Puppet Happenings: Live Puppet Theater In-Person & Online
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PUPPET HAPPENINGS - TOP PICKS |
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May 11-22
Two weeks of new puppet theatre! Forced to close early due to the pandemic, HERE is pleased to bring back Théâtre de l’Entrouvert’s Anywhere for an encore presentation. Premiering and performing in repertory with Anywhere will be new, live and fully realized iterations of works and in-progress excerpts that were developed as part of Dream Music Puppetry Program’s Mini-Residency Initiative during the 2020-21 Season. Artists Kate Brehm, Andrew Gaukel, Sara Outing, Lake Simons, Sachiyo Takahashi, Christopher Williams and Patti Bradshaw will present their new creations which embrace music and a range of puppetry techniques, choreography and object work as they explore a range of themes around the human condition and our existence at this moment in history.
* Recipient of a Jim Henson Foundation Presenters Grant (2022)
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Chimpanzee * - Nick Lehane
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April 8-10
Friday and Saturday - 8:00pm
Sunday - 5:00pm
Chimpanzee is an hour in a theater, a day in a biomedical facility, and a lifetime in the mind of a chimpanzee.
“gorgeous puppet play…a meticulous, deeply felt nonverbal memory play.” -New York Magazine
* Recipient of a Jim Henson Foundation Production Grant (2019), JHF O'Neill Residency (2019), Workshop Grant (2017)
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5th Annual Object Movement Puppetry Festival *
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April 1-16
PROGRAM A - APRIL 1 & 2 AT 7:30PM
PROGRAM B - APRIL 8 & 9 AT 7:30PM
PROGRAM C - APRIL 14 & 16 AT 7:30PM
* Use code HENSON for 25% off tickets *
Over the course of three weeks in April, current & past Object Movement Resident Artists will present a brand new short piece of puppetry, developed while in residence at The Center at West Park. Curated by Maiko Kikuchi, Rowan Magee, Marcella Murray, and Justin Perkins, Object Movement supports the development of new work that addresses eternal human questions and the urgent challenges of our society today through puppetry and object theater, culminating in an annual festival of short performances.
PROGRAM A — April 1 & 2 at 7:30pm
How I disappeared by Tianding He, Baba Vanga by Tyler B. Quick, and Matter of Fact Flea Act by Kevin P. Hale
PROGRAM B — April 8 & 9 at 7:30pm
it's not always good for hard material by Sara Stern, Body Stories by Brzezinski & Schap, Tin Iso and the Dawn by Tristan Allen, and Dirt by Amanda Card
PROGRAM C — April 14 & 16 at 7:30pm
Madame Edgewise Tells Your Fortune by Brodrick Jones, All We Have Left by Christine Dempsey, BlueBeardGasLight by Kyra Miller, Lives and Deaths of the Sea Simians by Ed Valentine, Journey to Home by Leila Ghaznavi, Starman* by Aubrey Clinedinst, and Title TBA by Lim
* Recipient of a Jim Henson Foundation Presenter's Grant (2021)
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César Chávez and the Migrants (The César Chávez Story)
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April 9 , 16, & 23 - 3pm
Written and directed by Manuel Antonio Morán, the bilingual production highlights Chávez’s life story for a new generation and highlights Chávez’s early life as well as his partnership with Dolores Huerta, activism with the National Farm Workers Association, the 1968 grape boycott, and his ongoing commitment to nonviolent civil rights work. Recommended for children in 5th grade and up.
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Chasing Andy Warhol
Bated Breath Theatre Company with Puppets by Evolve Puppets
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March 25 - June 12
Chasing Andy Warhol is an immersive and theatrical walking tour production that employs Bated Breath’s unique multimedia approach as scenes inspired from Warhol’s enigmatic life unfold on the streets, behind windows of area businesses, and inside secret locations along the route. Despite Warhol’s celebrity and fame, he was also an obscure, mystifying persona who preferred to remain elusive. The show will present a distinct blend of immersive theatre, dance, film, art, and puppetry to peek into the iconic artist which goes beyond the hype and into the deepest feelings of a profoundly complex person - whose legacy continues to bombard our senses at every turn.
