• now more than ever
Mars Rocks, a show which inspires awe and delight in young audiences, is based on an original story by world-renowned peace educator, Lillian Genser. It is performed in partnership with the Wayne State University College of Science and Planetarium, in Detroit, MI.

The audience lifts off at Cape Canaveral and lands on Mars in time to see three Earth astronauts, Baobob Gnu, Carolina Jones and Cheng Te arrive separately on the Red Planet and claim it for their respective homelands. Each thinks he or she is the first and only human there. The three astronauts immediately get to work on projects related to particular needs of their own countries, needs which can only be met by some resource specific to Mars.

When they all eventually bump into one another, each astronaut vehemently challenges the others’ claims to the planet. Conflict escalates into cartoon violence until furry creatures called Marzians use common sense and humor to teach the astronauts how to resolve their differences and work together in peace. The astronauts then find ways of jointly meeting the needs of all. In the process, they experience the joy and satisfaction of helping their fellow human beings.

Our audience leaves a peaceful Mars behind, spins through a dazzling star field and finally approaches home, the beautiful planet Earth. They return understanding that Earth is filled with all different kinds and colors of people who can live in the sort of harmony that makes everyone’s life better.


One Arts is working closely with Ms. Genser and Wayne State University to produce a 30-minute video of Mars Rocks, adding special effects and an enhanced soundtrack. The planetarium effects will be translated into 3-D computer animation, under the supervision of WSU’s College of Science.

Mars Rocks will be released for broadcast on Public Television, and internationally distributed to educational institutions, child care centers, etc., accompanied by an Education Outreach package.