Giant Puppets for EVERYONE!!!

BIG NEWS ABOUT GIANT PUPPET CLASS:

Think Big! Giant Puppet Construction and Performance Class is now open for drop-in and adult enrollment!

DATES: July 18 - July 22 (Monday through Friday)

TIME: 3:30 to 5:30 pm
Public performance Saturday, July 23 at 8:00 pm
Only $125 per participant!

Register Online

About the class: Join us in July for a week of bringing giants to life! Students will learn how to dream big and work with others to make their visions a reality. Participants will learn how to create huge characters using cardboard and other simple materials, and fuse it all together with the magic of paper mache. We'll cover every stage of building a giant puppet from design to painting.It all culminates in

a performance featuring our creations at the July Puppet Slam, 8:00 pm on July 23rd!

About the instructor: Brad Shur is our current Artist In Residence. He is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and has been performing professionally for over ten years, beginning with nationally touring puppet companies such as Big Nazo and Wood and Strings Theater and more recently performing his own shows. He has built puppets for Dollywood and American Idol, as well as many others. This will be his first year offering this course at Puppet Showplace Theatre.

Want to see Brad in action in the classroom? Click here for photos from his last workshop at the Puppet Showplace, thanks to www.brookline.patch.com!

Registration: Rather pay by check? You can register by sending a check with your name, contact information, and a few sentences about your child's puppetry, arts, or performance background to:

Puppet Showplace Theatre
Attn: Think Big!
32 Station Street,
Brookline MA 02445

Questions? Contact the theatre at 617-731-6400 or e-mail Instructor Brad Shur at bshur@puppetshowplace.org.

Egyptian Deities Decorate the PST Lobby!

NEW LOBBY DISPLAY AT PST!

Thoth and Horus, mechanical moving sculptures created by Eric Bornstein of Behind the Mask Studio in Somerville MA now adorn the Puppet Showplace Lobby! They were last seen at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, but have been rescued from storage to join the butterfly and hummingbirds, also designed by Eric Bornstein, currently on display that the theatre. The Puppet Showplace will be the home of these two Egyptian Deities for the remainder of the summer. Take a look for yourself before you see one of our many exciting new shows this month, or stop by anytime Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 4pm when the Box Office and Puppet Store are open.

About the Artist: Eric BornsteinEric has studied with masters Agung Suardana in Bali, and Donato Sartori in Italy. He received his MLA in Fine Arts along with the Thomas Small prize from Harvard University. His masks have appeared most recently in the 31st Cambridge River Festival, Contemporary Theater of Boston’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Performance Lab’s Le Cabaret Grimm, Underground Railway Theater’s Life of Galileo, and the Harvard Yiddish Players’ Shulamis.

Over the last 30 years Eric’s masked characters have appeared in a variety of venues. They were a highlight of Boston’s First Night celebration for 15 years. His masks have also appeared at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum, the Fuller Craft Museum, the Kennedy Library/Museum, the Boston Lyric Opera, the Boston Ballet, the Society of Arts & Crafts (Newbury Street), The Peabody/Essex Museum, King Richard's Faire, and Revels. He currently teaches classes in making and performing masks, and offers performances and residencies to schools throughout the state through Young Audiences of Massachusetts. Behind the Mask Studio was founded by Eric Bornstein in 1990.

More new displays coming soon this summer at Puppet Showplace Theatre!

Crabgrass Puppet Theatre Premieres "Smart & Small Conquers All"

THIS WEEK AT PST
"Smart & Small Conquers All" by Crabgrass Puppet Theatre

TWO PERFORMANCES EACH DAY!
Wed, Thurs & Sat | July 6, 7 & 9 | 10:30am & 1pm

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About this show: With beautiful puppets and their signature hilarious style, the award-winning Crabgrass Puppet Theatre presents for the first time at the Puppet Showplace Theatre this collection of tales from Africa, Asia and Europe that will inspire and enthrall children of all sizes. Can a tortoise win a tug of war with a mighty elephant? Can a tiny mouse help an enormous lion? Can a jackal outwit a terrifying tiger twice his size? Find out as Crabgrass Puppet Theatre travels around the globe to tell stories that show even the small and weak can have a big impact on the world. More about these stories:

Tug of War
From West Africa comes a story of arrogance and humility. The tortoise uses his intelligence to outsmart the elephant and the hippopotamus and show that he can pull his own weight – and theirs as well!

