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October 2, 2025 | Theatre,
Past Manual Cinema Productions at ArtsEmerson
Few artistic collaborations have lit up Boston’s theater scene quite like ArtsEmerson and Manual Cinema. Over the years, this Chicago-based performance collective has become a staple of ArtsEmerson’s programming, bringing their one-of-a-kind blend of shadow puppetry, live performance, and cinematic spectacle to Boston audiences! We are thrilled to have them join us again this year for The 4th Witch, but before they make their visit at the end of October, let’s take look at some of their past productions at ArtsEmerson:
Manual Cinema made its Boston debut with Ada/Ava in January 2018, presenting a poignant exploration of grief and identity through the story of elderly twin sisters. Utilizing handmade shadow puppetry, live actors, and vintage overhead projectors, the performance unfolded in a gothic New England setting, delving into themes of mourning and the supernatural. Audiences were “blown away” by the company’s ability to “create a new art form,” with WBUR remarking on the show’s precision and poetic execution.
The following year, Manual Cinema returned with The End of TV, which delved into the lives of Flo, an elderly white woman grappling with dementia and an obsession with home shopping networks, and Louise, a younger Black woman recently laid off from a local auto plant who becomes Flo’s Meals-on-Wheels driver. Set against the backdrop of a declining Midwestern city, Manual Cinema employed live-action silhouettes, shadow puppetry, overhead projections, and a live five-piece band to recreate the era’s television commercials and QVC broadcasts, adding layers of humor and nostalgia.
Then came Frankenstein, Manual Cinema’s reimagining of Mary Shelley’s gothic masterpiece, which doubled as a tribute to women in science and the origins of storytelling itself. ArtsEmerson has long been a home for artists who challenge form, embrace experimentation, and tell deeply human stories in surprising ways. This layered narrative not only brings to life the tale of Victor Frankenstein and his creature but also delves into Shelley’s personal experiences, highlighting how family, community, and education shape personhood
This season’s The 4th Witch marks yet another milestone in that creative relationship. As Manual Cinema continues to evolve, so too does their collaboration with ArtsEmerson. Together they’ve built a legacy of wonder and new narratives alike in ways that dazzle the eye and stir the heart. The 4th Witch runs at the Robert J. Orchard, Emerson Paramount Center, October 30th through November 9th. Come witness a story that will stay with you long after the curtain falls!
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