Zoo Atlanta’s Ivan The Gorilla’s Life Story Told In Play
Courtesy of Synchronicity Theater
Ivan the gorilla lived at Zoo Atlanta from 1994 to 2012. And he was quite a gorilla: up until his death, he received fan letters on his birthday. He became an international sensation before he was brought to Zoo Atlanta because he lived in a cement cage and was display in a mall. There in his cramped conditions, he learned how to use finger paints and watch TV.
Ivan’s life was the inspiration for a Newberry-winning children’s novel by Katherine Applegate, “The One and Only Ivan,” which was then adapted into a play.
Synchronicity Theatre and Gateway Performance Productions have teamed up to produce the play. Lois Reitzes spoke with director Julie Skrzypek and choreographer Sandra Hughes about their production, which includes actors, puppets, shadow puppets, movement and masks.
“’Ivan’ is really a story about destiny and what you grow up to be,” Skrzypek said. “He is so much more than this animal in a cage, He can save people and create relationships other than watching and observing.”
“The One and Only Ivan” opens at Synchronicity Theatre on Feb. 3 and runs through Feb. 26.
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