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Who Took the Cookies from the Cookie Jar? - WonderSpark Puppets
The Hugh - 157 East 53rd Street New York, NY
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April 9 - 1pm
The classic children's song comes to life in this hilarious mystery show. Join detective Mystery Max as he searches for clues to find whodunit. The audience will sing songs and call out to help Max find the missing cookies and solve the case. Themes in this story include resolving conflict, persisting through challenges, engaging in conversation and identifying and expressing emotions appropriately.
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Wake Up Daisy! A Modern Take on Sleeping Beauty - FAMILY
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Currently Running
This modern spin on Sleeping Beauty set on the Upper West Side celebrates friendship, courage and female empowerment. Perfect for families with young children, Wake Up, Daisy! tells the story of Daisy, a lively girl living in the heart of New York City in an apartment overlooking Central Park. At Daisy’s much-anticipated birthday party, she encounters three special guests, known as her “Squad-parents”, from Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, who grant her the gifts of courage, knowledge, and a second chance. When an unwelcome guest shows up and puts a curse on her, Daisy’s life is forever changed. Through the support of her friends and an adventure around the city, Daisy’s strong self-determination and vivid imagination may be all she needs to break the curse.
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Currently Running
Be there when the world’s most ravenous plant returns to its acclaimed, sold-out run at the Westside Theatre! Winner of the 2020 Drama League, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Awards for BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is “wildly exuberant” (The Hollywood Reporter), and a New York Times Critic’s Pick.
This smash-hit production stars Emmy® winner and Grammy® nominee Tammy Blanchard (“Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows”), Tony® nominee Jeremy Jordan (Newsies), and two-time Tony winner Christian Borle (Something Rotten!), who won the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Awards for his performance in LITTLE SHOP. Together they bring succulent new life to a true musical landmark. Get tickets now and enjoy a taste of what we’ve all been craving: live theater!
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LIVE PERFORMANCES - NATIONAL |
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The Elephant Speaks Jazz * - Eric Van Wyk
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April 1-10
Friday, April 1st at 7:30 pm
Saturday, April 2nd at 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday, April 3rd at 2:00 pm
Saturday, April 9th at 2:00 pm
Sunday, April 10 at 2:00 pm
Step right up and see a giant elephant perform incredible feats of wonder! This brand new production features an original score and life-sized puppets, that will wow audiences of all ages. The Elephant Speaks Jazz follows sister and brother team–Lucy and Sam. When ordered to go outside and play they stumble upon an unlikely new friend, Ella the elephant. Little do they know the wild ride Ella will take them on across town, in a lake, and back to her circus home where they discover her hidden talent.
* Recipient of a Jim Henson Foundation Family Grant (2016)
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Bob Baker Day 2022 - Bob Baker Marionette Theater
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April 9 10am-5pm
Join Bob Baker Marionette Theater on Saturday, April 9, 2022, for the eighth annual Bob Baker Day, a free festival of puppetry, revelry, and creativity. Bob Baker Day is a\ one-of-a-kind birthday party held in honor of the Theater’s late founder, Bob Baker. BBMT invites friends of all ages to partake in puppetry magic; delight in on-stage performances, special guests, and roving clowns; and shop dozens of vendors and creators all day long!
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WORKSHOPS / LECTURES / MEETINGS / FILMS - VIRTUAL & IN-PERSON |
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Summer Intensive Puppetry Training - Sandglass Theater
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June 26 - July 9
A two week intensive workshop into the art and soul of puppet theater at Sandglass Theater in beautiful Putney, VT. This full immersion training is for anyone who wants to expand and deepen their skill and understanding of the puppet. Led by Sandglass founders Eric Bass and Ines Zeller Bass who have developed this training method for over thirty years. Co-taught by Jana Zeller and Shoshana Bass who are the next generation of Sandglass Theater.
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Shadow Puppetry II - Alex Vernon (Alex & Olmsted)
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May 9-15
Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sat, and Sun:
7 – 9pm CST
Shadow Puppetry 2 (Level 2) focuses on the introduction of different mechanism for shadow puppets beyond the basic jointed puppet. The realization of ideas in shadow puppet form stem from concepts and design.
