29th Annual Extravaganza
October 28, 29, 30, and 31
On the Midtown Greenway: 2828 11th Avenue S, Mpls, MN
Puppetry · Stilting · Dance · Fire · Music · Song
"After a two-year hiatus, a Twin Cities cult classic is back." - MPR News, Arts & Culture
Season of the Bear
After two years of modified show formats, 2022 welcomed the return of BareBones' traditional puppet pageant — an outdoor drama consisting of larger-than-life puppetry, stilting, dance, fire, song, and music.
The theme of the 29th Annual Extravaganza, "Season of the Bear," is an exploration of growing larger to hold grief and utilizing images of bears, deer, and birds. Additional themes include the changing of the seasons and the connections between the living world, death, ancestors, and grief.
Highlights From the Show
Photos by Paul Irmiter and Lucy Moroukian; Video by Joah Colby
Performance with dragon (artist Olli Johnson) and bear (artists Zarra TM and Fletcher Wolfe) puppets. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
Peruvian Mummy puppet (artist Gustavo Boada) backstage. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo Lucy Moroukian.
Altar volunteers preparing pre-show, with 'Ghost of the Big Ones' puppet (made by Heart of the Beast Puppet Theatre). BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Lucy Moroukian.
Hospitality Coordinator, Waffle, preparing food for a rehearsal. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Lucy Moroukian.
Crane puppet (by artist/volunteer Saul Silberman) being stilted during a performance. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
Music Director, Carlisle Evans Peck, getting ready before a show. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Lucy Moroukian.
Staff artist, Mary Jo Nikolai, getting ready to entertain attendees waiting at the gate. Headpiece and costume by Mary Jo Nikolai. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo Lucy Moroukian.
Altar volunteers preparing the altar pre-show. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Lucy Moroukian.
Fish puppets by Mark Safford sitting backstage. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo Lucy Moroukian.
A crow bike puppet sits under the 10th Ave bridge before being ridden onto the stage. Puppet by Peter Schulze and Xena Huff. Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Lucy Moroukian.
Fire performers crossing the stage. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Lucy Moroukian.
Staff artist, Gustavo Boada, working on a puppet. Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Lucy Moroukian.
Peruvian Mummy (artist Gustavo Boada) and skeleton puppets backstage. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
Spaz the Squirrel (mask and costume by Mina Leierwood) performed by Mina Leierwood. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
Mask by Gustavo Boada. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
Portrait of the orchestra before a show. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
Peruvian Mummy puppet (artist Gustavo Boada) during a performance. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
Cloud puppets (artist Maggie Arbeiter) during a performance. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
Fire performer Annabelle Daily posing for a portrait pre-show. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
Performers wearing fish hat puppets (hats by artists Maggie Arbeiter and Patty Gille). BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
Performance with mask by Gustavo Boada. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
Artists Kainoa Ruivivar and Magdalena Kaluza at a community build, working on a raven puppet. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
Altar attendees carrying a flaming canoe (made by Allen Christian) and artist Muni Khar peforming Indonesian music for the procession. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
Fire performer Bryce Stezka blowing fire during a performance. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
Bear puppet (by artists Zarra TM and Fletcher Wolfe) being performed during a show. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
Performance with a mask by artist Gustavo Boada. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
Raven (artists Kainoa Ruivivar and Magdalena Kaluza) and mask (artist Gustavo Boada) during a performance. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
Fire performer Eddy Wilbers posing for a portrait pre-show. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
Staff artists posing for a portrait pre-show. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
Fire Coordinator and twirler, Nat Allister, during a performance. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
A 'Ghost of the Big Ones' puppet (made by Heart of the Beast Puppet Theatre). BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
Fire performer Pedro Julio Becquer Jr. during a show. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
Performance with masks by artist Gustavo Boada. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
An altar volunteer prepping a 'Ghost of the Big Ones' puppet (made by Heart of the Beast Puppet Theatre). BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
Fish puppet by Mark Safford during a performance. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
Performance with a mask by artist Gustavo Boada. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
Crow puppet by Mark Safford during a performance. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
Deer and chariot by artist Eva Adderley performing a procession. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
Performers with masks by artist Gustavo Boada posing for a portrait pre-show. BareBones Extravaganza 2022. Photo by Paul Irmiter.
Rumbling Footsteps: the departed is carried to the other world in a procession of light and song.
On the Day We Are Together Again: in the fall, the veil between worlds is thin, and we can call to those we've lost.
A whopper of a fish tale: just tryin' to catch some dinner off the 11th Ave bridge.
Disco, Disco! A celebration of life - all the little bees get high, and all the little bees get low!
Rumbling Footsteps: the departed is carried to the other world in a procession of light and song.
On the Day We Are Together Again: in the fall, the veil between worlds is thin, and we call to those we've lost.
Goin' fishin', darlin': just fishin' for some dinner off the 11th Ave bridge.
Disco, Disco! A celebration of life - all the little bees get high, and all the little bees get low!
Co-Directors
Michelle Elliott and Kenneth Rivera
Artists
Eva Adderley (Artist)
Fletcher Wolfe (Artist)
Gustavo Boada (Artist)
Kainoa Ruvivar (Artist)
Margaret Arbeiter (Artist)
Zarra TM (Artist)
Carlisle Evans Peck (Music Director)
Nat Allister (Fire Coordinator)
Mark Safford (Shared Artist Role)
Mary Jo Nikolai (Shared Artist Role)
Olli Johnson (Build Support)
Marcela Becerra (Build Intern)
Crew, Volunteers & Partners
SO many!