Founded in 1973 by a group of social activist visual and theater artists, HOBT has been noted for its large-scale, three-pole puppets, its lively "guerrilla theater" performance style, its work in the Phillips and Powderhorn neighborhoods of Minneapolis, and its timely social and spiritual themes. Under the artistic direction of Sandy Spieler, the company has received international recognition for its artistry and for its service to the community. The Weisman exhibition is the first effort to present and examine the history of this vital community-based arts organization, one of the premiere companies of its kind in the United States.

Theatre of Wonder provides an overview of the creative work HOBT has done over twenty-five years of May Day parades, mainstage productions, and residencies displaying everything from hand puppets and small masks to the theater's big, three-pole puppets. To accommodate the large-scale work of HOBT, the exhibition utilizes the WeismanÕs two main temporary exhibition spaces, as well as the entry gallery and the Dolly Fiterman Riverview Gallery; many of the three-pole puppets hang from the ceiling, making magnificent use of the galleriesÕ height. The exhibit offers visitors the opportunity to view the work of HOBT up close, allowing time to interact with objects not possible during performance. Video and audio recordings from the theatreÕs work appear throughout the exhibition, which put the objects in a context of the larger, theatrical work.

Theatre of Wonder begins with a ceremonial entrance where visitors walk through two arches, one marked "Wonder!" and the other, "Wonder?" These two expressions refer to HOBT artistic director SpielerÕs dual vision for the theaterÕs work: on one hand exploring the joys of the world, and on the other hand, questioning human suffering and injustice. The theaterÕs eight angel puppets are displayed along this entryway, holding out bowls filled with wish cards for visitors to take. The Sun puppet, rowed across Powderhorn Park Lake each May Day, will be viewed through this "Hall of Angels."

From there, the exhibition is divided into four main parts:

The introductory gallery, called "A Theatre Grows," includes a three-dimensional timeline of highlights of HOBTÕs history, making use of photographs, colorful posters, playbills, masks, and puppets. One area called "The World at the Heart of the Beast," features a dense array of puppets and masks from small to large-scale, arranged in clusters of character types: human, animal, plant, elemental, and spirit. This lively display dramatically illustrates the animated vision of HOBT while representing the various styles of puppets created by the company.

The next section, "25 May Days, 1975-1999: Celebrating Rebirth/Making Community," shows the themes, processes, and productions of HOBTÕs May Day parades through a highly selective presentation of puppets and masks, documentary photographs, and storyboards used in the creation of the May Day dramas, as well as video highlights from several parades. The large "ancestor" puppetsÐÐSky, River, Woods, PrairieÐÐcenterpieces of the May Day ceremony in Powderhorn Park, are dramatically displayed here.

"Making Magic Together" focuses on the "midwifery" work that HOBT develops in schools and other institutions through residency activities. Pieces from specific residencies are displayed in this section, illustrating the concept that simple and inexpensive materialsÑpaper, flour, water, paintÑcan be magically transformed into what become animated, powerful, and affecting. Visitors will experience this first-hand through a work station where they can actually make simple masks and puppets with the help of HOBT staff and museum volunteers.

And finally, "Theatre of Wonder?!", includes a series of installations based on more than a dozen mainstage shows. Puppets, stage sets, and props from such HOBT productions as 3 Circles of 500, Table Table, Circle of Water Circus, Our Place, La Befana, The ReaperÕs Tale, and Befriended by the Enemy are brought vividly to life in this section. A video monitor shows the objects in action. An archway provides the exit from the exhibition, with "Wonder?!" appearing over the door. Visitors will then return to the "Hall of Angels" through which they entered the galleries.

Weisman director of education and curator of Theatre of Wonder Colleen Sheehy says, "The exhibition is going to be just as awe-inspiring a spectacle as HOBTÕs stage performances and parades. Audiences will appreciate the ingenious visual artistry of the theatreÕs worksÐÐwhich, in performance, are usually glimpsed from a distance. Viewers will be able to closely examine the materials and techniques to experience the amazing range of puppet types and characters, from simple sticks wrapped with fabric to a big paper machŽ shoe to a huge mother earth figure with a flowing skirt to name only a few of the hundreds of objects that will be on display, from the tiny to the giant."

A full-color book, published in cooperation with the University of Minnesota Press, accompanies the exhibition and is available for sale in the Museum Store.

Support for Theatre of Wonder is provided by American Express Minnesota Philanthropic Program on behalf of American Express Financial Advisors Inc. and American Express Travel Related Services and by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a federal agency that fosters innovation, leadership, and a lifetime of learning.