Federica Collina
crankie Theatre Workshops
About the Artist
Federica is a dynamic performer, puppeteer, comedian, and educator with a deep passion for cultural diversity, climate justice, and innovative storytelling. A graduate Cum Laude in Political Science from the University of Bologna, Italy, she went on to train in theater, clowning, and dance while traveling throughout Europe, Mexico and the United States. Her artistic journey eventually led her to puppetry—the love of her life—and a lifelong commitment to the performing arts. She has studied under renowned mentors, including her work with the iconic Bread and Puppet Theater, and has performed and led workshops across the U.S., Canada, Europe, Mexico, Venezuela, and Taiwan. Inspired by a friend’s words— “I love ART, I just think it should get a job”—Fede has spent over two decades using art and theatre to support grassroots movements and community-based justice initiatives. She participates in ongoing professional development to ensure her teaching practices support diverse learners and foster inclusive, welcoming classroom environments.
RESIDENCY OFFERING: Build Your Own Crankie Theatre
Step back in time and discover the magic of the crankie—a traditional hand-cranked scrolling theater that transforms illustrated stories into moving performances. Blending visual art, storytelling, theater, sound, and STEAM concepts, students will create their own crankie theater from start to finish: create an illustrated scroll, build a working crankie theater, and experiment with narration, music, and sound effects. The residency concludes with a student showcase celebrating the creativity and charm of this pre-digital art form.
RESIDENCY OUTLINE (Grades 3–5):
3 sessions, 75 minutes each
Session 1- Story & Design:
Students will be introduced to crankie theaters through demonstrations and examples. They will brainstorm story ideas and begin illustrating their scrolling paper narrative.
Session 2- Build & Create:
Students will finish their illustrated scrolls and build a simple crankie theater box using provided materials. They will learn how the scrolling mechanism works and test their designs.
Session 3- Perform & Share:
Students will experiment with ways to animate their narrative, exploring how narration, music, sound effects, and movement can enhance storytelling. Working individually or in small groups, they will rehearse and present their crankie performances to classmates, followed by discussion and reflection.
Learning Targets:
Explore storytelling through words and images.
Develop creativity, artistic skills, and self-expression.
Strengthen communication and presentation skills.
Experience a historical, screen-free form of animation and theater.
Residency Outline (grades 6-8):
3 sessions, 75 minutes each
Session 1- Concept & Story Development:
Students will investigate crankies as a unique storytelling medium that blends visual art, theater, creative writing, and performance. Students will learn the history of crankie theatres and explore examples of crankies. They will develop a theme or narrative, inspired by personal stories, poetry, social themes, folklore, or imaginative stories, and begin designing their illustrated scroll.
Session 2- Construction & Refinement:
Students complete their artwork and build a functioning crankie theater. All materials provided.
Session 3- Performance & Reflection:
students incorporate narration, music, spoken word, or sound design and share their crankie performances with peers.
Learning Targets:
Examine how visual and performing arts communicate ideas and emotions.
Develop narrative, artistic, and creative-thinking skills.
Explore the relationship between image, movement, sound, and audience.
Build confidence through artistic expression and presentation.