James Vogel and Randy Carfagno built the puppets and costumes.

 

New York Times, “Splendid”

Village Voice, “Exquisite”

Philadelphia Inquirer, “Engrossing”

Edinburgh Festivals Magazine, “Dazzling”

St. Louis Post-Dispatch,“Bold”

Edinburgh Spotlight,“Tantalizing.”

Oslo Aftenposten, “Brilliant”

Arkansas Gazette, “Athletic”

Shanghai Daily, “Multi-racial”

Arbeiderbladet, “Exciting”

Ulster County Townsman, “Sublime”

Backstage, “Beautiful”

“Firing Up the ‘Nutcracker’” New York Times

 “dances to a local theme.” Shanghai Daily

“Crossing national and cultural boundaries.” Beijing Telelvsion Weekly

“ Michael Mao’s Firecracker to blaze the nights of Beijing.” China Daily

“Already a hit before the premiere.” World Journal ????

“‘Firecracker’ – Jews in Shanghai?” Village Voice

“Mao has achieved what many artists in Shanghai are searching for: a style which can best be described as cosmopolitan,a style which, while personal, speaks to both Eastern and Western sensibilities.”                             Wen Wei Bao