The Scarecrow- Help Us Get Back Down the Road to NYC!

My name is Anthony Michael Stokes. I am the creator and puppetry artist of The Scarecrow. As a multidisciplinary artist, what fuels me is finding a clear perspective and cause to tell a story that will inspire, educate and allow for self-reflection. I love to package a story in such a way that you are thoroughly entertained and when you least expect it, you are hit with a deep moment that can change your entire perspective. While I have always loved the Wizard of Oz and all its iterations, along with other fantasy stories and fairy tales, I often wondered where are the people of color in these stories of munchkins, witches and other magical creatures. This piece as well the rest of the kind of work Kessto Kreatures does showcases a purposefully truly diverse company both on-stage and off-stage while also raising visibility for the different type of artists of color that exist and showing that we exist in our own unique powerful ways. I want my work to enlighten, empower and entertain while using puppetry ,music and theatre to connect everything.

The Scarecrow is blessed to be on its way to NYC and beyond, and while the opportunities are coming they are not without their challenges. Expenses covering materials, production costs and most importantly artist compensation. This work would not be possibly without the many individuals that share their skills and talent and this campaign is primarily to make sure thats the artists, technicians and performers are properly compensated for their time and work.