The Tiger, the Brahman and the Jackal
An Indian tale about trust and the importance of keeping your word. The clever jackal teaches the tiger a lesson in honesty and saves the Brahman’s life along the way.

The Lion and the Mouse
Aesop’s classic fable of friendship. The lion spares the mouse and in return the mouse saves the lion from the hunters. Even those small in stature can do great deeds.

About the performer: CRABGRASS PUPPET THEATRE is an award-winning touring puppet theatre founded in San Francisco in 1982 by Jamie Keithline and Bonny Hall. They have since delighted audiences across the nation with their whimsical humor and puppetry. Now residents of Halifax, Vermont, they continue to tour throughout the U.S., performing in schools, museums and theaters. In 2010, Irish puppeteer and actor (and UConn graduate) Fergus Walsh joined the company just in time to help create Haiku, HipHop and Hotdogs - Poetry Comes Alive, the newest show from Crabgrass. Crabgrass Puppet Theatre has twice been awarded the prestigious Citation of Excellence from the American Center of the Union Internationale de la Marionette (UNIMA-USA), the highest honor in American puppetry, in 2001 and again in 2005.

In 2008, Bonny Hall received a Commendation for Design in the Puppet Theatre from the Arlyn Award Foundation. They have given many thousands of performances in schools, libraries, museums, and arts festivals, and have performed at over two dozen regional, national and international puppetry festivals. Crabgrass Puppet Theatre's performing venues have included the World Trade Center, the Tribeca Performing Arts Center, the Philadelphia Museum, Paper Mill Playhouse, the North Carolina Museum, the New York State Museum, the Smithsonian Institution, the California Academy of Sciences, the Detroit Institute for the Arts, and hundreds of schools, museums, and theaters across the country. Crabgrass Puppet Theatre continues to perform more than 200 shows each year, reaching over 100,000 people throughout the US. Check out their website to learn more.

"The stage was lovely - the puppets beautiful - it was excellent!"

. . . Mariposa Museum, Peterborough NH
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Summer Saturday Family Workshop July 2nd!

THIS 4th of JULY WEEKEND!
Summer Saturday Family Workshop:
NEW! Our "Summer Saturday" family workshop series takes place on the first Saturday of each summer month (June, July, and August). These are participatory workshops where adults and children work together to build and perform with puppets. Space for these workshops is limited, so pre-registration is STRONGLY encouraged. Call the box office at 617-731-6400 today to reserve your space! Cost: $15/adult, $10/child (Member price $13/adult, $8/child).

Big Stories: Paul Bunyan & Participatory Puppet Theater

Sat | July 2 | 10:30am to 12:30pm
About this workshop: Did you ever wonder how puppeteers tell such big stories with such small characters? Celebrate American Independence by bringing to life the classic American Folk Tale, Paul Bunyan! Families will learn how puppeteers use movement and sound to bring multiple styles of puppets to life. All participants will get to practice manipulation exercises with simple puppets provided by the instructor. Then, together we will put on a show!

About the artist: Brad Shur has been professionally involved in puppetry for over 10 years. He began as a performer with the Providence puppet and mask company Big Nazo while studying film and animation at the Rhode Island School of Design. He has worked in various capacities with Wood & Strings Theatre (Tennessee), and Vermont PuppetTree, and as a builder has designed and fabricated puppets for American Idol, Dollywood, and other theaters and performers from Austin, Texas to Boston, Massachusetts. All of the puppets Brad uses in his performances come from his workshop, where he builds them by hand from wood, paper, plastic, foam and fabric. He's built and performed with rod puppets, hand puppets, shadow puppets, larger-than-life costume puppets, Japanese bunraku puppets and marionettes. His shows are high energy blends where at least a few of these styles come together with storytelling, original scripts, and lots of audience participation.

You can catch Brad at least twice monthly at Puppet Showplace Theatre, performing any one of six shows in his repertoire: "Raccoon Tales," "Here Come the Clowns," "The Singing Turtle," "Dr. Doohickey's Monster Machine," "The Carrot Salesman," and his newest production "The Magic Soup and Other Tales." His shows are high energy blends where at least a few of these styles come together with storytelling, original scripts, and lots of audience participation.

"Brad Shur is a fabulous puppeteer as well as an inspiring teacher."

-Review on Ticketleap.com

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The Twig Family by Deborah Costine, Puppeteer!

THIS WEEK AT PST!
The Twig Family by Deborah Costine, Puppeteer!

