New Pictures of Honk Fest on Facebook!
Hey Everybody. Last weekend we were out and about at Honk Fest with our good friend Goldie the extra large goldfish made this summer in the Think Big! Giant Puppet Construction class. Luckily for us there was no rain to melt our paper mach fish and everyone seemed to love her. Thanks so much to all our volunteers who showed up to help out! You can check our pictures of the event on our facebook page
Father Goose's Tales by Nappy's Puppets
This Weekend!"Father Goose's Tales" by Nappy's Puppets About the performer:
Little Red Riding Hood by Wonderspark Puppets
Will Little Red be able to outsmart the wolf and save her Grandmother?
The Three Wishes by Spring Valley Puppet Theater
A highly sought-after instructor, he has taught at the University of Connecticut Puppet Arts program, the Institute of Professional Puppetry Arts (IPPA) at the O'Neill Theatre Center in Waterford, Connecticut and has presented casting and hand puppet construction workshops for puppetry guilds in Connecticut and Massachusetts. more info
PST in the Community
On October 2nd, Puppet Showplace Theatre will be part of the sixth annual HONK! Parade. We will march with "Goldie," our new and celebrated giant goldfish puppet, down Mass Ave from Davis to Harvard Square. Interested in marching with us? E-mail artistic@puppetshowplace.org by September 29th for details!
We at PST love events like this that give us an excuse to go into the community and work with other organizations to make people smile. Part of PST's mission is to work in collaboration with area businesses, schools, and cultural organizations to improve people's lives. We do this through our touring workshops and school residencies, our appearances at cultural festivals and events, and our collaborations with institutions ranging from hospitals to teen centers to foreign consulates. Our Mary Churchill Fund, named for our founder, helps us bring children from under-served communities to see high-quality, educational performances.
Recently, PST partnered with the Brookline Recreation Department to offer an after-school puppetry enrichment program at our theatre. We hope to expand this into a full summer camp next year.
How would YOU like to see PST get involved in the community? Your ideas - and assistance! - are welcome as we strive to make this vision a reality!
P.S. In case you haven't met her, Goldie was designed and built in just one week last July by members of PST's "Think Big" all-ages giant puppet class, taught by Artist in Residence Brad Shur. In less than a month, Brad will begin teaching an awesome class for adults and teens called Puppet Building 101.
Mystery of Queen Lake by Theatre of Life
Adult Classes This Fall!
September 22 - October 13, 7PM - 9PM
Ages 16 and up-$150
Puppet Building 101
Cost: $200 + $25 materials fee (includes take-home sculpting materials!)Register Online!PST Members save 10%!
Instructor: Brad Shur
Note: While hand puppets are the primary example that will be used in class, the methods and materials presented in "Puppet Building 101" can be applied to many different styles of puppet construction.
Weekday Shows Begin this Week!
Puppet Showplace Slam: Puppets for Adults!
PST has shows for teens and adults? That's right, puppet fans. Every other month we stay open late on Saturday night to bring you a raucous evening of PG-13 puppet entertainment. We call it a "slam" because it's your only chance to get smashed in the eyeballs by every style of puppetry you can imagine.
2011 - 2012 Puppet Showplace Slam Schedule:
Saturday September 17, 2011
8:00 pm at Puppet Showplace Theatre
FEATURING Circus lobsters, "War Sheep," Gepetta, and more!
Order Tickets Now!
Saturday November 19, 2011
8:00 pm at Puppet Showplace Theatre
Saturday January 21, 2012
8:00 pm at Puppet Showplace Theatre
Saturday March 17, 2012
8:00 pm at Puppet Showplace Theatre
Saturday May 19, 2012
8:00 pm at Puppet Showplace Theatre
Saturday July 21, 2012
8:00 pm at Puppet Showplace Theatre
Rumplestiltskin by Dream Tale Puppets
Jacek Zuzanski has a Master of Art degree from The State Puppetry Institute in Wrocław, Poland, and The Ministry for Art and Culture’s Stage Directing Certificate. Jacek currently teaches acting and puppetry at the Cape Cod Conservatory and at the Falmouth Academy.
