Jazz At The Heart
The Roving Art Cart Made History
"Pittsburgh has given the world extraordinary artists, yet few people realize that Mary Lou Williams stands among its greatest.” - Max Gelernter
MLWI was a proud legacy sponsor for a special Roving Art Cart Puppet Program titled Mary Lou Williams: Jazz at the Heart. This FREE summer puppet program was an opportunity for children to learn about an important Jazz Legend who grew up in Pittsburgh.
And now we are celebrating the closing - see the button below for the details.
About The Program
“Aunt Mary believed jazz is love – it is a living rhythm connecting memory and heart. This new puppet program shares her story and invites the audience to feel the music that she so generously shared.” – Bobbie Ferguson
This program uses the art of puppetry to teach children about how “The Little Piano Girl of East Liberty” became “The Lady Who Swings the Band” and who eventually composed the timeless and Grammy nominated Zodiac Suite. Mary Lou Williams: Jazz at the Heart is a historical moment for the Roving Art Cart Summer Program as it is the first to focus on the story of a Pittsburgh Legend.
This multi layered experience tells the story of how a very young Mary Lou was part of the historic Great Migration when her mother moved her sister and her from Atlanta to live with family in Pittsburgh. The show presents a timeline reflecting Mary Lou’s life and poses the question, “What is Jazz” throughout the performance. The puppeteers also incorporate an interactive component that includes recordings from the Zodiac Suite composition. This puppet experience is both educational and inspiring.
Special Performance Dates
Mary Lou Williams: Jazz at the Heart will appear at selected Roving Art Cart dates which include:
Friday, July 10th: Frick Park, Forbes Braddock Park (2 shows)
Tuesday, July 14 Wightman Park Playground, Squirrel Hill (1 show)
Friday, July 17th: Highland Park Farmhouse Playground (2 shows)
Tuesday, July 21 Marmaduke Playground, Brighton Heights (1 show)
Friday, July 24th: Schenley Park, Anderson Playground (2 shows)
Friday, July 31st: Frick Park, Blue Slide Playground (2 shows)
Friday, August 7th: Mellon Park, Marshall Building (1 show)
Please Note: There are 1 or 2 shows that run for about 45 minutes each typical show times are 10:30am and 11:00am.
Read All About It
Pittsburgh, PA – Mary Lou Wiliams Institute (MLWI) is a proud legacy sponsor for a special Roving Art Cart Puppet Program titled Mary Lou Williams: Jazz at the Heart. This free summer puppet program is an opportunity for children to learn about an important Jazz Legend who grew up in Pittsburgh.
A Thousand Thanks
This program is planted by dedicated donors and watered by a grant from The Grable Foundation, which has given this special puppet program roots to grow.