Wed & Thurs | JUN 29 & 30 | 10:30AM & 1:00PM

About this show: The Twig Family is an original story about a family living in harmony with nature. Inspired by The Oak Tree by Gordon Morrison, this show teaches lessons about sharing, confronting fears, and living simply, while exploring and enjoying trees and nature.

Recommended for ages 3 & up.

About the performer: Debbie grew up in northern New Hampshire, graduated from Plymouth State College, and attended Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. She taught puppetry at Northeastern University, Boston, Mass., Worcester State College and Plymouth State. She has conducted workshops in voice and sculpting at regional and national puppetry festivals. Her character voices are heard on the Verizon website (superthinkers.com). Deborah is the author of The Twig Family in the Oak Tree, a gentle nature story for young children. In 2008 she was a recipient for the Northeast Region of Puppeteers of America's Artistic Achievement Award. In 2009 she won the prestigious U.N.I.M.A. USA Citation for Excellence in Puppetry for her show, A Woodland Cinderella.

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TWO INCUBATOR SESSIONS THIS WEEK!

THIS WEEK AT PST

Programming for adults : Two Incubator Sessions!

TUES | JUN 28th | 7:00pm

Storyboard presentation

THURS | JUN 30th | 7:00pm

FREE Artist Talk & Reception

About Incubator at PST: Every other Tuesday from 7pm - 9pm, PST hosts a "drop-in" session where emerging artists, veteran puppeteers, teachers, and puppet enthusiasts gather to discuss and develop creative ideas in a casual, informal environment. See our list of upcoming meetings below. Here artists of all media and genres, experienced or not, can experiment with new puppetry ideas, materials and styles. It's a place where knowledge is shared, constructive critique is the norm, and collaborations are born. No matter where your interests lie, from traditional theatre to the avant garde, you're welcome at these sessions. Similar workshops have developed and flourished in places like Atlanta and New York, adding breadth and richness to the puppetry of those cities, and now the same thing is happening here!

Join us in this exciting project! A $5 donation is suggested to cover costs, but no one is turned away. For more information, call 617.731.6400, or email us at artistic@puppetshowplace.org with "incubator" in the subject.

Incubator @ PST, Tuesday June 28th at 7:00pm - Storyboard presentation!
Due to popular demand, Incubator this week will focus on peer reviewing storyboards and treatments submitted by YOU for puppet shows and puppet films in progress. All attendees will have a chance to present on their work at this critical phase of development. For some basic ideas about storyboarding visit here. We can't wait to hear your ideas! Incubator, as always, is free with a suggested $5 donation.

FREE Artist Talk and Reception @ PST, Thursday June 30th at 7:00pm
Join us on Thursday at 7:00 pm for a FREE artist talk with internationally acclaimed puppeteer, director, and fringe theatre artist Naomi Yoeli. Learn about her award-winning productions for children and adults which combine object theatre, story telling, movement, and religious ritual. Refreshments will be served! More information.

Upcoming Incubator Meetings

• June 28 - Puppet Storyboard Presentations--bring your live or video storyboards for feedback!
• June 30 - SPECIAL EVENT: Artist Talk with guest puppeteer Naomi Yoeli. 7:00, refreshments served!
• July 12 - Featuring special guests Crabgrass Puppet Theatre
• July 26 - Featuring special guests National Marionette Theatre
• Aug 09 - Seeking featured artist, e-mail artistic@puppetshowplace.org
• Aug 23- Seeking featured artist, e-mail artistic@puppetshowplace.org

"Here Come the Clowns!" by Brad Shur

THIS WEEK AT PST

"Here Come the Clowns" by Brad Shur

JUN | Wed, Thurs & Sat | 10:30am & 1pm

About this show: With a beep, a honk, and a snap, happy clowns caper out of a tiny car to perform humorous vignettes from around the world. Dusty rolls out the red carpet, Pierrot plays on his hobby horse, and Zany rows, rows, rows his boat towards a “big surprise”! Join us for laughter and fun in this wonderful show! Hand puppets.

About this performer: Brad Shur has been professionally involved in puppetry for over 10 years. He began as a performer with the Providence puppet and mask company Big Nazo while studying film and animation at the Rhode Island School of Design. He has worked in various capacities with Wood & Strings Theatre (Tennessee), and Vermont PuppetTree, and as a builder has designed and fabricated puppets for American Idol, Dollywood, and other theaters and performers from Austin, Texas to Boston, Massachusetts. All of the puppets Brad uses in his performances come from his workshop, where he builds them by hand from wood, paper, plastic, foam and fabric. He's built and performed with rod puppets, hand puppets, shadow puppets, larger-than-life costume puppets, Japanese bunraku puppets and marionettes. His shows are high energy blends where at least a few of these styles come together with storytelling, original scripts, and lots of audience participation.

