadek describes the performance as:

"An adorable and charming and delightful performance... musicians represent different cultures that come from different parts of the world... sing songs from the Asian continent... we invite families to come and to sing along and to dance along and laugh along and also learn a bit more about Asian cultures around the world."
[15:28]

A brief excerpt from the performance includes playful lyrics celebrating the festivities:

"Toraji, Toraji, Toraji, Toraji in the deep deep mountains White Toraji... Slowly but surely my basket grows full."
[16:18]

Upcoming Events: How Bang a Snake and Sangjuru

Looking ahead, Ellen Kodadek announces more events:

1. How Bang a Snake: Scheduled for February 15, this show is part of the Chinese zodiac-themed series, featuring the epic Chinese opera White Snake through shadow and hand puppetry. Kaplan explains:

   "This is part of a series of shows we've been doing every year for tour around the city based on Chinese zodiacs... the story of White Snake, which is a great romantic Chinese opera epic that we're performing with shadow puppets and hand puppets throughout the sea."
   [17:12]

2. Sangjuru Performance: On February 21, the Korean folk fusion band Sangjuru will perform. Ellen describes their music as a blend of traditional Korean sounds with folk, gypsy, and swing influences:

   "Sangjuru is this really incredible band that merges traditional Korean music with folk with gypsy with swing. So it's gonna be a really exciting evening and there'll be a post show reception..."
   [18:34]

Engagement and Community Building

Throughout the episode, listeners are encouraged to engage with the events and explore the rich cultural tapestry of Flushing. Both Ellen and Stephen provide resources for more information:

"Anyone who's interested can go to Flushing Town Hall's website, which is flushingtownhall.org, and that gives you information about all of the programs that we offer here at Flushing Town Hall throughout the year."
[17:56]

"You can also go to Chinese Theatre Works website also to see what we've got planned. We're performing all over the city."
[18:14]

Conclusion

David Fuerst wraps up the episode by recapping the cultural highlights discussed and playing a snippet from Sangjuru's performance, further immersing listeners in the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year celebrations.

"We've been speaking with Chinese Theatre Works co-Artistic director Stephen Kaplan and Flushing Town Hall's executive and artistic director Ellen Kod about upcoming Lunar New Year events, including a new Chinese shadow puppetry exhibition on display through Sunday, February 23rd. Thanks so much for joining us."
[19:13]

The episode serves as a vibrant tribute to the enduring traditions of Chinese shadow puppetry and the dynamic cultural events that make Flushing a hub of diversity and celebration in New York City.

Additional Information

For more details on the events mentioned in this episode:

• Flushing Town Hall: flushingtownhall.org
• Chinese Theatre Works: chinesetheatreworks.org

Listeners are encouraged to visit these websites to stay updated on upcoming performances and exhibitions celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the Lunar New Year.