Detroit’s Cantastoria Festival brought storytelling, puppetry, music, and education into one eclectic show - Detroit Metro Times

Detroit's Cantastoria Festival Brings Unconventional Storytelling to the City's Stage

The city's latest artistic endeavor, Flying Cardboard Theater's Cantastoria Festival, defies conventions by merging music, puppetry, and education into a single evening of unapologetic entertainment. Taking place at St. Peter's Church from November 21-23, this eclectic show brought together local artists, activists, and community members to create an immersive experience that was both experimental and intentional.

The evening began with a brief explanation of the festival's origins, tracing back to 6th century India where cantastoria – a storytelling tradition blending singing and narration with painted banners and scrolls – took root. This rich history influenced modern puppet theater and continues as a vibrant folk performance practice today. The event also drew upon "cranky" shows, performances utilizing hand-cranked scrolls, another historic form experiencing a revival among folk artists and musicians.

The 12 short performances that followed tackled contemporary issues through historical context, humor, and chaos. Each act showcased the diverse range of perspectives and creativity at play, from tackling the history of cleavage to exploring the story behind a neighborhood block club. Notable mentions include "Belvidere vs. Crestline," which wove together industry nostalgia with biting satire, and Rocketman's electrifying music performances that filled the church corridor.

The festival's community-driven spirit was palpable throughout the evening, as artists drew inspiration from found materials, old stories, and shared imagination to create something distinctly Detroit. The collaborative energy was infectious, with each piece building upon and merging with the others in a beautiful display of communal creativity.

What truly stood out, however, was the festival's commitment to inclusivity and accessibility. By utilizing free community workshops and learning the form together, local artists created a show that was not only entertaining but also deeply educational and thought-provoking.

With its unorthodox approach to storytelling and artistic expression, the Cantastoria Festival is an absolute must-see for anyone looking to experience something new and innovative in Detroit's vibrant arts scene.

I gotta say, this festival sounds kinda like a wild mashup of different art forms . I mean, merging music, puppetry, and education into one show? That's some next-level creativity right there . And the fact that they drew inspiration from 6th century India's storytelling tradition is pretty cool too .

But what really gets me is how inclusive and accessible this festival was. Using free community workshops to teach folks about cantastoria? That's just genius . It shows that art can be for everyone, regardless of skill level or background .

I'm not gonna lie, I was a bit skeptical at first, but after reading up on it, I'm now super stoked to check this festival out myself . If you're in Detroit and haven't seen this yet, you gotta get on that ASAP!

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this thing... cantastoria? sounds like a weird mashup of music, puppetry, and old-school Indian storytelling . but hey, I guess it worked! the fact that they drew inspiration from history, community workshops, and even hand-cranked scrolls is pretty cool . what I don't get though is how this whole thing became "unconventional" ... was there some hidden agenda or something? or did they just genuinely want to push boundaries and try new things? need more info on that before I can fully buy into it

I'm so stoked about this festival! The way they combined music, puppetry, and education was pure genius. I loved how each act tackled different topics, from history to community issues, but with a unique twist that kept you engaged. And the fact that it's community-driven is just amazing - it's clear that everyone involved had a blast creating something special together . What really gets me is that they made it accessible and inclusive for everyone, which is just awesome. Detroit is all about innovation and creativity, and this festival shows exactly what that means .

The real question here is how this festival aligns with our nation's values of community development . I mean, think about it – a city that was once on the brink of collapse is now thriving thanks to its residents' creative energy and collaborative spirit . This Cantastoria Festival is more than just an artistic event; it's a microcosm of America's ability to come together and innovate in the face of adversity.

We need more festivals like this, but also more funding for arts programs that support community-driven initiatives . It's interesting to note how the festival's free workshops and accessible format cater to diverse audiences – isn't this what we mean by "government of the people" ? The fact that local artists drew from their own experiences and traditions to create something new speaks volumes about our country's capacity for grassroots creativity.

We should be highlighting this kind of innovative storytelling in our national conversations . What does it say about America's priorities when a festival like Cantastoria receives little attention, despite being an exemplary model of community-driven artistic expression?

omg u guys cantastoria festival sounds like so much fun i wish i could go! what kind of music are they gonna play tho? i just learned about cantastoria the other day it came up on one of my online courses and i was like wut is that? sounds kinda cool how they're using hand-cranked scrolls in the show tho that's so old school...

I'm low-key obsessed with this festival! They're literally bringing the past into the present and making it feel like a total fusion of art and activism . The fact that they're incorporating puppetry, music, and education all at once is genius . And can we talk about how inclusive they are? Free workshops for community members to learn the form together? That's some next-level commitment to accessibility .