You can catch Brad at least twice monthly at Puppet Showplace Theatre, performing any one of six shows in his repertoire: "Raccoon Tales," "Here Come the Clowns," "The Singing Turtle," "Dr. Doohickey's Monster Machine," "The Carrot Salesman," and his newest production "The Magic Soup and Other Tales." His shows are high energy blends where at least a few of these styles come together with storytelling, original scripts, and lots of audience participation.

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"Pirates & Tales of Sea" by Romper Rhythm & Puppets

THIS WEEKEND AT PST

"Pirates & Tales of the Sea" by Romper Rhythm & Puppets

Sat | June 18th | 10:30am & 1pm

About this show: Pirate Long John Silver and his parrot, Flint find a sea chest full of stories, “How the Whale Got His Throat”, “A Little Mermaid”, and “Ocean Born Mary”. Tales are told with a twist, silly and not scary, using a combination of hand and shadow puppets. The story of “Ocean Born Mary”, the NH pirate legend, is told with hand puppets (pictured), lots of laughs and audience participation and yo ho ho!

About this performer: Diane Kordas has been performing music for children and families since 1992, and puppet shows since 1998. As a registered nurse and later as a mom she started using music and puppets to entertain and educate her patients, friends and family. She learned how to design and sew her own dolls and puppets with instruction from her mother, and enjoys making her own puppet characters for her shows. Today, her classic and original stories with puppets, music, humor and audience participation are enjoyed by children and families at libraries, schools, outdoor events, parties, daycares and preschools throughout New England.

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"The Case of the Missing Woodpile" by Gerwick Puppets

THIS WEEK AT PST

"The Case of the Missing Woodpile" by Gerwick Puppets

TWO PERFORMANCES EACH DAY!

Wed & Thurs | June 15 & 16 | 10:30am & 1:00pm

About this show: Marylou and Bruce star in this musical mystery. They’re busy with all sorts of summer activities, when suddenly the pile of wood for a chicken coop they want to build disappears! The audience joins the puppets to solve the mystery! With original music. "Summertime is what you make it, it can be oodles of fun", sings Marylou and her friend Bruce in this summertime frolic. Hand puppets. Check out a sneak-peek preview!

About the performer: Len grew up doing puppet shows. From junior high through college he took hisportable theater by subway to all five boroughs of New York City. He graduated from Pratt Institute, studied at Columbia University, the University of Vienna (Austria) and received a Masters in Art History from the University of Toronto, Ontario. He has been passionate about painting, history, classical music and dance throughout his life. He was and art teacher at Holliston High School in Mass. for nine years before entering puppetry full time. He is the recipient of the Northeast Region of Puppeteers of America's Artistic Achievement Award in 2008. He has been on the board of Puppeteers of America as chair of its Endowment Committee and is currently on the board of The Puppet Showplace in Brookline, Mass. Along with puppetry, he is dedicated to his painting where his work has been shown in galleries in Massachusetts.

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Hansel & Gretel by Wayne Martin Puppets

NEW SUMMER HOURS!
All shows Wed, Thurs & Sat | 10:30am & 1pm

THIS WEEK AT PST
"Hansel & Gretel" by Wayne Martin Puppets
JUN 8, 9 & 11 | 10:30am & 1pm

About the show: The classic Brothers Grimm fairytale is magically presented utilizing gorgeous hand, rod, string and shadow puppetry in this colorful musical production. Hansel, Gretel and of course the wicked old witch are all "on hand" along with a few surprise guests, to bring this beloved story to life for you at the Puppet Showplace Theater. This production will be followed by a selection of variety marionette vignettes from the award winning puppeteer's "Martin's Magical, Musical Revue."

About the performer: Wayne Martin began his interest in puppetry as a hobby at the tender age of three and a half. By age eight, he had formed his own company, The Wayne Martin Puppets and turned full-time professional.

At the top of his profession for nearly forty years now, Wayne’s credits include guest appearances with Symphony Orchestras and work as principal manipulator for industry greats, the Heiken Puppets, Sid and Marty Krofft Productions and Jim Henson’s Muppets, among others.

Martin has been featured in numerous award winning television programs and commercials. These include critically acclaimed educational and training films and his very own television series and specials that have earned him two Emmy Award nominations.

