Musical show for kids exploring ancestry and identity runs at Teatro Ziembinski in Rio de Janeiro from April 4–26, featuring an intergenerational cast and original score.
“Looks like you’ve got a hole in your hand” — a common Brazilian saying about someone who can’t hold onto money. That everyday expression became the seed for A Menina com um Buraco na Mão (The Girl with a Hole in Her Hand), a musical now making its debut full-season run at Teatro Municipal Ziembinski, in the Tijuca neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro. Performances run April 4 through 26, every Saturday and Sunday at 4 p.m.
From a popular saying to a journey of identity
Created by Alice Cruz and Sergio Kauffmann — who also directs the production — the project originated as an award-nominated stop-motion animated series released in 2021. The stage adaptation was developed alongside Elisa Ottoni, who helped bring the story from screen to theater.
The story follows a young girl who, after being scolded by her grandmother for being careless with money, wakes up with a literal hole in her palm. Her quest for answers unfolds across three playful acts: discovering the hole, exploring the outside world, and diving into her family’s past through a photo album — where she learns that her Angolan great-great-grandmother shared the very same mark.
“The play invites young audiences to realize that their existence is tied to a chain of stories, affections, and experiences that began long before them. Our ‘place in the world’ doesn’t start from scratch — it is built from everything that shaped us. We are who we are because someone started this journey before us.” — Sergio Kauffmann, creator, playwright, director, and composer
A mosaic of real stories
The creative process drew from a mosaic of personal stories — from the creators themselves, their friends, and their families — ensuring the narrative resonates through genuine recognition. The grandmother-granddaughter relationship sits at the heart of the show, underscoring the importance of honoring elders and the wisdom they carry.
An intergenerational cast
The cast itself embodies the show’s core theme. Young performers Jef Lyrio and Sara Hana share the stage with veterans Nilson Barbosa and Izzy Ventura, both 70 years old. “I have been pursuing intergenerational work, understanding the stage as a space of encounter between different life stages. The presence of Nilson and Izzy is essential,” says Kauffmann.
An original, award-nominated score
The soundtrack weaves together songs from the original animated series and new compositions written for the stage. Audiences will hear the title track “A Menina Com Um Buraco na Mão” by Kauffmann, along with new pieces including the “Rap do MC Roleta” (by Elisa Ottoni, Rafael Lorga, and Sergio Kauffmann) and “Mil Anos Mais” (by Nilson Barbosa and Rafael Lorga). The show also revives a childhood song from actress Izzy Ventura‘s family, once sung by her great-grandmother.
The project received multiple nominations at the 2022 CBTIJ Award for Children’s Theater, including Best Direction (Sergio Kauffmann), Best Actress (Sara Chaves), Best Original Text (Sergio Kauffmann, Elisa Ottoni and Alice Cruz), and Best Original Songs.
Event Info
- Show: A Menina Com Um Buraco Na Mão (The Girl with a Hole in Her Hand)
- Season: April 4–26, 2026
- Time: Saturdays and Sundays at 4 p.m.
- Tickets: R$ 15 (half-price) / R$ 30 (full price)
- Box office: Tuesday through Sunday, 2–8 p.m.
- Online tickets: https://bileto.sympla.com.br/event/118260
- Venue: Teatro Municipal Ziembinski — Av. Heitor Beltrão, s/nº, Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro
- Age rating: General audiences
- Running time: 70 minutes
- Instagram: @ameninacomumburaconamao
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