2024/2025 THEME:
journey to space
HELP US SEND ZIGGY STARDUST BACK TO SPACE!
THE MISSION: Time is running out to save Planet Zanzibrax from IGRAC, the most formidable realtors in the galaxy. The STARDUST 24-25 Space Krewe is on an epic quest to launch Ziggy, Freddie, and the Chins back to space in time for the Kings of Karnage Reunion Show. Join us on this cosmic journey to free Zanzibrax and defeat IGRAC’s crushing interest rates once and for all!
On a far away planet called Zanzibrax, there lived a famous rock star named Ziggy Stardust King of Karnage.
Ziggy wasn’t just any rock star—he was the leader of a band called The Kings of Karnage and was known throughout the galaxy for his amazing music and unique, lightning-shaped face marking!
The Kings of Karnage
The most popular thrash metal band in the whole galaxy, known for their breakneck speed, feral riffs, and guttural screams that can shatter asteroid belts, they headline interplanetary festivals from the moons of Jupiter to the outer colonies of Andromeda.
Band members include King Stirglob, King Greg, the Antiblerg, and of course, Ziggy Stardust King of Karnage.
Protection from the igrac
The Kings of Karnage were more than just a rock band… they also kept Planet Zanzibrax safe from the most fearsome villains in the entire universe—the dreaded Intergalactic Association of Realtors (IGRAC). These evil realtors destroy communities by tricking life forms to sell their homes for super low prices, then they charge extremely high interest rates. They steal homes, neighborhoods and even whole planets!
They use an ancient technique called the “hyno-ball” - a form of hypnosis. By swaying the hypno-ball, they convince beings to sell their homes.
THE TRASH METAL KEEPS THE REALTORS AT BAY!
Lucky for the Zanzibraxians, the rockin’ tunes of the Kings of Karnage are so powerful that the IGRAC’s hypno-balls can’t function within a 100,000 mile radius of the planet. The Zanxibraxians are safe! For now….
Ziggy VISITS Dr. DOODLE:
Despite his amazing life and band, something was troubling Ziggy. After his concerts, he felt more and more sore. His hips would hurt after each recording session. He went to see Dr. Doodle, who ran a number of tests. She discovered that Ziggy was born with a condition called hip dysplasia, where the ball and socket of the hip don’t fit together properly. Instead of sliding smoothly, they rub and grind, leading to gradual deterioration and significant chronic pain.
Unable to treat this condition on planet Zanzibrax, Dr. Doodle refered Ziggy to a hip specialist on planet Earth. Ziggy was sad to leave the Kings of Karnage and his fans, but knew he had to stop his pain once and for all.
Journey to earth:
So Ziggy gets aboard his spaceship, and begins his journey from Zanzibrax to Earth. Shortly after leaving, he discovers a VERY big surprise… Princess Supernova had snuck onto his spaceship before launch!
Princess Supernova, a real life princess, is known for being a little mischievous… When she saw Ziggy’s spaceship, she couldn’t stop her curiosity. She began exploring, looking for a high spot to perch when suddenly—zoom! The ship blasted off!
At first, she was terrified by space travel, but now she’s happy to be with Ziggy on this journey. They are best friends and do everything together.
The Surgery:
After arriving on Earth, Ziggy heads straight to New Orleans, where he is treated by his incredible medical team. They take his x-ray and administer the anesthesia. While Ziggy is peacefully dreaming, they make the incision and remove the section of bone that is causing his dysplasia.
It was a successful surgery! His doctor prescribes lots of rest and relaxation, and his healing begins. After 6 weeks of rest, he will finally be pain free!
WORKING AS A CAMP COUNSELOR:
After a restful recovery, Ziggy decides that he is ready to get a job on Earth. One day, when walking through the Bywater with Princess Supernova, he stumbles across a fun looking art camp. They immediately interview for the job and are hired on the spot!
He takes his job very seriously, greeting every student with the utmost enthusiasm. He enjoys endless attention and adoration, and NEVER gets tired of chasing the ball.
Even though Ziggy sometimes misses his home planet, Art Camp 504 has become his favorite place in the whole world, and he works very hard to make it a fun and exciting place for everyone.
Princess Supernova also comes to Art Camp 504, but she doesn’t work. Instead, she enjoys being pampered by the students, who make her beautiful dresses, one-of-a-kind crowns, and even deluxe palaces fit for a princess.
FREDDIE & THE CHINS rise to fame:
One day at Clouet Gardens, while working at Art Camp 504, Ziggy and Princess meet Freddie. After discovering their shared love of music, they decide to start a band! The rest is history…
Ziggy, Princess and Freddie then meet a few other musicians - Sookie, Pop Tart, Remi and Chi Chi. Each one brings their own special style and energy to the group. And they decide the perfect name - Freddie & the Chins!
