To Bee or Not to Bee

"... guileless storytelling and sweet slapstick to charm an audience of any age. They utilize puppetry, clowning, juggling, song, movement and audience participation to teach and entertain their charges...” – Boston Arts Review

Farmer James has lost his bees. Now there's only gruel to eat and the townspeople (the audience) have arrived to protest, chanting, "There's no good food, we're in a bad mood!" 

Created for children, adults, and families, this award-winning show has toured nationally and internationally for more than a decade. To Bee or Not to Bee is inspired by the magic of honeybees and their vital role in sustaining our ecosystem.

Dire economic straits have driven James, a farmer and beekeeper, to replace his diverse crops with corn byproducts. As protests to his methods mount, he decides to tell his side of the story with the help of some puppets and his friend the Piano Lady. As the story unfolds, however, he must come to terms with the importance of pollinators, including the honeybee, to some of our most beloved foods. In the process, the show invites the audience to share in his discoveries and marvel at the wonders of nature.

Piti Theatre created To Bee or Not to Bee in response to the ongoing pollinator crisis. For the last two decades, honeybees and their keepers have been struggling due to pesticides and the loss of habitat, among other factors. This show raises awareness about the honeybee's plight and gives children and adults tools for helping pollinators thrive in their communities.

At the end of the show, children are invited to help James transform his farm which ties into a real-world grassroots campaign called 10% for the Bees. This initiative encourages replanting 10 percent of lawns with bee friendly habitat and transitioning to organic lawn care methods. Audience members also receive a packet of bee friendly flower seeds!

Run time: 45 minutes with no intermission

To Bee or Not to Bee is funded in part by the New England States Touring program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program and the six New England state arts agencies.

You can learn more about honeybees and To Bee or Not to Bee on Friday, July 26 at 5:30 PM at the Alan Day Community Garden during their farmers’ market. Don’t miss this chance to see real live honeybees in action and to hear a song from the show performed live.

Plus, children ages 7–12 are invited to join Piti Theatre for a two-day workshop at Celebration Barn in South Paris, Maine! Register here.

Here is the timeline:

Friday, July 26:

• 3:00–5:00 PM: Workshop with Piti Theatre focused on learning the moves for a song from the show called “The Waggle Dance.
• 5:30–6:00 PM: Sneak preview and performance of “The Waggle Dance” at the Alan Day Community Garden farmers’ market in Norway, ME.

Saturday, July 27:

• 12:00–1:00 PM: Workshop with Piti Theatre focused on creating unique characters and learning how to save the farm in To Bee or Not to Bee.
• 1:00–2:00 PM: BYO picnic lunch
• 2:00 PM: Performance of To Bee or Not to Bee

To register for the free workshops, please fill out the Google Form here. If you have questions, please email staff@celebrationbarn.com.