Media Release
Contact: Mary Verdi-Fletcher
President/Founding Artistic Director
(216) 432-0306 office
(216) 272-1494 mobile
For Immediate Release:
Dancing Wheels Company Sets the Stage for the Heartwarming Story of Puff the Magic Dragon!
About Production:
On February 7, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., the Dancing Wheels Company will bring to the stage the world premiere of Puff the Magic Dragon! at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio. The storybook ballet was choreographed and reenvisioned by Robert Wesner, who had previously choreographed several full-length works for Dancing Wheels and was eager to accept the invitation to work with the Company once again.
The endearing story is of a lonely child who transcends his fears and doubts by creating a “magical” friend, Puff!
Puff, an imaginary dragon, creates a world of adventure and fun-loving antics as he and Jackie visit fantastical places where they make new friends who are quite unique. Jackie learns how, despite their differences, they accept and love each other.
Sadly, as Jackie grows up, his magical journey with Puff fades, but he never forgets the life lessons he learned about accepting others and the meaning of true friendship.
In Wesner’s version, the main characters are played by veteran wheelchair dancer DeMarco Sleeper as Puff and stand-up dancer Angelina DiFranco as Jackie Paper. Eight Company members play several roles, making the adventures exciting with cartoon-like characters and a myriad of props and background scenery. A special segment was created for the students from the School of Dancing Wheels. Wesner also chose music from an uplifting and memorable array of artists, including Dolly Parton, Peter, Paul, and Mary, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt, to name a few.
The original story of Puff the Magic Dragon was created from a poem written in 1959 by Leonard Lipton, a Cornell student who was influenced by Ogden Nash. It was later made into a popular children’s song created by Peter, Paul and Mary in 1963.
About the choreographer:
Robert (Bobby) Wesner is the former artistic/executive/founding director of Neos Dance Theatre (NDT), a choreographer, dancer, artist, and educator. He has served on faculty at Oberlin College, Belhaven University, and The University of Akron. He was awarded three ‘Knight Art Challenge’ awards, Ohio Arts Council project support, a Dance/U.S.A. scholarship, and a fellowship from Hollins. Wesner has danced with Ballet Arizona, Momix, Verb Ballets, and NDT performing repertoire by George Balanchine, Antony Tudor, Kurt Jooss, Paul Taylor, José Limón, Alejandro Cerrudo, Penny Saunders, Stephanie Martinez, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Neta Pulvermacher, and more in Europe, North America, and South America. He founded the Lose Your Marbles Fringe Festival featuring over 25 local, regional, and national performing groups in Akron, Ohio. Wesner established cultural and educational programming in five different Ohio communities each having representation on NDT’s Board of Directors. Wesner managed, choreographed, and performed with NDT in 10 different U.S. States. He is the father of four beautiful children, grandfather of two, and currently resides in Jackson, Mississippi.
Ticket information:
General admission tickets are available for adults at $25 and for youths 16 and under for $15. Tickets can be purchased on our website at www.dancingwheels.org or by calling 216-432-0306.
About the Company and School:
Under the Artistic Direction of Mary Verdi-Fletcher, America’s first professional wheelchair dancer, the Dancing Wheels Company is now in its 45th season. As a strong advocate for the rights of people with disabilities, Verdi-Fletcher opened the doors of opportunity for people with disabilities who desire to be on equal ground with their non-disabled peers. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, the Dancing Wheels Company educates and employs professionally trained dancers with and without disabilities. The Company tours globally with performances reaching over 6.5 million people since its inception. Educational outreach programs, under the direction of Sara Lawrence-Sucato, serve over 4,000 children and adults throughout Northeast Ohio annually. To learn more about the Dancing Wheels Company & School, visit www.dancingwheels.org.
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