While snow flies around many parts of North America,
and sunny, warm skies beam down upon others, here, in Minnesota,
we're huddled against cold, Arctic air with nary a snowflake in
evidence. Due to the time warp nature of due dates, you are undoubtedly
reading this message post-holidays (unless you're celebrating Chinese
New Year). But as I write these words, Thanksgiving is past and
we are sliding into a time when over 60 different religious and
cultural celebrations of light, crying out against this season's
umbra, are taking place around the world.
So what do Puppets and Light have to do with each other? Well, the
obvious connection is the shadow show.
I think, though, a better overtone is the emotional and physical
reaction the Puppet produces in an audience. Last night I attended
a Puppet Slam at the University of Minnesota organized by my second
son, Mike, as part of his senior project in Theater. Shadow shows
did predominate the student productions. But the more relevant point
here is the response by the large student audience who attended.
There was a Light in their eyes, in their voices, in their participatory
enjoyment of the night's entertainment. Remember the wonder on the
faces in your audiences, young and old, as they watch magic unfold
before them.
We truly are a part of an Art form that has a mysterious yet accessible
nature. An Art form full of Light-illuminating imagination, emotion,
and the senses-whether the tale unwinding is tragedy or comedy.
The Light is a celebration of life and humanness, touching something
deep within each of us and uniting us in that moment of commonality.
Kind of preachy, I guess. But I love this Art for that Lightness
of Being we can bring in performance. Which is why I am a member
of the Puppeteers of America (you knew there had to a plug here
somewhere, right?). Ok, so we don't stand in air terminals, accosting
tourists or handing out tracts on puppetry. Or, travel door to door
to spread the good news of the Gospel According to Sarg. (Maybe
a couple of you do.)
We do, however, have this vehicle started 70 years ago to promote
the Puppet and all the joy it brings to practioners and audiences.
Puppeteers of America began as a way to share knowledge, create
a supportive camaraderie, and increase public appreciation of this
marvelous Art form. We are richer for the existence of Puppeteers
of America. And much like George Bailey's realization about his
own life in “It's A Wonderful Life”, we would be the poorer
without the PofA.
In our 70th year, I think it is time that we “toot” our
horn a bit, about what this organization has been and is. Let your
local community know about us. Bring in new members to share this
Art and expand its appreciation. TURN ON SOME LIGHT!
Wayne Krefting, President
REUM...with
a view - M'El Reum
827 Milwaukee Street
Denver, CO 80206
E-Mail Address
FAX (303) 393 - 1367
I sometimes wonder if I will ever understand all the things that the
computer does on its own. I worry that it may take over writing the
column. It hardly seems possible that we are to the end of another
year. I continue to have my on going hassle with Social Security.
I can't believe that every year they find a problem. Am I the only
one of the thousands ? Time goes faster and I seem to get less done.
Enough ... the New year brings on new challenges and hopefully new
shows and new budding puppeteers.
Speaking of new puppeteers - remember when you attended your first
Festival ? You always remember your first one. It just proves how
great a Festival is. Here is your chance to be a real part of Festival
2007. I want you to go on a Rampage and be a mentor to new puppeteers
attending a Festival for the First time. E-Mail me, write me or call
me and tell me “I want to be a part of RAMPAGE 2007.” My
job is to hook veteran Festival Goers with a first time Festival attendees,
to show them the ropes. What workshops do and what hands-on means
and 'what about' lectures, business, materials to use, etc. I'm overwhelmed
- the endless choices .. you can help. If you are attending your first
Festival write me and I will hook you up with an old wizened veteran
who can help you filter through the crazy fun. GET IN TOUCH WITH ME.
There is a new Executive director at the Puppet Showplace in
Brookline Massachusetts. Kristian A. Higgins is from the University
of Washington, in Seattle. I got a wonderful write up on the S+D
puppet - Sandra McLean and Lynda Pietscher. They
have been performing in Michigan's Thumb area teaching kids about
Africa. A viewer liked the show so well, that he made a donation for
them to do the show for all the local elementary schools. Now thats
what I like to hear.
There is a new book out about The Sandglass Theatre. It is a retrospective
of the work of Eric and Ines Bass. Carol Fijan has a
new book in the works “Puppets and Politics: A Record of Seven
Decades.”
I was glad to hear Greg Sager in Ohio is feeling better . Greg
wrote some of the funniest puppet columns a while back. They always
made me laugh.
