The Serpents Fly at Sundown
direction, puppet construction and ecodramaturgy by Khristián Méndez Aguirre
giant puppet build with Aurora Kenyon (and community volunteers!)
story co-developed with
Gricelda Silva and
Caroline Reck
puppetry direction by Caroline Reck
performances by Gricelda Silva, Marina DeYoe-Pedraza, Diana Guizado, Antonio Medrano, Barbara Mojica, Victor Santos, Michael deWhatley, Gaby Caumon, Luna,
community partners: Stephanie Chavez Noell, Eileen McGinnis,
The Serpents Fly at Sundown is an outdoor giant puppet parade that centers community responses and resilience around natural disasters.
Guided by lantern creatures in the dark, community members have an opportunity to share their fears, memories and hopes for the future of their city’s weather.
The Serpents Fly at Sundown
Texas Capitol Southwest Grounds
Direction, Lead Puppet Design and Construction, and Ecodramaturgy by Khristián Méndez Aguirre
Puppet build with Aurora Kenyon (and several community volunteers!)
Story co-developed with Gricelda Silva and Caroline Reck
Puppet Direction by Caroline Reck
Additional Performance by Gricelda Silva
Additional giant puppet design by 5th graders from Travis Heights Elementary, Maplewood Elementary, and Reilly Elementary, in partnership with Creative Action
Puppeteers:
Casssandra
Marina deYoe-Pedraza
Verónica Pomata
Diana Guizado
Antonio Medrano
Kitty-Corn
Isis Silva
Abilene
Monsieur Murciélago
Victor Santos
Bárbara Mojica
Luna
June
Lady Libélula
Gabby Caumon
Michael deWhatley
Eve
Additional Planning and Story Development
Stephanie Chavez Noell, Eileen McGinnis
Box Office Support Marga Garza, Lesa Walker
Photography by Jacob Eaker
Videography by Joshua Quimpo
Press Relations by Motley Crew Media
Marketing and Graphic Design by Khristián Méndez Aguirre
April 8-11th, 2025
Cohen New Works Festival
UT Austin Department of Theatre and Dance
Austin, TX
A walk around UT Austin’s campus to remember the Battle For Waller Creek.
Cassandra Puppet Design by Khristián Méndez Aguirre
Puppet build with Aurora Kenyon
Music by Laura Camacho
Dramaturgy by Michael deWhatley
Puppeteering by Diana Guizado, Michael deWhatley, Verónica Pomata
Photography by Jacob Eaker
Supported by the College of Fine Arts Artistic Citizenship Grant, Planet Texas 2050, and the UT Department of Theatre and Dance
A Serpent Flies at Pease Park
Pease Park
Austin, TX
December 6th, 2025
Story co-developed with Gricelda Silva and Caroline Reck
Puppet Direction by Caroline Reck
Puppeteering by
Marina deYoe-Pedraza
Verónica Pomata
Diana Guizado
Antonio Medrano
Additional Performance by Gricelda Silva
Additional Development and Support by Stephanie Chavez Noell
Photography by Jacob Eaker
Supported by Texas Commission on the Arts, City of Austin Cultural Arts Division, Pease Park Conservancy.
The Serpents Fly At Sundown is supported by
- The UT Austin College of Fine Arts
- The UT Austin The Department of Theatre and Dance
- Planet Texas 2050
- Texas Commission on the Arts
- The City of Austin Cultural Arts Division Thrive Grant (for the Winter Premiere)
In Partnership with
- Creative Action
- Trinity Street Players
- Parents Climate Council
- Extreme Weather Survivors
Broadway World – Austin:
Giant Lantern Serpent Puppet ‘Casssandra’ to Appear at Pease Park for 1-Night-Only Sunset Encounter
Glass Half Full Theatre Reveals Additional Programming for 2025
Broadway World – Industry:
Arts Next:
In partnership with Creative Action
The Serpents Fly at Sundown at Meanwhile Brewery’s Oktoberfest – September 28th, 2025
The Serpents Fly at Sundown at Kids Ball – October 26th, 2025
Multi-week Puppet Design and Build at Maplewood, Reilly and Travis Heights Elementary Schools – October 15th, December 3rd, 2025
Feather Building Workshops at Alamo Senior Center – October 2025
Environmental Puppet Design at Creative Action Day Camps – October 10th and 20th, 2025
Teaching Artists: Marga Garza, Mateo Hernández, Khristián Méndez Aguirre
In partnership with Trinity Street Players
Lantern-making workshops – January 11th, 2025