Little Birdie and Blue Rose Moon Theatre Company
     
Blue Rose Moon Home Page

Photo Gallery

Current Shows

About 

New Edge

Elvis 101 Project

More Blue Rose Moon

Blue Rose Moon News and Past Production Notes

1999 Tennessee Williams Festival

Mustmeg an Appalachian Folk Tale

Music and Storytelling & Little Birdie

Contact Page

Seasonal programs

Photo Page 5

 
Blue Rose Moon Theatre Company is an independent theater company based in Philadelphia.


The company was founded by and is under the artistic direction of Ruthanne Ankney. It is dedicated to staging innovative theatrical productions.

Ruthanne has been featured in many theater productions in the Philadelphia area, Florida, New York, Texas, New Orleans and Mississippi. She has also been feaured in many commericals and has designed scenery for local film makers. She studied theater, acting, playwrighting and directing at Villanova Univeristy. She has contiuned with advanced studies in physical theater, Japanese Noh Theater, puppetry, masks, folk music, folk dance and folk arts. Ruthanne won a scholarship to study with the Eugene O'Neill Puppetry Conference and was awarded a scholarship to study with the intensive Japense Noh Theater program with the Bloomsberg Theater Ensemble. Ruthanne was selected to perform Ophelia. This haunting piece was written by one of the world's reknowned Japanese Noh Theater performers. Her work in progress combining Appalachian folk tales, shadow puppetry, ballads and live music was featured in the International Puppetry Magazine. While at Villanova Ruthanne was nominated several times for the Irene Acting Award.  Ruthanne was also part of the special studies playwrighting program. 

Her one woman show featuring Tennessee William's leading ladies was performed at Villanova and featured as part of the mono drama program. Ruthanne's passion for the America's great playwright Tennessee Williams took her to William's home town festival and the Tennessee William's festval in New Orleans. Several of her plays were featured at these festivals and it was an unforgettable expereince. Meeting William's brother, his friends, actors, profressors and novelists all with a great love for William's work was a dream come true.

 Ruthanne has explored many areas in the performing arts. Along her creative journey she fell in love with Old Time Music while writing, acting and directing a collection of Appalachian folk tales.  This new passion has worked it's way into her new adventure of writing, producing and acting in many folk theater pieces and performing with a local Old Time Music band. She hopes to do more of this. It's her current place of sheer bliss!  Ruthanne teaches and directs a variety of folk theater, music and folk arts programs in area schools.  

Please see the current shows page for more details and works in progress.

New theater schedule, festival information and events coming soon. New website up in just a few days.......................

Ruthanne will lead May Day dancing and perform Woodland Tales with  Blue Rose Moon Company at the May Day Fairie Festival. (May 2-4)  www.fairiefestival.net

Stay tuned!!!!!!!!!    

Catch the MOONFLOWERS AT DANCE FLURRY 2006. (Saratoga Springs, New York.) FEBRUARY 17-19. GO TO www. danceflurry.org

The Moonflowers become Little Birdie soon. Staytuned for updates.

BOOKINGS

To book the Little Birdie or Ruthanne contact obrienk@ix.netcom.com

A new website is on the way for Little Birdie.  ( An eclectic mix of Old Time Music, Rural American Music, Early Jazz, Folk, Swing, Storytelling and a whimisical collection of children's songs.   

Lament for the Moth (Poem by Tennessee William's) ...a work in progress with classical music, shadow scroll puppetry and movement was part of the Eugene O'Neil Puppetry Conference. Ruthanne's work in progress is featured in the International Puppeteer's of America's Journal.

***See Blue Rose Moon News and Past Productions Page for O'Neil project.

Ruthanne designed and directed the new Zoozapalooza progam of storytelling, music and giant puppets for the Philadelphia Zoo. Come to the Philadelphia Zoo and see a giant turtle, beautiful loon, a brave beaver, a beautiful giant luna moth, an exotic rainbow trout and more colorful giant puppets. Meet Giant Nanapush too! Join the drumming! Dance with the animals!

 

A Lenape Folk Tale comes to life with the help of the audience. This show can be seen twice a day at the Zoo. All children get their very own animal puppet. Don't miss this colorful puppetry extravaganza. Contact the Philadelphia Zoo for more information and directions.

