Shadow puppetry takes center stage during two March events

Shadow puppetry, an art form more than 2,000 years old, will be celebrated during two March events on the Hanover College campus.

Esther Fernández, renowned early modern scholar and co-founder of the acclaimed Dragoncillo Puppet Troupe, will present “Puppets in the Spanish Golden Age” at 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 26, in Science Center, room 137. The address will focus on the inner workings, historical significance and contemporary relevance of puppetry.

Fernández will join members of the Dragoncillo Puppet Troupe for a performance at 6 p.m., Friday, March 29, in Fitzgibbon Recital Hall, Lynn Center for Fine Arts. The ensemble will perform “Quijóteres!, El Ingenioso Puppet Don Quixote de La Mancha,” based on the famed novel by Miguel de Cervantes. Primarily in English, the show reimagines the beloved story of the legendary Spanish dreamer, adding twists and surprises that will delight both children and adults. The presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

Both events are open to the public, free of charge. Seating is limited.

Fernández is an educator, performer, author and theatre critic. She serves as an associate professor in Rice University’s Department of Modern and Classical Literatures and Cultures with a specialty in Iberian studies and interest in the history of theatre and its relationship to an emerging civil society in Spain. She received the Sophia Meyer Farb Prize for Teaching in 2018 and the George R. Brown Award for Superior Teaching in 2022.

Formed in 2018, the Dragoncillo Puppet Troupe is a collective of educators and scholars from various U.S. colleges and universities. The ensemble has gained national and international recognition for their innovative approach to puppetry, most notably their adaptations of Spanish Golden Age literature. Members include Fernández, Alejandra Juno Rodríguez Villar (Hanover College), Jason Yancey (Grand Valley State University), Jared White (Hillsdale College) and Jonathan Wade (Meredith College).

The Fernández lecture and Dragoncillo Puppet Troupe performance are sponsored by the Hanover College Spanish Program with support from the Hanover Enrichment Series.