“My Friend, Mr. Crane,” written by Julio Martinez, is our upcoming bunraku puppet show as part of the Whooping Crane Festival in Port Aransas and is our 185th production!

From the organizers: “Whooping Cranes Return to Aransas Pass: Join us for an Edutainment Experience! Hosted by La Risa Rios and Richard Gonzales of the Science and Spanish Club Network. Featuring live music by Promesa al Sol, a live exotic bird from the South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, a whooping crane tribute performance by puppetry team, Zero Untitled Productions, called “My Friend, Mr. Crane,” concluding with a Four Wind Blessing from the indigenous Raramuris Tradition.”

Performance and behind-the-scenes photos from Feb 21st:

Our puppetry team has been assembled, our crane is being built (see photo), and we are well on our way to a performance at the Rialto Theatre in February!

NEXT PERFORMANCE: Rialto Theatre, Port Aransas, Tx on February 19-22, 2026. (Two shows ONLY, February 21st, 1:00 and 4:00 pm)

Written by Julio Martinez, and directed by Michael Verderber

ROBIN – Aubrey Gracia
MR. CRANE – Katherine Orozco-Verderber & Michael Verderber (voice and puppeteering, respectively)
MR. DUMPIT – Diego Trevino
CRANE GIRL – Elizabeth Pedraza

Performance screenshots from the first performance at the Rialto Theatre, Aransas Pass:

Rehearsal photos from the Peacock Theatre, Kingsville:

Puppet collaboratively designed by Aubrey Gracia, Diego Trevino, and Michael Verderber. Whooper collage teaser image courtesy of Pinterest and Katherine Orozco-Verderber.

(ZERO-185)