PuppetryLab.com

Wanna see if your team is in sync with each other? …working together? This simple group warm-up game illustrates the need for teamwork and stresses the importance of focusing on a particular task no matter what else is happening. Now, grab some bean bags and a bunch of friends and get juggling!

Setup. For this game you’ll need at least 6 people, but the more the merrier–I’ve done this with groups that approached thirty! You’ll also need small, soft beanbags. Grab at least 3 beanbags, but you may want to have more on hand… How many more? That depends on the size of your group. Read the rest of this article »

From the Twin Cities Puppetry Guild web site, “Watch puppet shows. Build your own puppet. Perform with your own puppet. Watch some more puppet shows. Join in the fun when the Twin Cities Puppeteers and Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church host a free event for families as a part of the Puppeteers of America’s National Day of Puppetry.”

More info @ tcpuppet.org:
Family Puppet Festival - Golden Valley, MN - April 28th - 1:00-4:30pm

From the San Francisco Bay Area Puppetry Guild’s website, “We are glad to announce a gathering for the celebration of Roger Mara’s life. Friends, Family, Cohorts, and Fellow Puppeteers are all welcome! Please spread the word!”

More details @ SFBAPG.org:
Celebration of Roger Mara’s Life - Palo Alto, CA - May 26th - 11am-2:30pm

From the Detroit Puppeteers Guild website, “This year the Guild will present a children’s Day of Puppetry in cooperation with the Children’s Museum in Detroit. We plan to have four hands-on workshops. The children will range from pre-school to 12 years of age.”

More info at DetroitPuppeteersGuild.org:
Day of Puppetry at the Detroit Children’s Museum - April 28th - Noon-3pm

From their website, “Sandglass Theater and The University of Connecticut’s Puppet Arts Program are offering an intensive three-week Puppet Arts Training Program June 24-July 14, 2007. The workshop will be offered to puppeteers, teachers, actors, directors, designers and writers who want to expand and deepen their skill and understanding in the art of the puppet.”

More info @ SandglassTheater.com:
Summer Puppet Arts Training Intensive - June 24-July 14, 2007 -  Storrs, CT

2 days. 10 speakers. 20 performing groups. 22 workshops. 750 puppeteers. Who-knows-how-many-hundreds of puppets. 1 fabulous weekend!

I have just returned home from the 2007 Chicago Regional Puppetry Festival, and what a time I had there! As always, I came away with some great new ideas and many new friends. Here’s a quick photo recap of the event: Read the rest of this article »

I couldn’t believe it when I read about this amazing project on the Puppet Buzz blog. At next year’s bi-annual UNIMA (UNion Internationale de la MArionnette) World Festival they are going to attempt a new Guiness world’s record for the largest puppet display ever–and we’re invited to join in!

The organizers are asking that puppeteers and puppet builders from all over the world donate puppets to display at the festival in April 2008. What a cool project! Read the rest of this article »

I gotta be honest. I don’t see a lot of applications or potential for using this particular technique, but darn-it, it’s cool. And since this is one of my most frequently-requested puppet moves, I share it with you now. (This method requires a good working knowledge of double-rod manipulation.)

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According to the web site, the Red Festival is, “A four-day festival of live performance including dance, theatre, puppetry, visual art, music, performance art, comedy, and film. Over 50 acts and 100 performers will grace the stage at Lula Lounge to present some of the city’s edgiest, sassiest, and talented artists.” Original link from the Ontario Puppetry Association’s Events Page.

More info @ GirlCanCreate.com:
2nd Red Festival - Toronto, ON - Apr 15-18, 2007

From the PuppeteersUK web site, “Peak Puppets will introduce you to the magic of Shadow Theatre through exploration, making and performance.”

More info @ PuppeteersUK.com:
“Shades of Meaning” Shadow Puppetry Weekend - Derbyshire - May 25-27, 2007