Annie Evans, a writer with deep roots in children’s television, including the iconic “Sesame Street,” has brought her lifelong fascination with elephants to the theater. Her new play, “Aanika’s Elephants,” is currently captivating audiences at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, running from August 17th to September 3rd. This heartwarming production tells the tale of Aanika, a young Kenyan girl who forges a special bond with a baby elephant in a sanctuary where her father works.
Evans, known for her contributions to beloved children’s shows like “Sesame Street,” “Out of the Box,” and “Oswald the Octopus,” reveals that the seed for “Aanika’s Elephants”—the simple yet powerful image of a girl and an elephant—was planted nearly a decade ago during a yoga session. However, it was the quiet reflection of the COVID-19 pandemic that provided the space for the idea to fully blossom into a script. Evans’ admiration for elephants extends beyond their striking appearance. “They were just such a specifically different looking kind of animal. I always loved the look of them,” Evans shared. “Then as I aged I learned that they were so smart, and that they were matriarchal, which was really important to me.”
Adding another layer of “Sesame Street” magic to the production is Marty Robinson, Evans’ husband and a celebrated puppeteer himself. Robinson is renowned for his work bringing to life iconic “Sesame Street” characters such as Telly Monster and Mr. Snuffleupagus. For “Aanika’s Elephants,” Robinson’s puppet design takes a unique and imaginative approach. Rather than full-bodied elephant puppets, the stage features puppeteers skillfully manipulating individual elephant parts—a trunk here, an ear there. This stylistic choice, combined with the human characters being represented by symbolic items like hats or glasses (except for Jimmica Collins in the role of Aanika), encourages young audiences to actively engage their imaginations and fill in the theatrical blanks.
Evans explains this deliberate design choice, stating, “The play is [Aanika’s] memory. She’s a storyteller, and storytellers come with a little bag of goodies,” emphasizing the play’s narrative style rooted in recollection. “They don’t come with a full-blown elephant. So we wanted to keep with that kind of storyteller style, that it was memory.”
The role of Aanika is brought to life by Jimmica Collins, a Georgia native who also has a significant connection to “Sesame Street.” Collins currently portrays Grandma Nell on the long-running children’s program. Interestingly, it was Jon Ludwig, the artistic director at the Center for Puppetry Arts, who initially connected Collins with “Sesame Street.” At the time of her meeting with Evans, Collins was undergoing puppetry training under Robinson for television work. Evans saw a perfect fit and extended an invitation to Collins: “By the time I was looking for people to be in the show, there was already a group of people working at ‘Sesame Street’ and training,” Evans recounted. “So I just went hey – you want to be in my play?”
Collins describes her foray into puppetry as a “happy accident.” While theater had been a lifelong passion, her specific interest in puppetry sparked when she was cast in a show at the Center for Puppetry Arts in 2017. The welcoming environment and enthusiastic audiences inspired her to stay. “It’s just so pleasant, and the kids are great, and the audiences are great,” Collins said of the Center. “So I became a teaching artist here just so I could stay in the building, even though I wasn’t in a show.”
For Collins, puppetry offers exciting opportunities to expand the range of characters she can portray. She notes the limitations of traditional casting based on age and appearance, “You get cast based on your abilities and what you look like,” Collins explains about acting. “So, some roles I couldn’t get because I’m not a 70-year-old woman. But I love playing old ladies!” Puppetry transcends these boundaries, allowing her to embody characters like Grandma Nell and explore diverse roles.
Similar to Evans, Collins harbors a deep affection for elephants. From collecting figurines in high school to a transformative trip to South Africa in college, her admiration has only grown. She likens acting alongside the elephant puppets to interacting with a large, playful dog. The cast even studied elephant behavior, learning about the endearing clumsiness of baby elephants and their initial struggles with trunk control. “Because they’re puppets and they’re very light, they jump on me, and they put their trunks in my mouth, and they swat at me,” Collins describes, highlighting the lively and engaging nature of the puppet interactions.
Having transitioned from the Center to television work, Collins is thrilled to bring the show back to Atlanta and present it to its intended audience: children. While “Aanika’s Elephants” has been showcased at workshops and conferences, this run at the Center marks its debut for predominantly young audiences. “This is the first time, at the center, that we’re actually having audiences that are mostly kids,” she said. “And it was meant for them, so that’s been really fun.”
Following its Atlanta engagement, “Aanika’s Elephants” is set to enchant audiences at the New Victory Theater on Broadway, a renowned venue for family-oriented productions, in early 2024. The talented cast also includes Latoryah Alexander, Jared Brodie, Bradley Freeman Jr., Arianna Hardaway, Cedwan Hooks, Jean Marie Keevins, and Reay Maxwell. Pam Arciero directs and produces the show, with music composed by Paul Rudolph. Tickets to experience the magic of “Aanika’s Elephants” at the Center for Puppetry Arts can be purchased online.
