Details & Registration
Apr 23 (Thurs) 2026 | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Location: Puppet Showplace Theater
$85 Regular / plus 4% service fee
$70 Access / plus 4% service fee
$105 Supporter / plus 4% service fee
Puppets at Night members receive 15% off
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Registration Deadline: April 9
Register early — if minimum enrollment is not met by April 9 the class will be cancelled.
About the Class
It's springtime — in every sense of the word! Join Heidi Rugg of UNIMA award-winning Barefoot Puppet Theatre for a deep dive into springs. Participants will learn five ways to work with springs in their rod puppets and see examples of each in action. Participants will also construct a moving mouth mechanism that can be used for rod-puppets, worked from above, below, or behind. Resources and a lengthy handout will provide you with the know-how to bring springs into your work!
Recommended for adults 18+
About the Instructor
Heidi Rugg is an interdisciplinary artist with her feet firmly planted in the worlds of both performance and visual arts. As a builder, Heidi has a passion for ergonomic design, spring mechanisms, and eco-friendly processes in puppet-making. In her creative practice, she is on a quest to create biodegradable puppets and works primarily with wool, handmade papers, and recycled materials. Heidi founded Barefoot Puppet Theatre in 1997, a company born of her desire to share story-driven, timely works to uplift young audiences. In 2005, Barefoot Puppet Theatre was awarded an UNIMA Citation of Excellence for their original work, Galapagos George. Barefoot Puppet Theatre continues to tour works to theatres, schools, museums, festivals, libraries and community centers. People always need a good story. Heidi maintains a studio practice from her home on the edge of a swamp in Richmond’s Northside where she lives with her husband (and fellow company member), Sam Rugg, an immortal gecko, a rescue pup, and a host of puppets.
