GARDINER – Figures of Speech Theatre will bring to life Hans Christian Andersen’s classic story “Nightingale” Saturday, Sept. 24, at Gardiner Area High School. The show is produced by Johnson Hall Performing Arts Center and is the first in Johnson Hall’s Center Stage Series. It will, however, be staged at Little Theater at the high school, 40 West Hill Ave., to accommodate a larger audience.

Figures of Speech Theatre of Freeport uses original vocal music, live actors in flowing silk costumes and 4-foot tall intricately carved puppets. This full-stage presentation is well-suited to audience members aged 6 to 106.

The theme of “Nightingale” is the importance of maintaining a connection with nature. The Emperor of China learns of the existence of a plain gray bird whose song is the sweetest in all the world. He summons her to court, where she moves him to tears. Later, he is given a jeweled mechanical bird which makes him lose interest in the Nightingale, and he banishes her from his empire. But when he is alone and gravely ill, his tiny compassionate friend returns to bargain with Death and to save the Emperor.

The story is framed by narrators – adventurous medieval “traders in essences” played by Andrea Goodman, formerly a principal vocalist with the Meredith Monk Ensemble, and Carol Farrell, co-director of Figures of Speech.

The production features an original vocal score composed by Goodman.

Figures of Speech Theatre has performed throughout Japan, North America and Europe. In 1996, “Nightingale” played a successful Broadway run at the New Victory Theater and won the coveted UNIMA Citation of Excellence, the highest award in North American puppet theater.

The peformance will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for children. Tickets may be reserved by calling 582-7144 or at [email protected]. More information is available at www.johnsonhall.org or www.figures.org.

Johnson Hall has also organized residencies with the Figures of Speech artists in all five SAD 11 elementary schools through Oct. 14 to provide hands-on theater experiences and to help teachers learn how to use theater and puppetry in curriculum development. SAD 11 is supporting the residencies through grants.