Bee Week: Greenfield Just Can’t Stop . . . Piti Theatre’s Jonathan Mirin to tell “The Story of My Bees” at Greenfield Farmer’s Market Family Day, July 5th at 10 and 10:45 am on the Greenfield Town Common plus local favorite Lui Collins at 9 am
Piti Theatre’s internationally acclaimed touring production “To Bee or Not to Bee” tells the story of how Farmer James has lost his bees, there’s only gruel to eat and now the townspeople (the audience) have arrived to protest, chanting “There’s no good food, we’re in a bad mood.” “To Bee” tells James’ comic, tragic and ultimately hopeful story – complete with puppetry, clowning, dance, live music and lots of audience participation. Piti created the show to raise awareness about the honeybee’s plight and gives children and adults tools for helping bees thrive in their communities. After receiving requests to share the essential message of the show in smaller venues, Piti created the 20 minute long “The Story of My Bees” which features Piti’s Jonathan Mirin as James telling the tale with the help of the puppets he made of all the people who are part of his story – from Neighbor Bob who wanted him to cut his lawn every week to the Corn Seed Salesman to the Bee Expert he made out of his rusted old bee smoker. The audience will also play their parts and receive bee-friendly flower seeds to plant.
For some context, in 2006-2007, U.S. beekeepers lost 50% of their bees. In the years since, beekeepers have continued to struggle with 30 – 40% annual losses resulting from factors including pesticide use, loss of habitat, rising levels of electromagnetic pollution and industrial beekeeping practices. Meanwhile native bee species are simultaneously disappearing.
“Bee Weeks” are a unique blend of pollinator-inspired arts, science, education and community-building. Amherst kicked off the series of four weeks in April followed by the Hilltowns in May and Greenfield in June. Springfield is coming up from July 7 – 13. The Weeks are inspired by two years of Piti Theatre Company’s touring their original play with music “To Bee or Not to Bee”, including a french translation which premiered in Switzerland in 2012. For more visit www.beeweek.org
About Piti’s Hive
Founded in 2004 by American playwright/performer Jonathan Mirin and Swiss choreographer/designer Godeliève Richard, Piti Theatre Company is an interdisciplinary performance troupe based in Shelburne, MA and Les-Ponts-de-Martel Switzerland. Piti (pronounced “pea-tea”) is an ancient Indian (Pali) word which can be translated as joy or rapture. Their aim is to create work which lends itself to the happiness of artists and audiences. The company has been nominated twice for an Independent Reviewers of New England Award.