In The Crone Chronicles: Reclaiming the Story of Baba Yaga we take you on a journey through a magical and mystical world. The story follows Chava, a young girl who faces challenges at home with her stepmother and stepsister. Seeking help, she journeys to Baba Yaga's hut, a wise woman from her part of the world, where she learns valuable life lessons. Throughout the show, the actors generate sound and folly using their bodies and minimal props, immersing the audience in the world of the story. The minimal set design allows the audience to use their imagination and fill in the blanks, creating a sense of intimacy between them and the actors. This play showcases the power of physical theatre storytelling and minimal set design to create a vibrant and immersive experience. The physicality of the performance draws heavily from the teachings of Jacques LeCoq. The actors use their bodies to convey emotion, meaning, and character, creating a dynamic and engaging performance. The use of clowning and mask work adds to the play's whimsical tone, adding levity to the story's darker themes. The Crone Chronicles’ focus on challenging stereotypical portrayals of characters is evident in the way Baba Yaga is portrayed. The character is complex, and the actors play with the audience's expectations, highlighting the importance of understanding the cultural and historical contexts in which stories are created. This show is in honor of women, of all ages; young girls, adolescents, young adults, mothers, grandmothers. This is for them, to see and claim and honor their power. This show is for those who love and respect the women in their life, recognize and see their power. This is a must-see for anyone interested in magic and mysticism, physical theatre storytelling, challenging traditional gender stereotypes, and the power of the human body to create a unique and immersive experience.

Josh Levine (he/him - Deviser, Actor) is a Chicago-based actor, clown, and musician. He is currently an ensemble member of Theater Unspeakable and does work with Silent Theatre Company and Hot Clown Company, along with other devised groups. He is SO excited to bring this project to life!

Danielle Levsky (she/they - Scribe, Deviser, Actor) is a Post-Soviet, Jewish, and queer multi-disciplinary performer, clown, writer, and educator. She is honored to share this tale amongst such a talented group of storytellers. As the child of Soviet Jewish refugees, issues of diaspora, tradition, resilience, and humor have deeply shaped Danielle's creative vision. Onstage, Danielle has written and performed a series of acclaimed solo shows as her clown character Baba Yana at venues nationwide. Danielle also co-creates devised ensemble work and original physical theater productions independently, as well as with other institutions like Diversionary Theater, The Conspirators, Silent Theatre Company, and more. She also teaches workshops on clown practice and performance, Jewish clown history, and her original creation, The Fool's Yoga. Danielle serves as a Jewish clown dramaturg, providing specialized research to help theater and film projects authentically incorporate Jewish and clown symbolism. They are on the board of the Alliance for Jewish Theatre, the leading organization dedicated to Jewish theater worldwide. criticturnedclown.squarepace.com / @criticturnedclown

Drawing on ancient Jewish storytelling traditions, our ensemble uses physical theater, clowning, masks, and puppetry to bring folktales and myths to life in a vivid, engaging way. We are committed to challenging stereotypes and highlighting the complexity of characters, empowering audiences to re-examine the stories they thought they knew. Our work centers the body and its immense capacity for expression and explores the rich cultural inheritance of Jewish stories.

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