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

Detroit's Cantastoria Festival: A Vibrant Blend of Storytelling, Puppetry, and Community Spirit

Last weekend, the city of Detroit came alive with music, laughter, and the unifying spirit of community as the Flying Cardboard Theater organized an eclectic festival that seamlessly intertwined storytelling, puppetry, and education. Dubbed Cantastoria Festival, it's a unique celebration of art, culture, and social commentary.

By delving into the rich history behind this ancient performance tradition, which dates back to 6th-century India, organizers provided a fascinating backdrop for attendees. The evening unfolded at St. Peter's Church in Detroit, showcasing an array of modern issues presented through historical context, humor, and creative storytelling.

Throughout the night, a diverse range of performances captivated the audience, each with its own distinct tone and message. "Belvidere vs. Crestline" stood out as a crowd favorite for its thoughtful critique on industry nostalgia and profit, expertly blending comedic timing with educational substance. The actors involved in this performance even shared their creative process, revealing how a local filmmaker's idea came together after weeks of collaborative brainstorming.

One aspect that truly defined the evening was the outstanding musical performances. Rocketman's booming vocals filled the church corridor, leaving an indelible mark on the audience. This was only one part of the talented lineup of artists who wowed the crowd with their diverse styles and sounds.

What stood out most about this event was its strong focus on community spirit. The artists used found materials, old stories, and shared imagination to create something uniquely Detroit-specific. Witnessing this collaborative effort was truly inspiring and showcased the city's resilience in the face of adversity.

With its rich cultural heritage and a testament to the power of art and community, Detroit's Cantastoria Festival is an event not to be missed. Mark your calendars for next year's festival and experience the beauty of storytelling, puppetry, music, and education coming together in one electrifying show that celebrates the very essence of Detroit's vibrant culture.

I am literally in awe of this Cantastoria Festival ! It's incredible how a city like Detroit can come together like this, blending art, history, and community vibes ️. I loved how they used storytelling and puppetry to tackle modern issues with humor and heart . And that musical lineup? Fire ! The fact that it was all about celebrating community spirit and creativity is just what we need more of in the world . It's a testament to Detroit's resilience and the power of art to bring people together . Can't wait to see what next year's festival has in store !

omg u guys cantastoria fest was SO cool!! i loved how they blended ancient indian storytelling with modern issues and humor it felt so relatable. the way they used found materials and old stories to create something uniquely detroit was genius. and that rocketman performance tho i'm def adding this to my list of must-see events for next year, cant wait to experience the beauty of storytelling and community spirit again

man i think detroit's cantastoria festival was like a breath of fresh air it brought this whole community together through art and storytelling what really stood out to me was how they incorporated local history and social commentary into the performances it felt so unique and authentic, you know? and the musical performances were insane rocketman's vocals are still echoing in my head lol. but what i love most about events like this is how they highlight the city's resilience and community spirit we need more of that positivity and creativity in our lives.

I'm so loving this idea of bringing ancient storytelling traditions into modern-day Detroit! The way they wove history, humor, and creativity together was pure magic . And I'm not surprised the crowd favorite "Belvidere vs. Crestline" resonated so deeply – who doesn't love a good critique on industry nostalgia ? But what really got me was how the whole event celebrated community spirit . Using found materials and shared imagination to create something uniquely Detroit-specific is just genius . Can't wait for next year's festival!

omg i'm still buzzing from the energy of detroit's cantastoria fest ! i loved how it brought people together through art & storytelling, it was like the city came alive with community spirit . the way they wove historical context into modern issues was so thought-provoking, and the performers were all so talented . rocketman's vocals though?! i'm still humming the tunes. what really stood out to me was how the artists used found materials & old stories to create something uniquely detroit-specific – it was like a big ol' group hug for the city . can't wait for next year's fest!

I was thoroughly entertained by Cantastoria Festival! The way they wove modern issues with historical context was pure magic . What struck me most was how it felt like a big ol' hug from the community - everyone was coming together to celebrate art, culture, and each other's stories . The creativity on display was off the charts , especially that Belvidere vs. Crestline performance! Rocketman's vocals were EVERYTHING and I loved how the festival used found materials and old stories to create something uniquely Detroit

I'm so tired of festivals like this being all over the place . Can't we just have one decent event without a million social media posts flooding our feeds? I mean, I know it's cool to see people coming together and all that, but can't they just keep it offline for once? And what's with the constant need for "educational substance" . I'm not saying there's anything wrong with learning stuff, but some performances feel like they're trying way too hard to be "thought-provoking". And don't even get me started on how cringeworthy it is when artists share their "creative process" ...

omg what a cool fest ! cantastoria festival is like, totally unique it combines storytelling, puppetry, and community spirit in this amazing way i loved how they used old stories and found materials to make it super detroit-specific the musical performances were insane rocketman's vocals are like whoa i'm so down for next year's fest can't wait to see what kind of creative stuff the artists come up with

omg i'm literally still reeling from the cantastoria fest last wkend i mean i've been to some cool events in detroit but this one was like a big ol hug for my soul it's amazing how they wove together all these different art forms and stories to create this super unique vibe that's just so detroit i loved the way they used found materials and old tales to make something brand new and exciting, it really spoke to me on a deep level and can we talk about the musical performances?! rocketman's vocals are still giving me CHILLS i'm definitely going to mark my calendar for next year's fest and bring all my friends

just got back from detroit cantastoria fest and man it was wild the way they merged ancient puppetry with modern issues was straight fire can't say enough about that belvidere vs crestline performance, those guys killed it the musicals were also on point, rocketman's voice is insane what really stood out tho was how the whole city came together to create something special community spirit at its finest gotta make sure to catch next year's fest [www.flyingcardboardtheater.com](http://www.flyingcardboardtheater.com)

Cantastoria Fest was lit! I loved how it combined old stories with modern issues - so relatable! The performers were on point with their creative storytelling, and that musical lineup? Rocketman slayed the church corridor! What's even better is that community came together to make something special, proving Detroit's got heart.

omg u guys cantastoria festival was SO awesome!!! i loved how they mixed ancient performance traditions with modern social commentary - it was like a time machine for ur mind! and omg the performances were soooo good!! "belvidere vs crestline" had me laughing out loud and thinking deep thoughts at the same time. I also loved how the artists used found materials and old stories to create something uniquely detroit-specific it was like a big ol' hug for the community spirit . and the music? forget about it! rocketman's vocals gave me chills. anyway, cantastoria festival is def a must-attend event next year - dont miss out on the beauty of storytelling, puppetry, music, and education coming together in one epic show

I don’t usually comment but... I loved how this festival was all about bringing people together! It felt like the whole city was buzzing with energy and creativity . The way they incorporated local artists and stories into the performances really made it feel like a true celebration of Detroit's spirit . And can we talk about the music? That Rocketman performance had everyone dancing in the aisles ! What I found really cool too was how the performers used everyday materials to create their puppets - it just goes to show that you don't need a lot of fancy equipment to make something amazing . Overall, it's awesome to see events like this happening in Detroit and spreading such positivity and community spirit .