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Paperhand Puppet Intervention Performs at UNC Through September 17

Nnenna and Pierce Freelon are collaborating on the 2023 show

By Rachel Casipit, Publisher of Macaroni KID Durham and Chapel Hill/South Durham July 13, 2023

Paperhand Puppet Intervention will present their 23rd Annual Show at the outdoor Forest Theatre on the UNC campus weekends from August 4th through September 17th. The show is a giant puppet spectacle with a score played live by the Paperhand Band. This year, they are collaborating with 6-time Grammy nominated jazz vocalist and storyteller Nnenna Freelon, and her son, Grammy-nominated children’s musician, hip hop artist, and picture book author Pierce Freelon. The show will feature music off of their new album AnceSTARS. They are also collaborating with Chapel Hill poet laureate CJ Suitt and NC Poet laureate Jackie Shelton Greene.


‘Where Our Spirits Reside’

"Our 2023 show is about love, memory, loss, transformation, grief, celebration, and ultimately – the strength and resilience we build together to heal. We can see and learn from our ancestors everywhere: those that have come before us, a mighty river, a old tree, a little mushroom, an animal, or even the stars themselves. Come pour some creative community gold into the cracks of our somewhat broken world and hearts. All are welcome here."


Performances are Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights from August 4th through September 17th at 7:00 p.m. with a 6:20 p.m. pre-show. There will also a Labor Day Monday show. Matinees are on September 10th and 17th starting at 3:00 p.m. with a 2:20 p.m. pre-show.

Purchase tickets here