Norina Reif leads Toddler Story time at Falmouth Library and she is also a playgroup coordinator specializing in early childhood development. She also performs with Falmouth Theatre Guild and Cotuit Center for the Arts.
Fall NEW Membership Drive!
There are many benefits to becoming a member of Puppet Showplace, but none so important as supporting the work that we do. Be part of the excitement... become a member today by calling the box office, 617-731-6400, ordering on-line, or best of all, by coming to the theatre to see a show!
2011-2012 Season Kick Off at Puppet Showplace!
Join us on Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day Weekend for a special season kickoff event! We will feature a return performance of the spectacular Pinocchio by National Marionette Theatre--completely sold out in July!--and we'll have activities, refreshments, and a new puppet exhibit on display.
Sir George and the Dragon by Pumpernickel Puppets
PST World Report: Roxie at the International Puppet Festival, Jerusalem!
Dear PST Fans,
Greetings from Jerusalem! I am writing from the Train Theatre’s International Puppet Festival in the heart of Jerusalem. For 6 days straight I have been watching 7 or more puppet shows a day made by artists from all over the world. Many of the shows are without words which helps us international guests understand. Even when the shows are entirely in Hebrew, the puppeteers are such strong performers that the meaning of the stories still comes through. (Still, little by little, I am picking up words in Hebrew as I listen...)
The festival is located in both indoor and outdoor theatre venues across the Mishkenot neighborhood, just a short walk from the Old City where many holy sites (Dome of the Rock, the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher) are located. I am here as a guest of the Culture department of the Israeli Foreign Ministry. Along with other directors of International Puppet Festivals, we are here to see some of the most exciting puppet theatre that Israel has to offer.
According to the festival's Artistic Director, the "hero" of this year's festival is paper, so many of the shows use this as their primary design element. Several shows, including "Rain Bird" (depicted below) use origami or other paper folding traditions to tell their stories. Shadow and object theatre are also prominent.
I took one morning off from the festival to visit the Holon Puppet Center, located in the city of Holon near Tel Aviv. Here, I saw an amazing museum display of Israeli puppets and others from collections gathered from all over the world. Students at this school can specialize in different areas of puppetry, including building and performance, community art, education, and therapy. The theatre and classroom facilities were impressive, and I saw a group of campers thoroughly enjoying themselves in workshops, performances, and museum tours. I hope more American puppeteers have the chance to study abroad here!
Last night I left the Mishkenot neighborhood and traveled to the Mehane Yehuda market area. There, we went on a walking tour to see different performance installations, including one that took place in a synagogue. It was a wonderful way to see the city, and to appreciate the artistic and storytelling traditions that many of these puppeteers draw on for inspiration for their show.
Please stop by PST for more stories about the trip. Until then, Shalom!
Roxie
Dr. Doohickey's Monster Machine by Brad Shur
THIS WEEK AT PSTBrad 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!
PUPPET INVASION NOW RECRUITING!
A Woodland Cinderella, by Deborah Costine, Puppeteer!
Last Incubator of the Summer!
TUES | AUG 9th | 7pm to 9pm
About Incubator: 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.
Our last summer Incubator meeting, featuring...YOU!
Our last few Incubator sessions have featured the work of master puppeteers. Now, we're excited to hear from you! Come by Puppet Showplace Theatre on Tuesday August 9th with your materials, your puppets, and your imaginations. As a special treat, we'll introduce you to our brand new giant goldfish, Goldie!
Fall adult classes @ PST!
Oh man, we are so excited about our upcoming puppetry classes for adults! Furry Monsters 101, taught by Jon Little, begins in September, followed by Puppet Building 101 in October, taught by Artist in Residence Brad Shur. Our goal is to have classes offered continually throughout the year, so keep checking out our current offerings in the Adult Workshops section of our website!
