La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club Premieres Genre-Bending Sci-Fi Fairytale Mia M.I.A.

La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club is set to present the World Premiere of Mia M.I.A., an avant-garde production by the Brooklyn-based collective Midnight Radio Show. Described as a science fiction fairytale, the work synthesizes lo-fi space pop, live hip-hop, and intricate hand-cut shadow puppetry to orchestrate a visceral inquiry into the nature of grief, the role of imagination in healing, and the transformative power of embracing one’s shadow self.

Narrative Arc and Thematic Resonance

The narrative centers on the protagonist, Ella, who is thrust into a confrontation with the brutal realities of absence following the unexplained disappearance of the titular character, Mia. Rejecting a reality devoid of her beloved, Ella embarks on an odyssey into an enchanted, alternate dimension characterized by interstellar travel and encounters with unknown forces. The production frames this journey as an allegory for loss, wherein sorrow fractures into wonder, and healing is achieved through courage, connection, and creation.

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Creator Charlotte Lily Gaspard conceptualized the project during the isolation of the 2021 pandemic season, utilizing the narrative to explore the fragmentation of identity amidst disconnection. The work seeks to address these weighty existential themes through a lens of whimsy and playfulness, positioning these elements as underappreciated superpowers in the face of tragedy.

Scenography and Visual Innovation

Building upon the experimental aesthetic of Midnight Radio Show, Mia M.I.A. employs a unique interplay between the actor and the silhouette. The staging features innovative shadow puppetry that operates both behind and in front of the shadow screen, allowing characters to traverse the boundary between paper-cut fantasy worlds and the tangible theatrical space. The visual design, comprising striking costumes and hand-cut silhouettes, aims to transform the venue into a living, breathing cosmos.

The production was developed in residency at La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club beginning in 2021. It has been refined through three iterations of the Jump Start program, a series curated by Denise Greber dedicated to the evolution of puppet works-in-progress.

Sonic Architecture and Performance Credits

The auditory landscape of Mia M.I.A. is constructed to bridge ancestral storytelling traditions with futuristic soundscapes. Malik Work, a griot and hip-hop artist, contributes electrifying live numbers written specifically for this staging, placing contemporary rhythm in conversation with the visual narrative. The musical score also features compositions by Nebraska, Doc Frost, and Rebecca KellyG, a sonic architect known for utilizing vocal soundscapes to facilitate collective empowerment.

Co-directed by Ash Winkfield and Gaspard, the production features a diverse cast including Rina Dutta, Shabbi Sharifi, Gaby Febland, Zlata Godunova, Nat Marvan, Malik Work, and Charlotte Lily Gaspard.

Quick Facts: Mia M.I.A.

• Dates: February 5–15, 2026
• Time: 7:30 PM
• Venue: La MaMa’s The Club, 74A East 4th Street, New York City
• Tickets: $30 General Admission; $25 Student/Senior; $10 La MaMa Members
• Special Offer: First 10 tickets of each performance available for $10

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