Wayne Martin’s first love remains live performance. He has toured Canada, Europe and Australia and presents his one-man variety revue hundreds of times each year across the United States. His unique style of showmanship has been instrumental in broadening the appeal of the puppet show in this country and it's acceptance as true theatre art enjoyed by adults and children alike. Having designed and built over two thousand puppets to date, Martin's act has appeared with such established artists as Bob Hope, Dolly Parton, The 5th Dimension and The Temptations. More info.

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Playing with Light: the magical art of shadow puppetry

THIS SATURDAY AT PST

Playing with Light: the magical art of shadow puppetry

Family workshop, taught by Brad Shur

Sat | June 4 | 10:30am to 12:30pm

NEW! Our "Summer Saturday" family workshop series kicks off this Saturday, and will take place on the first Saturday of each summer month (June, July, and August). These are participatory workshops where adults and children work together to build and perform with puppets. Space for these workshops is limited, so pre-registration is STRONGLY encouraged. Call the box office at 617-731-6400 today to reserve your space! Cost: $15/adult, $10/child (Member price $13/adult, $8/child).

About this workshop: Shadow puppetry is a fun, inexpensive way for families to create magical worlds and tell stories together. In this workshop, participants will see live and video demonstrations of the centuries-old history of shadow puppets and learn about their amazing variety across cultures. Then, everyone will make their own shadow puppets and learn the basic techniques of bringing them to life. This is a hands-on workshop, where everyone will have a chance to be a shadow puppeteer!

About the artist: Brad Shur has been professionally involved in puppetry for over 10 years. He began as a performer with the Providence puppet and mask company Big Nazo while studying film and animation at the Rhode Island School of Design. He has worked in various capacities with Wood & Strings Theatre (Tennessee), and Vermont PuppetTree, and as a builder has designed and fabricated puppets for American Idol, Dollywood, and other theaters and performers from Austin, Texas to Boston, Massachusetts. All of the puppets Brad uses in his performances come from his workshop, where he builds them by hand from wood, paper, plastic, foam and fabric. He's built and performed with rod puppets, hand puppets, shadow puppets, larger-than-life costume puppets, Japanese bunraku puppets and marionettes. His shows are high energy blends where at least a few of these styles come together with storytelling, original scripts, and lots of audience participation.

You can catch Brad at least twice monthly at Puppet Showplace Theatre, performing any one of six shows in his repertoire: "Raccoon Tales," "Here Come the Clowns," "The Singing Turtle," "Dr. Doohickey's Monster Machine," "The Carrot Salesman," and his newest production "The Magic Soup and Other Tales." His shows are high energy blends where at least a few of these styles come together with storytelling, original scripts, and lots of audience participation.

"Brad Shur is a fabulous puppeteer as well as an inspiring teacher. I'm so delighted to be taking (my daughter) to this."

-Review on Ticketleap.com

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Summer Starts June 1st at PST

THIS SUMMER AT PST
New Schedule! Show times for the months of June, July, and August:
Wednesday, Thursdays, and Saturdays 10:30am and 1:00pm
Check out the calendar!

SUMMER SATURDAY WORKSHOPS

Playing With Light: The Magical Art Of Shadow Puppetry
June 4th 10:30-12:30

Big Stories: Paul Bunyan and Participatory Puppet Theater
July 2nd 10:30-12:30

Junk Puppets! A Hands-On Recycled Materials Puppet Building Extravaganza
August 6th 10:30-12:30
Make a reservation.

THIS WEEK
"Turtle's New Home" by Deborah Costine
June 1 & 2 | Wed & Thurs | 10:30 am & 1pm

About This Show: Blanding is an endangered turtle in search of a new habitat. Each spring she leaves her wetland and travels to a nearby sandy hill where she lays her eggs. When a new road is ... built between the wetland and the hill, what will she do? With the help from her friend Castor the Beaver she may just be able to fix her problems!

About the Performer: When Debbie was 10 years old, she made her first puppet. She had no idea how to go about it, but she made a paper mache puppet which sits in her puppet studio today!
Debbie designs and performs shows for young audiences, and was recently awarded an UNIMA Citation of Excellence for her show “Cinderella, A Woodland Fairy Princess”. The UNIMA Citation of Excellence is the highest honor in American puppetry.
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"Little Superheroes" by Talking Hands Theatre

THIS WEEK AT PST!

