OMA
A joyful story of celebration, generations, and storytelling in yarn.
Oma says that knitting is not just pom pom hats and sweaters. Oma's knitting contains whole stories! This new family show by Shoshana Bass and Jana Zeller is an intergenerational tale that revolves around Grandma or “Oma." It is her birthday and all are preparing for the celebration. While the grown-ups manage work phone calls, playdate logistics and other such tasks, the children get into mischief with party decorating, present wrapping, and cake baking. Finally they all gather around for one of Oma's stories told in yarn. One character emerges from the tangle of wool and nearly ruins the party. But not to worry, all ends well at Oma's house.
Length of show: 45 minutes
Recommended audience: ages 4 and up
Created and Performed by Shoshana Bass and Jana Zeller
Directed by Ines Zeller Bass
Musical Composition and Recording by Molly Gawler and the Gawler Family Band
This project is partially funded by grants from The Jim Henson Foundation, the Puppeteers of America Rose Endowment Fund, and the SBA Shuttered Venues Operators Grant.
The History of OMA
Jana and Shoshana have been touring together with the creations of their mother Ines Zeller Bass (Punschi and Fritzie’s Flea Circus) since 2014. When they started performing this legacy work, Ines gave them a blessing: Long Life, Long Laughs, Good Play!
Building on the success and delight of touring Punschi and what they had learned about engaging children in the call and response traditions of German Hand Puppetry, Jana and Shoshana decided they wanted to create their own original show that also honored the family forms they had inherited.
When the Covid-19 pandemic forced the sisters apart, it was clear that they wanted to make a show that centered joy and family. They met outdoors to develop the script and songs, divided up puppetry and set builds so they could take turns working in the theater. They presented each other with surprises within their builds: Shoshana accidentally crocheted a giant pig head and Jana painted the house number 23 on the set (the house number of their actual grandmother). Once they were able to meet for rehearsals the rest just flowed into place. They engaged the remote collaboration of the wonderful Molly Gawler, whom they sent rehearsal videos for her compositions.
Since premiering outdoors for local schools, the show has continued to tour around the region visiting such places as Puppet Showplace in Brookline MA, The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry in Storrs CT, and Mayo Street Arts in Portland ME.