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ImageTaste of Thai Express, The Foreign Ministry of Thailand and Singha Beer present Himmapan: 2nd World, at the State Theater in Ithaca on Saturday, September 12, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. The show is free and open to the public. It features a troupe of 12 to 16 Thai performers that dance, sing, and play music. The performance also uses original video and acoustic storytelling. Its message is that the peaceful co-existence found among the animals in the mythical forest of Himmapan is an example for our world’s myriad of personalities and our need to find such harmony.  

 State Theater performance of Himmapan: 2nd World is co-sponsored locally by Taste of Thai Express.

The Ithaca show is also part of a national tour that includes stops in New York City, Chicago, Dallas, and Las Vegas. Nationally, the tour is sponsored by the Foreign Ministry of Thailand and Singha Beer.

According to legend, Himmapan is a mythical Thai forest where hybrid animals (1/2 lion, 1/2 bird, etc.) live and co-exist in peace and harmony. Himmapan: 2nd World is based on this story. It turns Himmapan into 24 brand new Thai-world music songs and stories combining Thai folk music with the music and stories of Africa, the Americas, Asia, Celtic Europe, rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and acoustic rhythms.

Himmapan: 2nd World is the inspiration of Scranton, PA native Todd “Tongdee” Levelle. Levelle was born and raised in Scranton, is a two-time Fulbright Scholar and now lives in Thailand, where he is a composer, music producer, radio and television emcee/host and newspaper columnist. Levelle has created, produced or directed more than 30 world music festivals in Thailand and five other countries.

Many of the show’s performers were born and raised in Thailand, however others are from Europe. All have sung, danced or played with other performers from around the world.

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