The Monkey King journeys to Long Island

Travel to a far-away land with a magical and mischievous monkey as your guide in the new traveling exhibit at the Long Island Children’s Museum. “The Monkey King: A Story from China” introduces families to the ancient Chinese tale, Journey to the West. It’s a story of a mischievous monkey who takes visitors on a journey that finds him creating havoc in the Heavenly Palace, meeting Buddha, and overcoming numerous challenges, all the while teaching about China’s rich culture. The magical Monkey King’s adventures will delight and intrigue families.
Passed down through the centuries, Chinese children have leaned this story from their grandparents, read it in books and watched Monkey’s antics on television and film. His popularity has made him the star of opera stages and video games.
In this exhibit, visitors will travel along with Monkey and his friends Xuanzang, Pigsy and Sandy on their journey to bring back sacred items to China. Along the way the four friends encounter many obstacles and learn some valuable lessons in the process. A dozen imagination-powered stations are set up throughout the exhibit to engage kids in this rich story. During their visits, children can try on Monkey’s costumes, soar on a cloud with Monkey, put on a puppet show or transform into an animal of their choice to battle the Bull Demon.
“This exhibit will appeal to all ages including adult,” said LICM Executive Director Suzanne LeBlanc. “Children will find the main characters exciting and magical and adults will enjoy the important life lessons and values the characters represent. It offers a fun way to introduce children to a new culture and share a story that has endured for generations.”
The recently opened exhibit runs through January 3, 2010. To enhance the exhibit, special Mon-

key King programs and performances have been planned throughout the exhibition period.
This weekend LICM celebrates the exhibit's arrival with a Monkey King Festival. Visitors can get their faces painted in the traditional Monkey King Opera style and try designing a unique Chinese fan with a favorite Monkey King scene or landscape. Museum visitors can find out if they are brave or resourceful like Monkey King, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17-18, 1-4 p.m.
  Also join Dr. Judith Burgess to create a collaborative “post-it” note wall graph that relates cultural values to celebrate National Humanities Month. Explore the many languages that exist by reading a book from the museum’s World Language Collection.
Another highlight of the weekend is Chinese Theatre Works puppet-based performance of “The Birth Of Monkey King.” In this adaptation of the Chinese folk tale, the audience will meet Monkey and follow along with him on his travels. The show is presented Saturday and Sunday, at 1:30 p.m.
“Monkey King: A Story from China” is part of the Asian Exhibit Initiative, funded by the Freeman Foundation and administered by the Association of Children’s Museums. The exhibition was developed by the Children’s Museum of Manhattan.

Monkey King: A Story From China
At Long Island Children’s Museum

Museum admission: $10 adults and children over 1 year old, $9 seniors. Additional fees for theater and special programs apply.

Museum Row, Garden City, (516) 224-5800 or www.licm.org.