"Little Superheroes" by Talking Hands Theatre

May 25 & 26 | Wed & Thurs | 10:30am

About the show: Kids can change the world! Ruby Raccoon and Benny Bunny are little superheroes in training. In order to win their superpowers, they'll have to prove that they're super fearless, super helpful, and want to save the world. This show includes information about ways kids can help protect our environment, such as planting a tree and recycling. Appropriate for ages 2-8.

About the performer: Talking Hands Theatre is committed to entertaining children with puppetsby engaging their minds and their imaginations as well as their senses of humor. We perform in schools, libraries, day care centers, parks, theatres, hospitals, and homes throughout New England. Our 5' wide black curtain stage fits easily in any space. We bring our own sound equipment, depending on the size of the audience. The puppets are all handmade rod and hand puppets. Cultural awareness, environmentalism, and generosity are just a few of our themes.Based in Shutesbury, MA, we are one of the only children's puppet troupes serving the Western Massachusetts area that will come to YOU! Whether you are looking for children's party ideas or just a treat for a good classroom, consider a puppet show. More Info.

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The Egyptian Oracle: Virtual Reality Puppet Experience!

THIS FRI AT PST
The Egyptian Oracle by Public VR
Friday, May 20th, 7PM

About the performance: "The Egyptian Oracle" is an immersive educational experience that recreates an important religious event from the Ptolemaic Period. By projecting a Virtual Egyptian Temple onto a wall real space merges with virtual space, creating a shared continuum for audience and actors. The star is a virtual High Priest, controlled by a human puppeteer (PST Artist in Residence Brad Shur) interacting with a live actor (PST staff member Brenda Huggins) and the audience, who role-play as the Egyptian populace. The high priest queries the spirit of the temple god which is embodied in a ceremonial boat carried by eight assistants. Fortunes will be told, judgments made, and blessings given. We will film the event, ask audience members what they learned, and have a general discussion afterward, all totaling 90 minutes. This experimental work was made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the performance venues in Boston and Pittsburgh. More information at http://publicvr.org.

About Public VR: PublicVR is dedicated to the advancement of virtual reality in education, the arts, and human factors research. They produce free software, supporting materials, and conduct research studies reported in scholarly publications. They also support installations in museums, art galleries, and research facilities. PublicVR is a non-profit (501c3) corporation funded by grants, donations, and volunteer efforts.

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Elephant Tango at Incubator This Week!

THIS TUES NIGHT AT PST

Incubator!

May 17 | 7pm to 9pm

About Incubator: Every other Tuesday, PST hots a "drop-in" session where emerging artists, veteran puppeteers, teachers, and puppet enthusiasts gather to discuss and develop creative ideas in a casual, informal environment.

Here artists of all media and genres, experienced or not, can experiment with new puppetry ideas, materials and styles. It's a place where knowledge is shared, constructive critiques is the norm, and collaborations are born. This event is a free and open to the public, with a suggested donation of $5.

What's happening this week: Don't miss the chance to see a preview performance of "Elephant Tango Tales" by the Elephant Tango Ensemble! This PST premiere features old stories and new creations that fill an exciting hour of puppetry & music! With Aesop's Fables (Mice in Council, Mountain In Labor & The Lion's Paw), The Couch (an original story of a child's imaginative adventures by Jill Gibson), and a series of delightful vignettes by the adorable Baby Zombie. All shadow puppetry, ball & scarf puppetry, projector puppetry and hand puppetry is accompanied by a live music ensemble!

About the performer: Founded in August of 2008, the Elephant Tango Ensemble is a collective of musicians, actors, puppeteers, designers and dancers striving for creative excellence through making puppets, composing music, and preserving story time.

The Elephant Tango has performed at the Cloud Club, Brookline Music School, Club Oberon, Perishable Theatre, Puppet Showplace Theatre, Boston Playwright's Theatre, and is available for entertainment and educational events in New England. More info.

Also this week: This is the final Incubator before the Adult Puppet Showplace SLAM! and we are looking forward to seeing many of our SLAM performers there. Emcee Jon Little and PST Artist in Residence Brad Shur will be on site to help give feedback on everyone's work.

Adult Puppet Showplace SLAM! Saturday, May 21st at 8pm.

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"Singing Turtle" By Brad Shur

THIS WEEK AT PST!

Sat & Sun | May 14 & 15 | 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.
Wed & Thurs | May 18 & 19 | 10:30 a.m.

About the show:
A young, hard working farm boy, Taro, is desperate to earn money to buy medicine for his mother. He is helped by an amazing turtle in this Japanese folk tale.
Hand puppets. Ages 3 & up.