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Toy Theater II - Roberto Rossi
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May 9-15
Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sat, and Sun:
7 – 9pm CST
Toy Theater 2 (Level 2) will be an opportunity for participants to further develop their shows. We will be exploring different ways of articulating and mounting puppets and of enhancing the illusion of depth through stage design and lighting. We will also look at the dramaturgy of the miniature spectacle and isolate the compositional elements of this highly visual theater form as participants prepare for an informal—yet always exciting—showing on the last day.
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Sanninzukai: An Introduction to 3-Person Puppet Manipulation
Level 1 - Tom Lee
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April 13 - May 15
(Weekend Intensive)
Friday: 6 – 9:30pm
Saturday: 10am – 3pm
Sunday: 10am – 3pm
Sanninzukai: An Introduction to 3 Person Puppet Manipulation (Level 1) is an introduction to multi operator puppetry based on traditional Japanese techniques. (Sanninzukai translates literally as “Three Person Movement.”) Designer/Director/Puppeteer Tom Lee will introduce the form through a training puppet gifted to him by his teacher Master Kory? Nishikawa V. Introduction to the traditional form will springboard into contemporary techniques for multi-operator puppetry with contemporary rehearsal figures.
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Shadow Puppetry on Overhead Projectors
Level 1 - Myra Su
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April 19 - May 17
(5 weeks)
Tuesdays - 6pm-8pm CST
Shadow Puppetry on Overhead Projectors (Level 1) is an introduction to shadow puppet techniques specifically geared for the overhead projector. Students will learn ways they can approach making background slides, articulated shadow puppets, and using found objects. We will also explore how the overhead projector itself can be used to create certain visual effects. Finally, we’ll review some tips and tricks when it comes to the logistics of mounting a live performance in this medium. The goal is that by the last session, everyone will be able to share and give feedback on short puppet pieces that they develop over the class period.
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Rogue Lab New Play Incubator
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DEADLINE: April 15, 2022
The Rogue Lab is an incubator for new work that stretches the boundary of what is currently being done onstage, including immersive experiences, interactive design, puppet plays and genre-bending pieces that fit within the Rogues’ Hyper-theater aesthetic. After two years of shepherding the creation and presentation of 12 new hyper-theatrical plays in the Lab and Reading series, Rogue is opening submissions for a new class of directors who dream of building theatrical work that stretches the boundary of what is currently being done onstage. Applications are open now through April 15, 2022. Learn More.
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The Art & Craft of Puppetry
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February 1 - July 29
The exhibit explores how puppets have captured our imagination by examining specific puppets, universal characteristics, international aesthetics, and local puppet companies. It also asks a playfully provocative question: What makes a puppet? The diversity of puppet styles and techniques displayed provides the opportunity for visitors to think more broadly about an artform that transcends cultural boundaries, while also demonstrating how puppets work.
Six puppets, including a character from the original Fraggle Rock series on loan from The Jim Henson Company and others on loan from the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, will be on view. Images from Division of Cultural and Community Life, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution will help exemplify different types of puppets as well.
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Hecho en Puerto Rico: Four Generations of Puerto Rican Puppetry
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November 18 - May 8
Curated by Dr. Manuel Morán and Deborah Hunt
Hecho en Puerto Rico invites the spectator to discover over fifty years of puppet productivity, by four distinct generations of builders and performers in and from Puerto Rico. Although puppetry first appeared on the island of Puerto Rico in the 19th century, this exhibit is divided into four periods of creation from the 1960s to current times, demonstrating a shift in focus from purely educational content, to culturally and politically relevant themes, to a focus on adult audiences, and now into the current generation of emerging puppeteers. A young but thriving puppet movement, despite economic and political turmoil as well as natural disasters, Puerto Rican puppetry continues to evolve and grow.
The exhibition highlights the work of such puppeteers and companies as Agua, Sol y Sereno; Brenda Plumey; Daniel y sus Muñecos; Deborah Hunt; Edward Cardenales; El Mundo de los Muñecos; José López; Luis Villafañe; Mario Donate; Mary Anne Hopgood; Papel Machete; Poncili Creación; Pura Belpré; Santin y sus Muñecos; Teatro SEA and Manuel Morán; Tere Marichal; Vueltabajo Teatro; and Y No Había Luz.
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PUPPET HAPPENINGS - COMPLETE LISTINGS |
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The Jim Henson Foundation's Puppet Happenings Listings are updated every Friday.
Puppet Happenings Submission Form:
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