“Unspeakably stunning”

Shterna and the Lost Voice is a one-of-a-kind storytelling production! Magid Ensemble's debut show follows the heroine, Shterna, on a mystical journey through the rich world of Yiddish folklore, as she tries to restore her friend’s stolen voice. Developed through rigorous research on Ashkenazi folktales, this original performance is brought to life with an exquisite, feature-length, hand papercut “crankie”, a long backlit scroll that illustrates the story as it unwinds. The crankie incorporates shadow puppetry and is lush with motifs from the Yiddish folk art tradition. The live, newly composed klezmer musical score weaves together moments of mystery and beauty, drawing the audience wholly into the world of the tale.

Shterna is presented by Magid Ensemble (magid, meaning “storyteller” in Yiddish) –  a new collaboration featuring award-winning klezmer musicians and composers Mattias Kaufmann, Raffi Boden, and Rachel Leader, Yiddishist and storyteller Weaver, and visual artist Kiah Raymond. The Magid Ensemble explores the interplay of sound, story, light, and shadow to create expressive and immersive storytelling landscapes.

This work is an invocation ritual, an opportunity to be present in the analog experience, and an invitation to join the long and ever-changing tradition of oral storytelling.