Dan Zanes, Vik Dewan (CEO of Philly Zoo), Tom Woodward (Market President of Bank of America) and the X-tink-shun puppets
Earlier today under a sky that resembled the bottom of my charcoal grill, OWTK got a soggy sneak peek at X-tink-shun, the latest and greatest Philly Zoo exhibit opening to the public this Saturday April 9th 2011, and a 2-song live set from Dan Zanes. The collaboration with The Jim Henson Puppet Workshop is more interactive experience than traditional exhibit actually, featuring seven large, professional puppets operated by trained puppeteers.
A set of seven Bank of America Eco Stages will be positioned throughout the Zoo grounds offering visitors the chance to have personal contact and interaction with each of the impressive, colorful creatures. These live theatrical puppet experiences will run every half hour and hour from 10am to 4pm daily. The message is conservation and discovery with the hope of “bringing about the X-tink-shun of extinction”.
No modern attraction would be complete without something involving a video screen and it seems moving pictures is the preferred method for teaching children something important these days. As such, X-tink-shun: The Movie will run on a loop every 8 minutes in the Big Cat Theater. [Sigh].
Much more exciting is what else is in store when you visit the Zoo starting this weekend! Set to an original theme song by the great Dan Zanes, the Philly Zoo will be the sight of a twice daily parade featuring oversized animal air puppets around Bird Lake. Download Zanes’ “Hail The Creatures” on iTunes now. *A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Philadelphia Zoo conservation efforts.
Honestly, I haven’t had the inclination to visit America’s First Zoo in many years but X-tink-shun is enough to get my gang there. The X-tink-shun Wild Puppet Experience is sure to be a huge hit for families, especially those with little kids 7 and younger. I’m prepared to sit on the Schuylkill Expressway’s Girard Avenue off-ramp for a 1/2 hour at some point this Spring or Summer. I’m now accepting Dad of the year nominations.
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- Dan Zanes, Vik Dewan (CEO of Philly Zoo), Tom Woodward (Market President of Bank of America) and the X-tink-shun puppets
The Philadelphia Zoo’s X-tink-shun Wild Puppet Experience runs from April 9-October 31. Don’t sleep on this one, ’cause like our planet’s natural resources and our most endangered species, this great theatrical exhibit won’t be around forever!
*OWTK was not compensated for this post, unless you count the cool tiger cupcake I snagged and carried all the way home for the Bear. I did receive admission to the Zoo and free parking.