Now, they’re working hard on their very first album, filled with songs that are out of this world! They released their first hit single “Stardust, Stardust” in Summer 2025. Stay tuned, because Freddie and the Chins are ready to rock the universe! 🎸🌟
THE HIT SINGLE: “Stardust, Stardust”
Behind the scenes making the very first Freddie & the Chins Music Video!!
AN URGENT MESSAGE: ZANZIBRAX IS IN TROUBLE!
A few months passed, life was going great on earth. New band, new job, new friends! And then, a flashing light appeared inside Ziggy’s spaceship… it was a hollagram from the Kings of Karnage!
“Hmm I haven’t heard from those guys in a while… a wonder how they’re doing.”
Unfortunately, the news was not good. After Ziggy left Zanzibrax for his surgery, the Kings of Karnage lost their lead singer and guitarist, and stopped performing. As soon as the rocking thrash music stopped pulsating from Zanzibrax… IGRAC took the opportunity to swoop in! Within hours, the Zanzibraxians began selling their homes.
AGLOBIX: KEY TO THE RESISTANCE
IGRAC blocked all communication going in and out of Zanzibrax. Luckily, the Kings of Karnage were able to get their message out due to an exceptional event. One of the IGRACs, Aglobix, went to try to hypnotize the band. When he heard their music, suddenly Aglobix had a change of heart, he decided to join the resistance. Aglobix snuck the band onto the IGRAC spaceship so that they could get the message out, past the blockade!
“Ziggy, please return to Zanzibrax! We need to get the band together to throw the biggest reunion show ever to rock the galaxy, so that we can expel IGRAC once and for all!”
Immediately, Ziggy begins packing, but he’s not going alone. Freddie & the Chins and the entire Stardust Krewe are coming along to support!
The adventure begins: The Alien Horse Races
The first task of the resistance was raising awareness. What better opportunity than the Alien Horse Races!
During this exciting three-day event, beings from across the galaxy traveled to Zanzibrax for this famed annual horse racing competition. The event raised awareness and support for the plight of the Zanzibraxians.
Lucky for Art Camp 504, a magical portal to Zanzibrax opened at the Tigermen Den for those three days only! Our students traveled through the portal to take part in the races alongside the Zanzibraxians. Watch the official media release below to learn more about the horses, aliens, astronauts, and alien astronauts!
BLASTOFF DATE: JAN 12, 2025
The Stardust Space Crew officially blasted off on Jan 12 at the Outta This World Family Fest. All Winter Camp we were hard at work building Stardust Spaceship - constructing the control panels, designing the science and life support center, building our Space Names and assigning crew tasks.
We invited the whole city to join us as we celebrated the start of this epic mission! We danced the morning away at Cosmic Cajun Brunch, then enjoyed an afternoon of art projects, a ribbon cutting ceremony, and circus performances!
CONSTRUCTING STARDUST SPACESHIP
Stardust Spaceship was constructed by over 50 students and interns during Winter Camp 24/25 and January after school classes. Our students learned set and lighting design, construction, concept development, public speaking and leadership skills, event production, and most importantly, how to collaborate together towards a very ambitious goal.
Our hope is that this public art project gives our young artists a source of pride, while also serving as inspiration to our community as we revel in this season of creativity and imagination.
CLICK TO VIEW PHOTOS OF THE FINAL BUILD
The Reunion Show
Finally, the big day arrived! The Kings of Karnage Reunion Show!
THE TRICK: Aglobix, the realtor that joined the resistance, had told the rest of the IGRAC that he found a secret neighborhood. The neighborhood with the biggest houses in all of Zanzibrax! He told them the meeting spot - which happened to be the same location as the reunion show. The plan was to drive all the IGRAC to the concert, and then drive them away with the music!
The plan was in place… the Kings of Karnage and Freddie & the Chins were on stage, tuning their instruments. The fans were running late… and the band was all alone.
Suddenly, the IGRAC arrive, early! And the band is in trouble, because they’re not wearing their headphones! They are vulnerable to the hypno-ball! The IGRAC began to hypnotize.. and the bands fall prey..
UNTIL Aglobix takes the stage, and rushes to put the bands’ headphones on! This stops the hypnosis, the band is free. IGRAC discovers that Aglobix had betrayed the realtors.
Suddenly the Stardust Krewe begins rushing in, the concert has begun!
And IGRAC flees Zanxibrax once and for all… never to return!
… Or will they?
