A Story That Hits Close to Home
Hidden Water friend and filmmaker Norah Shapiro is screening her newest film, Magic and Monsters. If you’re not already familiar with her work, Norah directed Time for Ilhan, the acclaimed documentary about Ilhan Omar’s historic rise as the first Somali Muslim woman elected to state office in the U.S. That film earned multiple award nominations, and was awarded an Emmy for Outstanding Directing Special Class. Now, after years of dedicated work, Norah brings us a powerful new story—one that speaks directly to the heart of the Hidden Water community.
Magic & Monsters, her latest documentary, uncovers the dark history behind a celebrated Minneapolis Children’s Theatre Company. Once renowned in the 1970s and ’80s for launching the careers of young actors and performers, it later became infamous for a deeply rooted culture of sexual harm that started at the top.
Like so many institutions, the theater met a brief media storm—and then silence. Decades later it is still in operation. The young people who were sexually harmed are still fighting to be heard and to have the long-lasting impact of their abuse acknowledged. The film asks a critical question: What does real accountability look like, especially when the harm was woven into the very structure of a beloved institution?
Magic & Monsters premieres in Minneapolis this April—on a wave of such intense interest that the first screening has already sold out. If you're in the Minneapolis area, be sure to check the link below—additional tickets may still become available!
As we approach April, Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Month, we are reminded why stories like this matter. They show us what happens when adults look away, and they call us to our shared responsibility to protect children. At Hidden Water, we’re committed to supporting every family member impacted by child sexual abuse. Healing and prevention are only possible when we face the truth together.
If you haven’t yet, check out our Safe(r) Adult Training—a starting point for showing up differently for the children in our lives.