Detroit's Cantastoria Festival Brings the Power of Storytelling to the City, A Celebration of Community and Creativity.
The Flying Cardboard Theater's annual festival brought together local artists and activists in a unique celebration of storytelling, puppetry, music, and education. Held at St. Peter's Church, the event was a stunning display of creativity and community spirit, with each performance tackling modern issues through historical context, humor, and chaos.
Organized by Flying Cardboard Theater, Cantastoria is an annual gathering where local artists create short shows through free community workshops, learning the form and building pieces together before staging a weekend of performances. The festival's website explains that it draws on centuries-old traditions like cantastoria from 6th-century India, as well as "cranky" shows using painted scrolls displayed with hand cranks.
The night began with an introduction to the history and concept behind Cantastoria, setting the stage for what was to come. Twelve short performances followed, each tackling topics such as the history of cleavage, neighborhood block clubs, and pieces of Detroit's past. One standout act was "Belvidere vs. Crestline," which explored a conversation between two automotive giants locked in a loop of chasing profit, using industry nostalgia to critique the present.
The show's unique blend of music, acting, and visual art made it an unforgettable experience. Local artist Rocketman wowed audiences with his booming vocals, while other performances blended seamlessly into each act. The collaborative spirit of the show was its greatest strength – from artists using found materials to old stories and shared imagination to create something uniquely Detroit.
With its intricate details and communal nature, the festival's success lies in its ability to bring people together. As one performance mentioned, "Gary [the projector operator] found the reel in some yard sale." This sense of community was palpable throughout the night, as artists and audience members alike came together to celebrate creativity and storytelling.
Detroit's Cantastoria Festival is a must-see event for anyone interested in the city's vibrant arts scene. With its unique blend of music, puppetry, and education, it's an unforgettable experience that will leave you eager for more.
The Flying Cardboard Theater's annual festival brought together local artists and activists in a unique celebration of storytelling, puppetry, music, and education. Held at St. Peter's Church, the event was a stunning display of creativity and community spirit, with each performance tackling modern issues through historical context, humor, and chaos.
Organized by Flying Cardboard Theater, Cantastoria is an annual gathering where local artists create short shows through free community workshops, learning the form and building pieces together before staging a weekend of performances. The festival's website explains that it draws on centuries-old traditions like cantastoria from 6th-century India, as well as "cranky" shows using painted scrolls displayed with hand cranks.
The night began with an introduction to the history and concept behind Cantastoria, setting the stage for what was to come. Twelve short performances followed, each tackling topics such as the history of cleavage, neighborhood block clubs, and pieces of Detroit's past. One standout act was "Belvidere vs. Crestline," which explored a conversation between two automotive giants locked in a loop of chasing profit, using industry nostalgia to critique the present.
The show's unique blend of music, acting, and visual art made it an unforgettable experience. Local artist Rocketman wowed audiences with his booming vocals, while other performances blended seamlessly into each act. The collaborative spirit of the show was its greatest strength – from artists using found materials to old stories and shared imagination to create something uniquely Detroit.
With its intricate details and communal nature, the festival's success lies in its ability to bring people together. As one performance mentioned, "Gary [the projector operator] found the reel in some yard sale." This sense of community was palpable throughout the night, as artists and audience members alike came together to celebrate creativity and storytelling.
Detroit's Cantastoria Festival is a must-see event for anyone interested in the city's vibrant arts scene. With its unique blend of music, puppetry, and education, it's an unforgettable experience that will leave you eager for more.
I mean, seriously, Detroit's got some serious storytelling skills. Like, who knew cantastoria was a thing? 
It's like they took all the weird stuff from history and made it into these super engaging performances. The fact that they used "cranky" shows with hand cranks is just genius 
, I wish more events did that kind of thing. And the music, oh man... Rocketman's vocals are insane 
! It's not every day you see community come together like that, sharing old stories and making something new out of it 
. If you're in Detroit anytime soon, do NOT miss this festival 
gotta love how these local artists came together to create something so special 
cantastoria festival is more than just a show, its a celebration of community and creativity 
rocketman's booming vocals had me vibin' all night long 
! its like a party but also super deep 
i loved how they brought together old stories & history to tackle modern issues like cleavage & neighborhood block clubs 
i mean, who knew old shows on painted scrolls could be so relevant today? 
the best part was the community aspect – artists workin' together, sharin' ideas & findin' creative solutions 
i'm def comin back next year for more of that feel-good vibes 
to me. i mean, what's with all the 'community workshops' and 'found materials'... can't they just come up with something new for once? 
and those performances that tackled modern issues through historical context? how boring is that? 
where's the edge? the excitement? give me a break, it's just another artsy festival trying to be all deep and meaningful 
but honestly, i'd rather watch paint dry than sit through some guy's 10-minute lecture about 'the history of cleavage' 
it was literally the most amazing thing i've ever seen! they had this whole room full of people just vibing off each other and creating something so beautiful together 
every performance was unique and spoke to a different part of me i loved how they incorporated history and music into these stories, it felt like i was experiencing something real 
!!! The way the artists came together to create this stunning display of storytelling, puppetry, music, and education was truly inspiring 
And the fact that it's all about community and creativity is just infectious 
. And that one act about Belvidere vs. Crestline... WOW 
. Can't wait for next year's festival! 
Rocketman's vocals were insane though 
and I'm so glad they highlighted the importance of neighborhood block clubs - we need more community initiatives like this 
His vocals were so powerful! I also loved how the artists collaborated with each other using found materials and shared imagination to create something uniquely Detroit. It was like a big ol' group hug 
for the city!
The way they wove together different art forms like storytelling, puppetry, music, and education is pure genius 
St. Peter's Church must have been transformed into a whole different space 
What I love most is how this festival celebrates Detroit's community spirit