By Michelle Marraffini
Invertebrate Zoology
MLML’s annual Open House is fast approaching and our students are busy trying to make sure everything goes off without a hitch. One of our main attractions is the marine adventure themed puppet show. Students invite the audience to dive into the ocean with a much anticipated, “Welcome to the Moss Landing Marine Labs Open House Puppet show!” This puppet show aims to teach the audience about the ocean and get them really excited about studying and conserving it.
To learn more about how the creators of this year’s show feel about the show I asked each of them a few questions.
What is the best thing about the puppet show?
Nicole: The creative process that brings the whole show together; writing songs, developing choreography, crafting sets and props, all for the purpose of educating visitors about marine life in a super fun way!!
Marilyn: The best part of the show for me has to be people coming up afterwards to tell us how much they learned from and enjoyed the show, especially when we're able to reach both kids and adults. It means a lot when we're able to communicate crazily complex scientific concepts to everyone in a fun and accurate way. And the singing and dancing, of course. And writing the songs. Wait. That was more than one best thing...
What is your favorite character from the past?
Nicole: The "laid back and very cool" jellyfish from last year' show!
Marilyn: My favorite character- the BEST character- from past shows I've been involved in has to be the shrink-ray wielding, Russian-accented, diabolical sea star from the 2011 show, although I am extremely biased. Sea stars really do take over the intertidal zone in real life, and it's a blast to be able to give the drama a voice.
What are the plans for this year’s show?
Both: The theme of this year's show is a day in the life of plankton, "wanderers" of the sea! Our main character will be meeting different types of plankton like phytoplankton (algae) and zooplankton (animals) and discovering the importance of these tiny creatures to the ocean food web! There will be plenty of audience interaction, singing and dancing, so come join the fun!
Don’t forget to come and check out our puppet show and all the other marine activities at Open House April 21st and 22nd for this amazing free event.