Stissing Center to host interactive children’s theater performance

PINE PLAINS — The Grumbling Gryphons Traveling Childrens Theater group will present a special interactive performance of “Anansi the Trickster Spider: A West African Folktale” on Saturday, Aug. 5, at 10 a.m. at the Stissing Center, 2950 Church St.

A pre-show workshop will take place at 9 a.m. during which children will train with the Grumbling Gryphons to become part of the show, learning songs, dances and chants as well as their roles as animals. No prior experience is necessary.

The tale being told in the performance is “How Anansi Brought the Stories Down,” and tells how Anansi, with help from children in the audience, tricks the jungle’s animals, retrieving the world’s stolen stories from sky god Nyame.

The show will feature performers Leslie Elias and Daniel Saed, with keyboardist and trombonist Brian Bender. In addition to adapting the folktale into an interactive show, Elias plays numerous roles in the production and has served as Grumbling Gryphons’ artistic director since she co-founded it 43 years ago.

Tickets are available on a pay-what-you-can scale. For tickets and more information, visit thestissingcenter.org or grumblinggryphons.org