A play sung in an imaginary language? A storyteller spinning a tale in English that comes all the way from Mexico? Beautiful sets and costumes designed from an award-winning children’s book? What could be better?!?

How about two famous tricksters, Rabbit and Coyote, trying to out-trick each other… it seems that Rabbit outwits Coyote at every turn -- in a garden of chili peppers, at a boiling cauldron, by a cactus, at a wasp’s nest, on a quiet lagoon, and finally in an out-of-this-world location that could leave a creature howling! This amazing play, Rabbit & Coyote (El conejo y el coyote), by Victor Rasgado (Mexican/Zapotec tribal nation), is based on Zapotecas legends and is inspired by 16 beautiful illustrations by Mexican artist, Francisco Toledo (Zapotec nation).  With songs in a fantastical imaginary language and narrated in English, this imaginative story by Victor Rasgado is just right for elementary school age children and older and is definitely family friendly.

After the show, visit the beautiful museum galleries and exhibits, or see the 13-minute movie, Who We Are, in the evocative environmental Lelawi Theater. This expressive tone poem is shown in the round in an intimate space on projecting surfaces of rock and screen.

For more information, go to their website at http://www.nmai.si.edu

This program received Federal support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center and is co-sponsored by the National Museum of the American Indian and The Smithsonian Associates’ Discovery Theater.

About the Meet the Museum Program

These programs are specially designed by Discovery Theater and the education departments of the nation's top museums to engage young people during their visits to the Smithsonian and foster scholarship - and fun!  Each program introduces themes and topics in a 30-45 minute Discovery Theater performance in a theater or space within a museum. Then, head off to the galleries to see objects, artifacts, or artwork on that theme.  Programs vary by museum; please call 202-633-8700 for more information on specific programs.

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