 

Ruthanne and a giant butterfly puppet, 100 hundred flower fairy puppets, a giant moon goodess, little moon flower fairies and Kevin O'Brien on fiddle will arrive to the Enchanted Woods at Winterthur Garden's Enchanted Summer Festival Event on June 25. Blue Rose Moon and Little Birdie will present fairy lore, flower and fauna lore from around the world. You won't want to miss Kevin O'Brien on fiddle and our whimisical collection of enchanting songs. Come dance with the fairies, tour the fairy cottages, chase the bubbles, sing along to beautiful songs and stroll the magical Enchanted Woods. A perfect summer day. Contact Winterthur.org for more information and directions. Shows on June 25th are at 11:00 and 2:30.

Ruthanne just completed an artist in residency project with the Community Arts Parternship at the University of Pennsylvania. NEXT..........She will be conducting a giant puppet building, shadow puppetry, fairy crafts, costumes and masks as part of a residency at The Arts of Stockton, New Jersey.  A final performance will be held on June 19. She will be teaching a summer theater workskshop at Cheltenham Arts Center. Several spaces left.

Coming in July....Ruthanne created the Garden of Eden for local filmmaker Micheal Zuberav's new film. She also created puppets and magical animals. Frank Burns of Blue Rose Moon created the set. The set is beyond DREAMY!!!!! Micheal's last several films recieved much attention at the International Film Festival, Philadelphia, PA. Micheal's father has recieved several awards for his musical scores for several of Micheal's films. Stay tuned for more information on the film. The Garden of Eden set...........a room created within a room.... will remain at the Bala Arts....and will become an enchanting setting for classes and workshops to be offered this summer.

 

 

 

 

 

Blue Rose Moon and Little Birdie will bring a program of old timey music, folk theater, dance and puppetry to HERITAGE DANCE FESTIVAL, September 25. Go to heritagedancefestival.com for more information.

 

 

Blue Rose Moon has been selected to perform at the Black Sheep Puppetry Festival in Pittsburgh, PA. October 21st and 22nd. Go to blacksheeppuppet.com for more information. (Appalachian folk tales, shadow puppetry, fiddle, banjo and traditional ballads.)

Don't miss Blue Rose Moon and Kevin O'Brien on fiddle...Ruthanne on banjo uke at The COMMUNITY CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC, ARTS AND THEATER, DOYLESTOWN, PA. (OCTOBER 15).....Appalachain ballads, haunting stories, shadow puppetry and more. For more information go to communityconservatory.org     

 

 

 

Ruthanne and Kevin O'Brien are working on a CD of children's folk stories and songs form around the world...with lot's of fiddle, banjo uke, ukulele, whimisical instruments and drums. 

 

More information to come.

Blue Rose Moon heads to Germany for research on Christmas folk lore, music, stories and customs. A collection of old German stories and music to come!

 

 

BLUE ROSE MOON and Littlle Birdie  HAS A NEW SEASON OF EXCITING NEW SHOWS COMING TO THE BALA ARTS CENTER and other venus.  SEE THE BELOW FOR INFORMATION. THE BALA ARTS CENTER IS A NEW ARTS CENTER FOCUSING ON INNOVATIVE NEW WORKS, FOLK ARTS AND FAMILY THEATER. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECIEVE ONE OF THE BALA ARTS BROCHURES FOR SHOWS, CLASSES, WORKHOPS AND SPECIAL EVENTS CALL 215 - 871-7537 WITH YOUR MAILING ADDRESS AND/OR EMAIL ADDRESS. BROCHURES AVAIABLE SOON.

BALA ARTS CENTER

314 LEVERING MILL ROAD

BALA CYNWYD, PA

(UNITED METHODIST EDUCATIONAL THEATER BUILDING.)

215 - 871-7537

 

Blue Rose Moon and Little Birdie will be performing at Musikfest 17th and 18th. go to www.musikfest.org for more information. Little Birdie will be performing an eclectic mix of Early Jazz, Old Timey Tunes, Rural American Music, Blues, Folk and quirky children's songs. Kevin O'Brien on fiddle, ukulele, banjo uke, percussion and vocals. Frank Basile on vocals, guitar and banjo. Kim Basile on fiddle. Ruthanne E. Ankney ...vocals, banjo uke, mandolin and ukulele. Little Birdie will also be performing at the Appalachian String Band Festival (Clifftop) West Virginia ....August 6 and 7. Catch them at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival too!!Modify The Heading 5

www.musikfest.org.  Bethlehem, PA. 

 




If you would like to be put on the mailing list for information on upcomming productions or have a comment about the web page please send us an e-mail on the link below. To contact the artistic director please click on the contact page link to the upper left. All materials on this website are copyright property of Blue Rose Moon Theatre Company.
Mailing list/webmaster


 

Lenape creation tale created by Ruthanne at the Philadelphia Zoo. A touring educational program for children.