About the performer:
Brad has been professionally involved in puppetry for nearly 10 years. He first began as a performer with the Providence puppet and mask company Big Nazo while a student at the Rhode Island School of Design and has toured nationally with Wood & Strings Theatre, a marionette company out of Tennessee. Brad recently finished working with the Vermont PuppetTree as a freelance puppet designer and performer.

He has experience in teaching workshops and classes for students of all ages and hopes to be known in the future as an Arts Educator. Brad has a passion for performance and describes his style as “carnival barker” driven by interactive audience dialogue.

Brad is thrilled to be here as the Artist in Residence of the Puppet Showplace Theatre!

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PST Summer Workshops and Classes

REGISTER NOW FOR CLASSES AT PST!
Coming this spring and summer, PST has brand new education programming for youth, families, and adults alike! Classes will fill up fast, so grab your spot today!

All classes and workshops will be taught by Brad Shur, our artist in residence.

Youth Class:

Think Big! Giant Puppet Construction and Performance Class
July 18 - July 23
Monday through Friday, 3:30 to 5:30 pm
At the Puppet Showplace Theatre
Public performance Saturday July 23, at 8:00 pm

Join us in July for a week of bringing giants to life! Students will learn how to dream big and work with others to make their visions a reality. In addition to acquiring technical construction and performance skills, students will learn the basics of project planning and how to work as a team. Their work will be presented for our audiences at the July 23rd adult Puppet Showplace Slam (8:00 pm on July 23rd)!

Only $125 per participant! Ages 8 and up
Click here to register online, or call the Box office at 617-731-6400


Family Workshop Series:
Our "Summer Saturday" family workshop series takes place on the first Saturday of each summer month (June, July, and August).
These are participatory workshops where adults and children work together to build and perform with puppets.

Space for these workshops is limited, so pre-registration is STRONGLY encouraged.
Call the box office at 617-731-6400 today to reserve your space!

Cost: $15/adult, $10/child (Member price $13/adult, $8/child).

Family Workshops Offered:

Playing with Light: the magical art of shadow puppetry
June 4 | 10:30 – 12:30
Shadow puppetry is a fun, inexpensive way for families to create magical worlds and tell stories together. In this workshop, participants will see live and video demonstrations of the centuries-old history of shadow puppets and learn about their amazing variety across cultures. Then, everyone will make their own shadow puppets and learn the basic techniques of bringing them to life. This is a hands-on workshop, where everyone will have a chance to be a shadow puppeteer!
Register Online

Big Stories: Paul Bunyan and participatory puppet theater
July 2 |10:30 – 12:30
Did you ever wonder how puppeteers tell such big stories with such small characters? Celebrate American Independence by bringing to life the classic American Folk Tale, Paul Bunyan! Families will learn how puppeteers use movement and sound to bring multiple styles of puppets to life. All participants will get to practice manipulation exercises with simple puppets provided by the instructor. Then, together we will put on a show! Junk Puppets!
Register Online

A Hands-On Recycled Materials Puppet Building Extravaganza
August 6 | 10:30 – 12:30
Puppets can bring junk back to life! Participants will begin by learning what a puppet is and some of the basic skills of puppet construction. Then, everyone will create their own puppet using recycled materials. We’ll have plenty on hand, and participants are welcome to bring their own materials as well (water bottles, toilet paper tubes, etc). Our artist in residence will guide the creative process and assist with construction. Once the puppets are complete, we’ll get a crash course in making them come to life with voice, movement and story-telling techniques.
Register Online



Adult Classes:

Introduction to Puppetry Arts
Four Thursday Evenings
May 19 - June 9 | 7PM - 9PM
Ages 16 and up
What makes a great puppet show? Participants will be introduced to the exciting and multifaceted world of puppetry through hands-on exploration of the materials and performance methods used by professional puppeteers. The class will study and discuss the work of great including Richard Bradshaw, Burr Tillstrom, and Sergey Obraztsov, and learn what core elements unite traditional Punch and Judy shows with the Muppets and the giant puppets of Royale de Luxe. Participants will survey basic construction methods and will build their own puppets and make them come to life.

This is an adult workshop; ages 16 and up.

