Khaleshia Thorpe-Price is a versatile creator, educator, and administrator from Maryland who aims to dazzle participants with the art of play, creative exploration, and ensemble building. Currently developing her project Imagine and Play Storytime: The Spider and the Crocodile with the support of Puppet Showplace’s Creative Residency for Black Puppeteers, Khaleshia recently shared a few of her thoughts about the program:
Puppets from Khaleshia Thorpe-Price’s “Imagine and Play Storytime: The Spider and the Crocodile”
Puppet Showplace: Can you describe your project in a few sentences?
Khaleshia Thorpe-Price: The Spider and the Crocodile is an Anansi Story. It is the second story in a three-part series, The Diaspora of the Trickster. In this story, we follow the trickster, Anansi, to Jamaica. Participants will hear tales of Anansi, the Crocodile, Bruh Rabbit, and the Wolf. They will engage, imagine, and learn ASL during this communal experience.
Work-in-progress setting from Khaleshia Thorpe-Price creating “Imagine and Play Storytime: The Spider and the Crocodile”
Puppet Showplace: What inspired (or is inspiring) the work you are creating during your Creative Residency?
Khaleshia Thorpe-Price: This story is the second in a series, The Diaspora of the Trickster. These stories traveled a long way from Africa to the Caribbean and America. The first story in the series takes place in West Africa. I began to think about the African Diaspora and everything that traveled with the people.
Africans brought pieces of their homeland with them on their journey, like seeds from fruit and vegetables, and they also brought language, music, dance, and stories. I wanted to show my audience tricksters in all three locations and the adventures they encountered by adding stories in the Caribbean and America.
Puppets from Khaleshia Thorpe-Price’s “Imagine and Play Storytime: The Spider and the Crocodile”
Puppet Showplace: What have you found most rewarding or beneficial about your experience so far with the Creative Residency for Black Puppeteers?
Khaleshia Thorpe-Price: I feel welcomed and comfortable in the group. I am usually not comfortable sharing works in progress. However, I have not felt that way with this group. The vibe is non-competitive, encouraging and inspiring. Everyone has different talents, strengths, and interests. We make a well-rounded collective. I couldn’t ask for a better team.
Puppet Showplace is proud to support boundary-pushing artists like Khaleshia. Follow Khaleshia on her website, Instagram, and Facebook, and subscribe to Puppet Showplace’s newsletter to be notified about performances by Creative Residency fellows!
Interested in learning more about the Creative Residency program and our current cohort? Find more details about current and post fellows here →
