The Left Hand of Darkness
Based on the book by Ursula K. LeGuin
Playing January 29 - Feb 1 at
The Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival
Produced by Untitled Theater Company No. 61 with additional support by Yara Arts Group
Produced with the permission of the Ursula K. Le Guin Literary Trust
Created by Edward Einhorn and Tom Lee
Adapted by Edward Einhorn
Directed by Edward Einhorn and Tom Lee
Puppeteers: Chih-Jou Cheng, Gandul Gandulero, Tom Lee, Justin Otaki Perkins, Fletcher Pierson (understudy), Emma Wiseman
Actors: Winter Jones (Estraven), Miguel Long (Genly); Intro/Docent: Edward Einhorn
Composer/musician: Michael Zerang
Designers: Tom Lee (lead), Daphne Agosin (lighting), Chris Carcione (video), Jacky Kelsey (costumes and puppets), Grace Needlman (set and puppets), Averly Sheltraw (puppets), Linda Wingerter (shadow puppets)
Technical director/sound operator: Dylan Reyno; Video operator: Avery Sheltraw; Musical support & fabrication: August Boyne, Erik Neuman; Sound support: Damian Wiseman; Curtain creation: Riley Lynch; Rigging: Michael Reed; Fabrication support: Caitlin McLeod, Abby Palen, Fletcher Pierson (shadow puppet filming), Richie Schiraldi, Zachary Sun, Olenka Tsyhankova, Douglas Ward, Chris Wych, Aidan Vogel (puppet hair)
Stage Manager: Berit Johnson
This production is supported by the Astere E. Claeyssens Artist-in-Residence program of Northwestern University School of Communication. Tom Lee, 2025-2026 artist.
Thanks to Dr. Carol Farver & Dr. Robert Needlman, The Morris & Alma Schapiro Foundation, the Jim Henson Foundation, Chicago DCASE, Chicago Puppet Festival and Virlana Tkacz for their support.
Photos by Richard Termine
Reviews
“An ideal blend of source material and performance…the shift from wood and cloth to flesh and bone hits hard; when we see each other for who we are rather than what is unfamiliar, we become real to each other, an invaluable lesson as staged by Edward Einhorn and Tom Lee. The second act’s coup de theatre, where a white curtain is manipulated to represent Gethen’s snowy landscape, is astounding in its simplicity and effect. Michael Zerang’s music and sound design, meanwhile, situates the audience well in the unfamiliar atmosphere. Tackling questions of otherness, The Left Hand of Darkness is an adaptation delighting in strangeness, particularly as a means of destroying prejudice.”
— Rob Silverman Ascher,
The Chicago Reader
“Lee and Einhorn have carefully attended to every detail of this complex, political, culturally rich world, creating a flawless rendition…the stately beauty of the story is upheld with every detail, even as the action and dialogue dictate where to look for transitional moments. The beautiful alien contraptions and fashions are as richly complex as the live music by composer Michael Zerang, and live acting from Winter Jones (playing Estraven) and Miguel Long (playing Genly). The end result is a triumph for the powers of medium scale puppetry on the stage.”
