Little Amal, a giant puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee girl who has thus far traveled over 9,000 kilometers through 12 countries, has made her way to NYC to explore the five boroughs. Little Amal Walks NYC, in partnership with St. Ann’s Warehouse, runs September 14–October 2, and the traveling production’s NYC residency has received artistic support from several School of the Arts Theatre students. Kyra Armstrong ’23, Cristina Gerla ’23, and Dani Turner ’23 assistant produce the production. In addition, dramaturgical support for the project is provided by Begsy Inal ’23, while Taeeun Yeo ’23 is working as a consultant, and Anthony Massa ’23 and Connor Scully ’23 are line producers.
Throughout her travels, Little Amal, who is currently the face of an organization called The Walk, has served as a representation of all refugee children fleeing war, violence, and persecution. Her massive stature—Amal measures nearly 12 feet tall—is meant to both serve as a reminder that the refugee crisis is still very serious and deserving of attention, and to inspire those who see her to act in bigger ways to solve the crisis. Little Amal’s message is one of hope and solidarity for displaced people everywhere; she is a reflection of The Walk’s celebration of the refugee story as one of potential, respect, success, hospitality, and kindness.
Wherever Little Amal travels, she is greeted with various welcoming events, specific to the authentic cultural practices of the cities visited. Since 2021, Little Amal has attended more than 190 unique events in over 85 cities. In NYC, Little Amal will attend no less than 55 events, making this visit her most expansive city exploration yet.
Columbia Theatre students were introduced to several members of The Walk’s creative team during a class in the fall of 2021, and students then applied for positions for The Walk’s NYC stint when it was announced in the summer of 2022. When asked about her work on the project, Armstrong explained that she and her fellow students working as assistant producers support the execution of all 55 of Little Amal’s NYC engagements, adding that “every day is different, which is exciting!” Armstrong went on to express her ardor for the project, saying she is “passionate about using theatre for good, so it’s been incredible getting to work on a piece that is so directly at the intersection of art and social justice. The ability for a puppet to create meaningful experiences for people of all ages and backgrounds is so unique, but that’s what Amal is capable of. I think most people are surprised by how moved they are by their encounters with her.”
All of the Little Amal Walks NYC events are free, open to the public, and appropriate for all ages. The calendar of NYC events can be found here.