The Olde World Puppet Theatre in Oregon is building sets for
a video pilot of their production Witch Key. Keep an eye out for a
kid show “Kid Fitness” they are adding puppets to the show
and the puppeteer is no other then Steve Widerman in NY.
Paul Vincent Davis in Mass. is premiering his new show “Here
Come The Clowns.” It is about classic clown traditions all over
the world. Noreen Bobersky in Ohio is opening a new show about
Johnny Appleseed and Tears of Joy in Oregon is opening its
newest venture, Alice in Wonderland.
Judy O'Hare of Boston had one of those once in a lifetime experiences
when she spent 2 and 1/2 weeks in Kenya. Our lives differ so, but
children everywhere love puppets. Glenda Bonin in Arizona just
returned from a 9000 mile storytelling tour . She carried with her
a Magic Puppet kit that everyone seemed to totally approve of.
Paul Zaloom made an appearance in Boston for the Out On The
Edge Festival. The Puppet Co. in Maryland will receive the
2006 Arts and Humanities Community Award for Excellence. Congratulations.
Reports are that the Great Lakes Potlatch was, as usual, a
huge success. This was their twentieth gathering. I waited for my
mail delivery before I sent in my column and lo and behold I received
an envelope from Fred Putz in Chicago. He sent me a clipping
from a show in 1971. We (the Norwood Puppet Theatre) did the good
old “Breman Town Musicians”. I really am old !
Great Lakes gave there annual awards for this year . Brad Lowe
received the Paul McPharlin Award for Administration, The Martin Stevens
Award for Workshop /Performances went to Playboard's own Nancy
Sander and the Fern Zwickey Award for Unique and Special Contributions
went to Richard McClead.
An e-mail from Luman Coad informed me that the Coad Canada
Puppets were inducted into to BC Entertainment Hall of Fame. They
are called Entertainment Pioneers, ”...those special individuals
who have moved the entertainment industry forward over a substantial
period of time through their work”. BRAVO
I receive many interesting e-mails from N.Y.'s Galapagos Art Space.
Die Hard - a puppet musical is being done by the Exploding Puppet
Productions and they list the Josh & Tamra show as an improve
comedy with a thousand puppets. Now that I'd like to see. Opening
in January, in New York at the La MaMa is an ethno opera with puppets
and found objects. Jonathan Slaff indicates the show is based
on a book “Once There Was A Village” by the late Yuri Kapralov.
Now remember - save your money - write me - make this your best Festival
ever and make it the best ever experience for a first time Festival
goer. This is YOUR invitation to be an important part of Puppet Rampage
2007. Everyone have a wild and crazy New Year...... M'El
THE
GUILD CONNECTION
KURT HUNTER
5918 W. 39th Street
St. Lois Park, MN 55416
E-Mail Address
It's a couple of days after Thanksgiving and I've just finished a piece of leftover pumpkin pie. My folks any my sister and her husband are visiting and we've been having a blast. We don't all get together very often, so it's especially fun when we do. Puppetry Festivals are a lot like that. A good guild meeting can have that energy too.
EUREKA!!
NANCY H.SANDER
1250 GRANGER AVENUE
LAKEWOOD, OH 44107
E-Mail Address
Greetings, Excellent Puppetpersons (and the rest of
us, too)! At last, at last, here I am again. I just breezed in from
New York and sat down to gather some tips around me while listening
to the already unending Christmas songs of the season. And once
again, I am preparing to head out for the Christmas rush. Many years
I have said to myself, “Oh, no! Not Christmas parties! Do I
have to?”
Of course, the answer is “yes,” but this year I am resolved
to do it differently. This year is going to be a joyful celebration
of the holiday. I am going to all the parties with not only the
professional smile on my face, but with a genuine smile on the inside,
just because it's Christmas, and I am going to add to their whole
Christmas experience. I am going to make the parties happier, the
children gigglier, the spirit brighter. Of course, this should be
the attitude all the year round, but this Christmas, I am happy
doing what I couldn't do last year: performing my silly Christmas
show to all those silly and laughing children. Cool!
ONE FOR THE ROAD: The last time I wrote to you, I asked if anyone
had some ideas of how to make life easier on the road. Marilyn
Shroeder, of Delaney, NY, sent in a tip for those folks
who are running the fair circuit. She says that she is always running
in and out of her home and hastily packing to go back on the road.