Introduction to Puppetry Arts Registration info Introduction to Glove Puppetry
Four Thursday Evenings
July 28 - August 14 | 7PM - 9PM
Ages 16 and up
How does a puppeteer bring a character to life? Glove puppetry is an immensely creative and challenging art form that has been practiced for centuries around the world as a way to bring stories to life. Students will examine the history of glove puppet performance from Punch and Judy to Mr. Rogers. Starting with basic exercises for manual dexterity and expressiveness and progressing to 2-character interactions, students will build a vocabulary of movement that will allow them to express almost any emotion or action. Finally, participants will learn a durable method for creating their own glove puppets from scratch.

This is an adult workshop; ages 16 and up.

Introduction to Glove Puppetry Registration info

Questions? Feel free to contact our box office for more details about these and other upcoming events at 617-731-6400.

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"Little Red Riding Hood" by WonderSpark Puppets

THIS WEEK AT PST!

Wed & Thurs |May 11 & 12 | 10:30 a.m.

About the show:
Little Red is sent into the big woods to deliver a basket of goodies to her sick Grandmother, but is hounded by a hungry wolf who wants the basket for himself. Will Little Red be able to outsmart the wolf and save her Grandmother? The wolf is not overly scary, but children under 3 may be too young for this tale.
Little Red & The Wolf uses hand-held puppets on 3 tables, and is great for larger spaces like schools and theaters. The show is 45 minutes long and is fun for ages 4 and up.
About the performer:
Located in New York City, WonderSpark Puppets performs award-winning puppet theater in all sorts of venues. Theaters, schools, libraries, children's museums, and even your living room, you never know where WonderSpark Puppets will be appearing next.
Founded by husband and wife team Chad Williams and Lindsey "Z." Briggs, WonderSpark Puppets infuse fun and whimsy into all their performances. WonderSpark is happy to perform puppet shows for kids and adults alike. WonderSpark Puppets Website
WonderSpark Puppets Facebook

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"Here Come the Clowns" by Brad Shur

THIS WEEK AT PST!
Wed & Thurs | May 4 & 5 | 10:30AM & 1PM
Sat & Sun | May 7 & 8 | 1PM & 3PM

About the show: With a beep, a honk, and a snap, happy clowns caper out of a tiny car to perform humorous vignettes from around the world. Dusty rolls out the red carpet, Pierrot plays on his hobby horse, and Zany rows, rows, rows his boat towards a “big surprise”! Join us for laughter and fun in this wonderful show!

About the performer: Brad Shur, artist in residence at PST, has been professionally involved in puppetry for nearly 10 years. As a fan of all types of puppetry, Brad has built and performed with rod puppets, hand puppets, shadow puppets, larger-than-life costume puppets, Japanese bunraku puppets and marionettes. His shows are high energy blends where at least a few of these styles come together with storytelling, original scripts, and lots of audience participation.

You can catch Brad at least twice monthly at Puppet Showplace Theatre, performing any one of six shows in his repertoire: "Raccoon Tales," "Here Come the Clowns," "The Singing Turtle," "Dr. Doohickey's Monster Machine," "The Carrot Salesman," and his newest production "The Magic Soup and Other Tales."

Brad is also an experienced teacher and offers workshops and classes for all ages on site at PST or private bookings in addition to extended residencies. This programming includes shadow, hand, and rod puppets, or custom workshops. Click here for more info!

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"Leopard Learns a Lesson" by Magpie Puppets

THIS WEEKEND AT PST
Saturday & Sunday | April 29 & May 1 | 1PM & 3PM

About the show: This story is adapted from an African tale from Malawi. Leopard is always bullying and frightening smaller animals until Rabbit turns the tables on her with the help of the jungle’s two largest beasts, Elephant and Rhinoceros. The audience learns, along with Leopard, that cooperation works better than intimidation. With original music by Alison Reid!

Hand puppets. Recommended for ages 3 & up.

About the performer: Maggie Whalen, Director of Magpie Puppets, a one-woman hand puppet theater, has been performing puppet shows for children and adults since 1969. In 1971, she founded and directed Poor People's Puppets in NYC, which performed in its own storefront theater from 1971 - 1974. She has worked with the Bread & Puppet Theatre in Vermont and Theater for the New City in New York.

Magpie Puppets is committed to innovative children’s entertainment, free of stereotypes and violence. Performances include taped or live music, one-of-a-kind hand puppets, extensive audience participation, and inventive staging.

Maggie Whalen is also a trained pediatric occupational therapist. As an artist and therapist who works with children every day, she is uniquely qualified to understand the developmental and emotional needs of children, and their need for joyous participatory fun.

For more info: www.magpiepuppets.com

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