For a special treat, the November edition of our Saturday morning Patchwork Series of kids’ concerts kicks off the Freight's Family Open House, which means its fabulous, fun, and free!  This show features  the astounding Fratello Marionettes and the Bay Area’s beloved Trinidad-born musical storyteller, Asheba.

You may have caught one of their ultra-popular performances in local libraries or art festivals, in which case you already know it: run, don’t walk to see the Fratello Marionettes work their magic! Using the traditional American “cabaret style” of manipulation (in which the puppeteer performs in full view of the audience), Kevin Menegus and Fred C. Riley III write and perform with intricately handcrafted marionettes in shows geared for children of all ages. Today’s performance, set to Camille Saint-Saens’ fanciful Carnival of the Animals, interweaves three classic fables, “The Three Little Pigs,” “The Tortoise and the Hare,” and “The Ugly Duckling.”

Asheba is a musical storyteller who specializes in calypso, the musical and folkloric oral tradition of his homeland, Trinidad. Stories of hope and happiness are the focus of his songs, which range from original lullabies to up-tempo tunes to remakes of classics such as “Itsy Bitsy Spider” and “You Are My Sunshine.” Any Asheba show also features children and parents alike joyfully singing, clapping, and dancing along! Now based in Oakland, Asheba has been performing at children's play spaces, museums, schools, hospitals, and festivals for the past 11 years.

Check out the rest of the events during the Family Open House, which includes an instrument petting zoo, family song circles, and cool crafts from the Sticky Art Lab.

Visit Asheba's website

Visit the Fratello Marionettes' website