500 shadow puppets bring ancient Persian princess legend to life

The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts announced that with the support of the Djavad Mowafaghian Foundation as lead sponsor, it will present Song of the North on Saturday, May 10 at 8PM as part of the Director’s Cut Series. The multi-media performance combines manual shadow puppets with stunning animation and original music to create an immersive, family-friendly experience. Tickets for this event go on sale to the general public on October 11 at noon.

The New York Times “Critic’s Pick” tells the courageous tale of Princess Manijeh, a heroine from ancient Persia, who must defy her father and use her superpowered voice to save her beloved Bijan and prevent a coming war. The epic love story is adapted from “The Book of Kings” (Shahnameh), and is created by Guggenheim Fellow Hamid Rahmanian with original compositions by Ramin Torkian and Azam Ali.

“Song of the North is an inspirational story that resonates with people of all ages. Whether you’re a little girl who sees themselves as the brave Princess Manijeh, or you’re an adult who is just mesmerized by the spectacular craft of these painstakingly made shadow puppets, this show has something for everyone. With a story that demonstrates that there is strength in peace, there is a lot to take away from Hamid Rahmanian’s work.”

Pat Carrabré, Director of the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts and curator of the Director's Cut

483 handmade puppets are brought to life by nine performers acting behind a screen with 208 animated backgrounds and projected audio, giving audiences the feeling of being immersed in a live animation adventure. Song of the Northshowcases the stunning breadth of beauty and creativity in contemporary Iranian art, using Princess Manijeh’s 1000-year-old tale as a vehicle to tell a larger universal story of perseverance, unity, and collaboration.

Hamid Rahmanian is the recipient of the 2020 United States Arts Fellowship. His film work has been shown at the Toronto, Sundance, and Venice film festivals and broadcast on PBS, BBC, Al Jazeera and more. Rahmanian has committed himself to expanding Westerners’ view of Iran and its culture. In 2013, he commissioned and illustrated a new translation and adaption of the tenth-century Persian epic poem Shahnameh by Ferdowsi, titled Shahnameh: The Epic of the Persian Kings. The 600-page best-selling art book was lauded by the Wall Street Journal as a “masterpiece,” and is currently in its second edition. Song of the North continues Rahmanian’s mission of showcasing the full spectrum of Iran.