For Immediate Release: February 20, 2007
Media Contact: Judy Walker, Mum Puppettheatre, 215.925.8686

Mum Puppettheatre's The Fantoccini Brothers is a vaudeville/cabaret show that chases away the winter blahs with a magical, edgy and hilarious tribute to some of the greatest puppeteers in the world, including Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets. The Fantoccini Brothers runs February 28 through March 18 at Mum Puppettheatre, 115 Arch Street, in Philadelphia's Old City. Tickets are $25 and are available by phone at 215 925 7686 or on line at www.mumpuppet.org.

Mum Puppettheatre is honored to include Jim Henson's "Java" among the works performed. Mum received special permission from the Jim Henson Legacy Foundation to perform Java, which was first performed by Jim Henson and the Muppets on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1966, when Robert Smythe, Mum Puppettheatre's artistic director, saw it for the first time.

"I'm delighted to be able to perform 'Java' live for modern audiences to appreciate," said.Smythe, who directs The Brothers Fantoccini "Forty years ago Jim Henson was not only cutting edge, he was creating work that is hilariously funny. I believe people will get a great kick out seeing what the Muppets were doing before Sesame Street, and this cabaret performance is the perfect setting for it. We're also presenting pieces created by the artists who inspired Jim Henson."

The Fantoccini Brothers continues Mum's tradition of presenting some of the best puppet and movement theater in the world. This year's edition - timed to provide a bright spot in the middle of winter - not only features work by Jim Henson, but the puppeteers who inspired him, and were inspired by him, such as Burr Tillstrom, Nina Efimova and Sergei Obratsov. The Fantoccini Brothers also includes works in Mum Puppettheatre's award-winning repertoire and some pieces by puppeteers inspired by Mum, like Aaron Cromie, Corinna and Burns. Some of the work is created by the The Fantoccini Brothers themselves, who are played by two men and a woman.

"The Fantoccini Brothers has a real sense of history to it, which is fitting for Philadelphia," explains director Smythe. "The first recorded puppet show in the new world took place here in the eighteenth century. Back then puppeteers toured the country then, performing 'fantoccini' or small puppet fantasies for their audiences. The Fantoccini Brothers even includes a period-style trick puppet," says Smythe. "This show is full of pieces that are full of magic and humor from today to three hundred years ago."

Actors featured in The Fantoccini Brothers include Genevieve Perrier, who was most recently seen in the Azuka Theatre's production of 'Twas the Night. Genevieve's previous Mum credits include; A Midsummer Night's Dream, Lady in the Van, A Boy and His Dog on the High Seas, and A Boy and His Dog in Outer Space.

American actor Dave Johnson studied acting at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. After several stage productions, Johnson made his Mum debut as Father in Séance (Baltimore Production). Since then he has worked on other Mum productions including The Wizard of OZ, Velveteen Rabbit and the upcoming Animal Farm.

Bradley K. Wrenn trained at Drew University and the British American Drama Academy. He has been living in Philadelphia for the last two years and has worked as a performer and teaching artist with Theater Circ, Hedgerow Theater, Enchantment Theatre Company and Theater Horizons. Brad is ecstatic to be working on his third Mum show.

Director Robert Smythe is the artistic director and founder of Mum Puppettheatre. He has written, directed and performed in over 20 original productions, winning four Barrymore Awards in choreography, design and education, and a ROCKY award for choreography. A Guggenheim Fellow and recipient of six Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Solo Performer Fellowships, he won a prestigious Pew Fellowship in the Arts last year.

Mum Puppettheatre, located at 115 Arch Street in the Old City district of Philadelphia, creates art that moves. The company has toured all over the world, won 13 Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre, and was voted Best Theater in Philadelphia Weekly (2004), and Best Local Theatre Company in the City Paper's Readers Choice Awards, (2004).

Performance dates/times/costs: See website for complete show times, ticket pricing and availability: or call 215-925-7686.

Runs February 28 - March 18, 2007. Tickets are $25.

Preview Week February 20 - 27, tickets start at $1 and the price increases each day by $1 until reaching $7 on February 27.

Opening night, Wednesday, February 28, 7:00 p.m. is followed by an after- party reception. Opening night tickets are $30.

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