[Update, 3/25/2014] October 5, 2013 marked the premiere of the M.A.P. of the Snow Leopard, a magical play about conflict and coexistence between humans and snow leopards. The captivating performance drew rave reviews – and the play is now available for schools, where it will both entertain and educate hundreds of kids (and adults)!
Watch the trailer here and please contact Steven Fogell at theaterarts@comcast.net for details on how to bring this amazing piece of educational theater to your school or facility!
Guests at the Snow Leopard Trust’s annual Fall Dinner on October 5 were in for a very special treat: They were the first audience to ever witness a live performance of the M.A.P. of the Snow Leopard! Created by Seattle writer and director Steven Fogell, and brought to life by a brilliant cast of actors, musicians and artists, this original play explores what it means for humans and snow leopards to share their mountain habitat, and how they can coexist despite their conflicts. Drawing from the rich mythology of many snow leopard range countries as well as from the Snow Leopard Trust’s vast real-life experiences in the area, Steven Fogell has spun a unique and moving tale that blends MYTH, ACTION and PROTECTION of the snow leopard and brings them to life on stage.
Following young herder Bataar as he is sent out to hunt the snow leopard that has been predating on his family’s livestock, the audience is taken on a journey to the top of the Golden Mountain, where the mystical, white-furred “ghostly beast” roams. The mountain is the realm of the goddess Tenger, who watches over the land and all living beings. When Bataar encounters Nadja, a hungry snow leopard looking for food for her family, Tenger intervenes before they both get hurt; and a magical transformation that will change the lives of everyone involved occurs…
On October 5, more than 200 guests, Snow Leopard Trust staff members and volunteers were captivated by the premiere performance of the M.A.P. of the Snow Leopard at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo. “People were glued to the action on stage”, Trust Executive Director Brad Rutherford says. “And when they discussed the play afterwards, people were empathizing with Bataar’s human family as well as Nadja’s snow leopard family – which is exactly how we try to approach conservation in real life!”
Inspiring empathy for both humans and cats in children was one the play’s main goals – and Fall Dinner guests will not remain the only people to have seen it for long: The M.A.P. of the Snow Leopard was created as an outreach tool, and will be brought to schools across the Seattle area! On the very night of the premiere, three guests successfully bid for the right to stage the play at a venue of their choice. Dozens more were equally excited and inquired about booking it for other schools.
Director Steven Fogell was full of well-deserved praise for his team of actors and volunteers: “It truly takes a village to create something as magical and worthwhile as this – and everybody was just amazing!” He’s already looking ahead to what’s next for the M.A.P. of the Snow Leopard though: “The premiere was unforgettable – but it was only the beginning! We all can’t wait to bring the play to as many schools as we can in the coming years.”
will this play ever be available on dvd ? I live in Pennsylvania , and it will be quite some time before the play makes its way to Pittsburgh.it would be a great way to raise funds if it were reasonably priced,15 to 20 dollars.just a thought….thanx! can’t wait to see it!
what an ingenious method to spread information and need to protect snow leopards. it would be lovely to have this as a traveling event. thank you for your work and commitment.