Chessie

There’s a giant manatee, a wisecracking seagull, a huge Sand Tiger Shark and more in Rainbow’s most ambitious project to date. "The Amazing Adventures of Chessie the Manatee" is a fast-paced program featuring songs, dance and delightful effects. It’s all presented in bunraku, a Japanese-style of puppetry where puppeteers are completely visible while manipulating large puppets — some almost five feet in length!

The show represents a unique collaboration between Rainbow Productions, the Virginia Aquarium and Young Audiences of Virginia.  The aquarium is one of the top ten attended marine science and aquarium facilities in the country. For 50 years, Young Audiences of Virginia has been educating children in the state through the performing arts.

"The show is a true blend of art and science. Its multidisciplinary aspect crosses all curriculums and many grade levels," says Lynn Clements, the aquarium's director.. "Children can learn about the Bay animals and their habitats, as well as an important conservation message."

It’s based on the true story of Chessie, the Florida manatee who wandered into the Chesapeake Bay. In this story, he meets Seemore D. Bay, a seagull who leads Chessie on a tour. The play features over forty puppets including a bottle nose dolphin, a loggerhead turtle, star fish, a school of Lookdown fish, sea horses, moon jellies, blue crabs and more.

The musical score features ten new songs including Crabis the Blue Crab’s "I’m So Blue" and "There are Two Moons Out Tonight" which is performed by moon jelly puppets which glow in the dark.