Curiosity is a modern take on the age-old Greek myth of Pandora and a mysterious box. Miguel Romero, the creator of the project, traveled to Asia and Europe to work with artisans in crafting emotive masks and antique shadow puppets and to study Japan's bunraku puppetry. Romero worked with students to stage this timeless myth with the aid of recycled materials.

Dec. 8-10, 8 p.m.; Dec. 11, 7 and 9 p.m.; Dec. 12, 2 and 4 p.m., $7-15, The Curtain Theater, UMass-Amherst, 151 Presidents Drive, (413) 545-3490, www.umass.edu/theater.