So she has duplicate sets of toiletries: one for home and one in
its own satchel for the road.
ANOTHER FOR THE ROAD: Janet Senne, of Sandusky,
OH gave me this tip long ago, and it is all too true. She said
that, no matter how nice the folks are, they rarely remember to
offer you some water after the show. Bring your own. I know this
sounds so simple, but think back: how many clients came up with
a drink after the final bow? Ten percent? I wish! And in summer,
too!
WEB PAGE BUILDING: Oh, for heaven's sake: light bulb going on!
I was talking to Janelle Reardon, of Fairview Park, OH,
on the subject of web pages (by the way, no one can do business
without one, so get one). She said that the trick to a successful
web hit was to get onto the first popup page. People search for
about two pages, max. So it is very important to name your page
to as close to what people would type in as you can get. Why didn't
I think of that?
THE CONSIDERATE PERFORMER: Dave Herzog, of Chicago,
IL, suggests that when you go into a private home where there
are hardwood floors or fine carpets, first lay down your own piece
of carpeting that is exactly the size of your stage area. You will
win the heart of your client who won't have to worry if you are
snagging their antique Persian. He also says that a good performer
should pick up every single piece of confetti or balloon shards
that he/she has scattered about. He brings his Dust Buster for the
purpose. That's the way to keep a client, David!
NEW GLUE GUN: Hey, everyone. Jump in your cars. Head for
your closest Home Depot or Lowe's. Here it is! I received a note
from George Latshaw, of Tampa, FL, who sent me a clipping
on a new glue gun put out by Dremel. It has an on/off switch (at
last!) so you don't have to yank the cord at the end of every session.
It also claims to have a new “non-drip” nozzle (where
have I heard that before?) and a protective shield to prevent burns.
I'm hopeful. Dremel puts out great products. I use my Dremel Moto-tool
for anything that has to be sanded or shaped. If you don't have
a Dremel, put it on your “GottaGet List.”
WIG MAKING: Kathy Lyons, of Orono ME, pointed
me toward a neat magazine for recyclers and especially for its fun
website. The name of the magazine is Readymade. I went into its
website (www.readymademag.com)and found out how to…oh, no!
How to remove warts with duct tape! 85% effective, they say. But
what if the wart is on your nose…? In any case, she found a
great way to make a wig, either puppet or costume. She says to get
a plastic net onion bag and cut it to the desired shape. Stretch
this over a balloon and tape it down. Then take your yarn, double
the strands and loop them under the webbing of the onion net, tying
them with an overhand knot. Work from the bottom up until the desired
thickness is obtained. You can then trim and style it.
MARIONETTE STRING: David Greenbaum, of Columbus, OH,
tells us to use brown fish line instead of black. He learned this
trick from a magician and swears that the string becomes almost
invisible. Jim Kleefeld, of Avon, OH, also had a similar thought.
He, a magician, said that you should take off white string, wrap
it around and around a twice-folded index card and run a permanent
brown magic marker back and forth across it. When you unwind it,
it will look zebra striped which blends in with anything.
IN REVIEW: And speaking of disappearing, I was discussing this
with Mary Sue Eckard, from Solon, OH and she reminded
me of a very important point that sometimes is completely forgotten.
She was doing a show that starred a white rabbit. When the rabbit
passed in front of the white house in the scenery, it almost disappeared.
It took a Guild critique session to alert her to the situation.
She painted the house green and the problem was solved. Lesson learned.
TRANSPORTATION: Bryon Thompson, of Fort Wayne, IN,
has just finished his construction of a Punch and Judy “Lazy-tongs”
stage (or “fitup,” as we say in the trade). He said that
he was able to fit absolutely everything into the large sized plastic
golf traveling suitcase, purchased at Dick's Sporting Goods. Great
for checking in at the airport. ( which reminds me: you should have
seen the security guard commotion I created I when I put a wrapped
life-sized Czech marionette through the X-ray; they thought I was
“bringing Grandma home!”)
On that note, I will close. Folks, I need your tips; I really do.
Don't hesitate to use the e-mail, but always identify yourself with
the word, “Eureka” on the subject line. I have a lot of
spammers who have gotten the words, “puppet, puppetmaking,
and puppetmaster” passing through the spam blocker.
Nancy