I love how they took this ancient Indian storytelling tradition and gave it a modern Detroit twist . It's like they're showing us that art and creativity can be all about community and sharing stories, not just individual expression . And that Rocketman performance? I'm still buzzing from the energy! All in all, this festival is a total game-changer for Detroit's arts scene .

omg u guys i just saw this festival in detroit & it was LIFE.CHANGING cantastoria is like a whole different language of storytelling that blends music, puppetry, and history together... its so cool how they incorporated the city's community into the performance too i loved how each act was like a mini-workshop on some serious issues, but also super entertaining cantastoria festival 10/10 would go again

I don't usually comment but... I was really blown away by this festival ! The way they combined music, puppetry, and education into one evening was just genius . I loved how they drew inspiration from different historical forms of storytelling and blended them with modern issues to create something truly unique . And the fact that it was so community-driven and inclusive was really impressive - I mean, who wouldn't want to learn about storytelling through hand-cranked scrolls? It's clear that this festival is more than just an art show, it's a movement . I'm definitely going to check out more of Flying Cardboard Theater's work in the future

omg u gotta check out detroit's cantastoria festival it's like nothing u've ever seen before! they take traditional storytelling & turn it into this wild fusion of music, puppetry, & education the best part is how they blend historical context with humor & chaos each act is so unique & thought-provoking, i loved how they tackled issues like cleavage history and the community-driven spirit was super infectious u can tell everyone involved had a blast creating something special together can't wait to see what other creative endeavors this city has in store for us

Omg I'm so impressed by this festival ! As a parent, I love seeing my kids exposed to unique experiences that challenge their minds and spark creativity . The way the artists merged music, puppetry, and education is pure genius . It's amazing to see how they incorporated community-driven storytelling into the show, celebrating Detroit's rich history and diversity . My kid would have loved the "cranky" shows with hand-cranked scrolls - it's like a fun, interactive puzzle . The fact that the festival is inclusive and accessible? Perfect! I'd totally take my kiddos to this again and again, and encourage all my friends to do the same . It's just what our city needs more of - creative expression and community spirit .

I just got back from a road trip with my friends and we stopped at this tiny cafe that served the best coffee ever . I'm talking like, the perfect shot of espresso, you know? We ended up sitting there for hours chatting about life and stuff. It was so great to relax and not have to think about anything, just enjoy each other's company. Reminds me of how cool it would be if Detroit could bring that same vibe to the whole city, you know? Like a big ol' community gathering where everyone comes together to have fun and learn something new

OMG, I'm totally stoked on this festival ! It's like, so cool how they brought together music, puppetry, and education into one epic show . I loved the fact that it was community-driven and they used free workshops to teach everyone about cantastoria . And can we talk about the diversity of perspectives and creativity? It was like a masterclass in storytelling ! The way they merged old stories with modern issues was genius . I also loved how they used found materials and old stories to create something new and unique . Detroit's arts scene is truly on fire , can't wait to see what's next!

Wow The way they blended music, puppetry, and education into a single evening was so interesting! It's amazing how they brought together local artists, activists, and community members to create an immersive experience that was both experimental and intentional. And I love how they drew inspiration from historical forms like cantastoria and cranky shows to create something distinctly Detroit

I was actually at this festival and I gotta say it was SO COOL ! The way they mashed up different art forms was genius. And the community aspect? Unbeatable . It felt like a real Detroit thing - people from all walks of life coming together to create something beautiful . Can't wait for next year's lineup

I gotta say, this festival was all about breakin' free from the norm . It showed us that sometimes you gotta take risks and try out new things to create somethin' truly special . I mean, who wouldn't want to see puppet shows, music, and storytelling all mashed up into one epic event? And what I loved most was how they made it accessible for everyone - free workshops, community-driven... it just felt like a big ol' family project . It's a reminder that art shouldn't be some exclusive club, but somethin' we can all get in on and enjoy together .

Man I just got back from this epic festival at St Peter's Church and it was a wild ride . I'm still reeling from all the crazy creativity on display. They had these puppet shows that were like nothing I've ever seen before - they used hand-cranked scrolls to tell stories about Detroit history and social issues . And the music performances? Forget about it, the singer, Rocketman, was insane . But what really got me was how inclusive the whole thing was, everyone was there to learn and share ideas together . I mean, it's not often you see a festival that combines art, education, and community like that. Detroit is getting its creative juices flowing back for real

I just saw this and it sounds like so much fun ! I love how they're bringing together different art forms and perspectives to create something truly unique. The fact that it's community-driven and accessible is really cool too . It's amazing how a little creativity can bring people together and make a difference . I'm definitely going to check out the festival if I can!

omg I just got back from this festival and it was LIFE.CHANGING. I mean, who knew music, puppetry, and education could come together like that? The way they wove historical context with humor and chaos was pure genius . And can we talk about the community spirit? I loved how everyone came together to create something so unique and special. It was like one big happy family . Plus, the fact that it was free and accessible to everyone was just amazing . I'm still reeling from the experience and I know I'll be back for more!

I don't get it ... cantastoria sounds like some old-school thing that's been revived just to be trendy. I mean, how many times can you watch puppet shows or music performances about historical stuff? And what's with the whole "community-driven" vibe? Just a bunch of artists getting together, making some noise, and calling it an art movement

And don't even get me started on the fact that they're trying to pass off this as educational. I've seen high school productions of The Crucible that were more engaging than this stuff ... at least then you knew you were watching a scripted story. This cantastoria business just seems like a bunch of people waving their arms and making noise, hoping someone will get it .

Give me something with some substance, you know? Like, real innovation or progress or something that actually changes the world . Not this fluff about "community" and "storytelling" and whatnot... give me a break