Created and Directed by Erik Sanko
Original Music composed by Danny Elfman and Erik Sanko
Recorded Narration by Gavin Friday
Lighting Design by Andrew Hill
Sound Design by Andy Green
Architectural Design by Selin Maner
Mansion Construction by Matthew Acheson
Project Manager Jessica Grindstaff
Interior Design Team: Deana and Matt Acheson, Fatimah Durkee , Chloe Foglia, Jessica Grindstaff, Robert Jamieson, Michelle Harper, Alex Haring, Anders Johnson, Kara Koirtyohann, Tami Lee, Liz McGarrity, Francesca Mannoni. Senta Romasco, Erik Sanko, Christopher Young, and Becky Yurek.

Performed by Matthew Acheson, Liam Hurley, Erik Sanko, and Randall Whittinghill.

The Fortune Teller reveals a world of curiosities as seven unusual characters are invited to the estate of a late millionaire industrialist and informed they’ve been included in his will.  On a dark night, the strangers arrive at the late millionaire’s mansion only to learn their inheritances will be based not on a will, but on the readings of a fortune teller.  One by one, each is delivered what they have coming to them, but perhaps not what they are expecting.  Seven strangers’ twisted tales are brought to life in a handcrafted marionette play and woven with haunting music to tell an eerily comic story of fate and fortune. 

Read more from the media here:  The Fortune Teller.

This work has been in development over the last year through HERE's Dream Music Puppetry Program and will premiere as part of the 06-07 season. Click on the video clip in the upper-right corner to see the characters from The Fortune Teller.

This work in being presented through HERE’s Dream Music  Puppetry Program, which provides development, commissions and full production support.  Also made possible in part with funds from The Jim Henson Foundation, The Village Halloween Parade, New York State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Peg Santvoord Foundation and through studio space granted by Swing Space, a program of Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, generously supported by The September 11th Fund.  Space is donated by 6th Avenue Co,  LLC.
 

Erik Sanko is a marionette maker whose sensibilities lie somewhere west of Eastern Europe and north of Hades in a place where academics and lion tamers go to shoot marbles. He cut his teeth on the surly streets of downtown N.Y.C. as an avant-garde musician. At the precious age of 19, he joined the superstars of noise, The Lounge Lizards with whom he has played for 16 years. His reputation landed him roles with such luminaries as John Cale, Yoko Ono, Jim Carroll and eventually led him to start his own band, Skeleton Key. All during this time, he was secretly making marionettes much to his bandmates’ confusion.