STAR
wirtz center student performance project series
march 3-4, 2023
written by Sunnie Eraso
directed by Kristen Waagner
produced by Ryder McDaniel
stage managed by Via Greene
puppet design by Kristen Waagner and Sunnie Eraso
set design by Grace Kulas
lighting design by Haley Groth
costume design by Annalise Biesterfeld
sound design by Luke Arnold
marketing by Melanie Ahn
SFX makeup by Mark Park
featuring Sunnie Eraso, with puppetry by Sunnie Eraso and Kristen Waagner
Love, Angel, Music, Baby... and Star! When a back-up dancer discovers a puppet in her dressing room on the eve of the big performance, she is drawn into a fantastical journey through her dressing room mirror that will open her eyes to new worlds - and old harms. Inspired by a certain pop star's Harajuku Era, STAR explores what it means to dance on your own terms in a world that treats Asian women performers like puppets.
STAR utilized over 100 hand-built puppets, including a jointed doll puppet, 2-D figures, larger-than-life masks, and a video game-style crankie. The project was selected as a finalist for the Chicago International Puppet Festival's 2024 Puppet Lab.
