NEWRY – For at least 10,000 years, people have been making masks and using them to reenact stories of great hunts, to scare away sickness and disease, and as objects of worship. Michael Cooper, the Masked Marvel, has been practicing this ancient art form for almost 30 years, using the mystery of the hidden face in shows for audiences of all ages.

Saturday, Feb. 4, he will present his one-man show, “Wondertales,” at Sunday River Ski Resort, as part of the Black Diamond Family Entertainment Series.

Combining the mythical and the autobiographical, “Wondertales” features his handcrafted masks, original stories of courage and wonder, outlandish stilt-dancing, and a physical repertoire ranging from the madcap to the sublime.

Each mask is a work of art and a unique invention, taking up to 300 hours to make and calling for such bizarre attributes as smoking nostrils and periscopic vision.

Audiences will see wandering giants, exploding noses, a slick fish, a larger-than-life baby, and snorting bulls.

Cooper’s credits include more than 8,000 shows in theaters, schools and festivals around the world.

The show will begin at 7 p.m. in the grand ballroom of the Grand Summit Resort Hotel at the ski resort. Tickets for this family event are $4 for children (ages 6 to 12) and $6 for adults in advance; or $6 and $8 at the door. Tickets may be purchased on the mountain or at Books & Things in Bethel. For more information, call (207) 824-3575.