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Posted on Mon, Jan 21, 2013 : 5:58 a.m.

Wild Swan Theater tells stories in 'Under the African Sky'

By AnnArbor.com Staff

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The cast from Wild Swan Theater's "Under the African Sky"

Wild Swan Theater presents "Under the African Sky," Jan. 24-26 at Washtenaw Community College's Towsley Auditorium, at 4800 E. Huron River Dr. in Ann Arbor.

This delightful and humorous collection of African tales (for kids age 3-9) includes “Why the Sky is Far Away” and “The Talking Vegetables,” and will be performed through storytelling, acting, and drumming.

Drummer Jaclyn Morrow will perform traditional music on the drums. Morrow has performed and studied West African drumming and dance with Like Water Drum and Dance and is currently with the Tree of Life Drum and Dance Society.

As well as drumming, Morrow will join cast members Sandy Ryder, Satori Shakoor, and Benjamin Williams as a storyteller and actor. American Sign Language interpretation will be provided by Jennifer Head.

This lively quartet plays a host of characters. Young children will delight in the talking vegetables who teach Anansi the Spider a lesson about hard work in “The Talking Vegetables,” and the jungle animals who teach a turtle about what makes a true friend in “Tug of Rope.” “Why the Sky is Far Away,” finally, teaches the value of not wasting food.

Showtimes are Thursday and Friday, January 24-25, at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.; and Saturday, January 26, at 11 a.m. Tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for youth and seniors. Discounts available for groups of 10 or more; $3 lap passes available for patrons under 2 years of age. To purchase tickets, call 734-995-0530 or visit www.wildswantheater.org.