From Farm to Stage: Treehouse Shakers Bring “Hatched” to Flushing Town Hall

Photo by Christopher Duggan

— Acclaimed children’s theater company presents original play for very young audiences —

On Sunday, September 14, Flushing Town Hall will present Treehouse Shakers’ Hatched. This delightful interactive play experience for children aged 1-6 is a wonderful first introduction to theater for the youngest audience members.

Hatched, written and directed by Mara McEwin, artistic director of Treehouse Shakers, is the original performance of a newborn chick emerging from her shell at sunrise to a strange and busy world. Performed through movement, handcrafted puppets, and very little human dialogue, the story is set amidst an American family farm. The chick is met by a feisty old rooster, a wobbly calf learning to walk, a gaggle of dancing chicks, a lamb, and a noisy nest of baby birds.

Intimately staged, young audience members are encouraged to interact with the newborn “animals” as they explore their worlds. Through movement and music, the calf learns to walk, the baby birds attempt to fly, and the lamb makes a new friend with the curious hatched chick. 

Hatched engages children through a unique hands-on approach to theater. Children interact and play with the characters on stage; they give the chicks their feed, milk bottles to the lamb, are licked by the cow, and feed worms to the baby birds. Babies in the audience will be enticed by the animal sounds and textures, while toddlers will love watching and imitating their favorite farm animals as they come to life. Preschoolers will enjoy learning about life on the farm, and older kids will be entertained by the charming storytelling, live music and dance. Hatched is a beautiful tale, told through exquisite visuals, music, and the exploration of baby animals on the farm for the whole family.

“Treehouse Shakers’ productions are always so special to us, and we love presenting them as often as possible,” says Ellen Kodadek, Executive and Artistic Director of Flushing Town Hall. “After Mara and her fantastic team brought the beach to Flushing with Sail Away this summer, we are thrilled to welcome the group back for a perfect fall farm story for young kids. We know Hatched with its adorable farm animals will be a lot of fun for all ages!”

After the play, Mara McEwin will lead families in a hands-on farm-themed puppetry and storytelling workshop, sure to engage even the youngest of family members. Participants will make simple stick puppets that tie into the characters from the performance of Hatched. Through storytelling with simple stories, nursery rhymes, and songs, toddlers and preschoolers will have a chance to use their own voice, body, and imagination. Young people will also be invited to play along with their newly made puppets. For nearly 30 years, Mara has been leading arts workshops for very young children across the country.

“Solidifying our role in the American theater, we were the first U.S. company to tour a dance-play specifically for babies,” says Mara McEwin, Treehouse Shakers’ Artistic Director and Writer, Director and Creator of Hatched. “I created Hatched, an immersive theater experience about life on the farm in 2011 and premiered it on tour in 2012. Hatched remains one of our most well-known and booked works.”

Since its beginnings, Treehouse Shakers has been the artistic leader in creating work for the very early years. Now in its 28th season, the company has created over 20 original dance-plays for young audiences. The theater group is particularly known for its works for babies, including Flutter (ages 6-18 months) and Sail Away (ages 18-24 months), which continue to captivate audiences nationwide.

The play on September 14 will begin at 10:30 am, with the workshop to follow at 11:30 am. 

Tickets for the interactive performance of Hatched are $15 for adults, $12 for members, and $8 for children. Tickets for the Hatched workshop are $5 for all participants and free for children under 12 months. 

For more upcoming events at Flushing Town Hall, visit: 

https://www.flushingtownhall.org/fth-presents

COVID Policy: 

Flushing Town Hall no longer requires visitors or performers to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19; wearing a mask is optional but recommended. For more details, please visit www.flushingtownhall.org/covid-safety.

Support Global Arts with a Gift Today!

All gifts of $50 or more provide exclusive Flushing Town Hall Circle of Friends membership with benefits including a Smithsonian membership, ticket discounts, and more! Donations in any amount are appreciated to support the artists and the nonprofit cultural organization as they continue to provide programming and entertainment across New York and the world.

https://www.flushingtownhall.org/circle-of-friends

Flushing Town Hall is a not for profit organization and receives major support from the National Endowment for the Arts; New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature; New York State Assembly Member Ron Kim; The City of New York, Mayor Eric Adams; New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Commissioner Laurie Cumbo; Queens Borough President Donovan Richards; The New York City Council, Speaker Adrienne E. Adams and New York City Council Members Sandra Ung, Tiffany Caban, Shekar Krishnan, Linda Lee, Vickie Paladino, Lynn Schulman, and Julie Won; Howard Gilman Foundation; Bloomberg Philanthropies; Guru Krupa Foundation; Seth Sprague Educational and Charitable Foundation; Lily Auchincloss Foundation; The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation; Dyson Foundation; Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation.

In addition to the list above, Flushing Town Hall’s Education & Public Programs are funded in part by Cathay Bank; Laura B. Vogler Foundation; Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation.

About Flushing Town Hall

Flushing Town Hall (FTH) presents multi-disciplinary global arts that engage and educate the global communities of Queens and New York City in order to foster mutual appreciation. As advocates of arts equity since 1979, we support local, immigrant, national, and international artists, developing partnerships and collaborations that enhance our efforts. As a Smithsonian affiliate and member of New York City’s Cultural Institutions Group (CIG), we serve to restore, manage and program the historic 1862 landmark on behalf of the City of New York. FTH celebrates the history of Queens as the home of Jazz, by presenting the finest in Jazz performance. We are committed to arts education and hands-on learning, for the arts-curious, arts enthusiasts, and professional artists. We serve one of the most diverse communities in the world and strive to uphold the legacy of inclusiveness that has defined our community since the Flushing Remonstrance of 1657.

Flushing Town Hall is a proud member of the Cultural Institutions Group (CIG), a collective of 34 nonprofit museums, performing arts centers, historical societies, zoos, and botanical gardens across all five boroughs with a distinct private-public partnership with the City of New York and a commitment to serving all New Yorkers.

Land Acknowledgement:

Flushing Town Hall acknowledges that we are on the traditional land of the Matinecock People, one of the original tribes of New York, and the first people of Flushing, Queens. The Matinecock continue to live and work on this land to this day. Flushing Town Hall honors their elders who have stewarded this land throughout generations.

For more information:

www.flushingtownhall.org

(718) 463-7700 x222

137-35 Northern Blvd. Flushing, NY 11354