Minneapolis families have a brand-new reason to head to the Science Museum of Minnesota in downtown St. Paul. The museum is staging Dancing with the Bear, a new play with puppets that continues the beloved adventures of Nanabozho, the Ojibwe trickster and teacher, this time alongside his friend Nokomis, also known as Grandmother Moon.
Written by playwright and director Sir Curtis Kirby III, the production mixes puppetry, larger-than-life characters and live actors into a fresh story about learning from elders, listening to the Earth and honoring the Native stories of this region. Presented with scenes in both English and Ojibwemowin, it is a gentle, joyful first theater experience for kids — and a meaningful one for grown-ups.
The play is part of the museum’s Native American Heritage Month celebration and grew out of its long-running Native American Artist-in-Residence focus on puppetry. Performances run Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, November 6–29, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., including sensory-friendly showings, and are included with regular museum admission. Families can also explore the broader festival weekend and the museum’s Native arts and science weekend programs while they are there.
The Science Museum of Minnesota, at 120 West Kellogg Boulevard overlooking the Mississippi River, pairs the show with hands-on exhibits, the Mississippi River Gallery and giant-screen Omnitheater films, making an easy, full family day out. Tickets are available at smm.org.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
