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P . Winter - 2012 . D
The NEWSLETTER OF THE PUPPETEERS OF AMERICA
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Editor: Fred Thompson 26 Howard Avenue New Haven, CT 06519-2809
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Dear Folks,
I would like to begin this letter with a profound THANK YOU to the estate of Jay Marshall for his very
generous gift of $10,000. Jay passed away in 2006. We have just now received the gift.
Thanks for this!
In January, the Board of Trustees met in Cincinatti, Ohio for a day and a half retreat. The purpose of
this retreat was to discuss ways to restructure Puppeteers of America to: Insure sustainability, Increase
membership, Retain institutional memory and Retain financial constancy.
Before delving deeper, I need to say a few words
about Puppeteers of America as an arts organization.
Although we have been around for over 75 years, we
are for all intents and purposes, a volunteer run organization. We have no official office, no paid staff.
Our main functions of Treasurer, the Journal, WEB
communications, Membership, the Store, and Insurance, are performed by people who receive a small
honorarium and work primarily from their homes. In
other words, these are labors of love. There are numerous other jobs and committees that are all done
by volunteers with no remuneration. It is because of
you that we have endured and continue to exist.
After last summer’s Annual meeting, it was clear that
the membership wants more from it’s organization.
And so the board met to try to address this need.
We believe the action we should take is to set a goal to
create a staff position of Executive Director, who will
manage the day to day affairs of PofA and report to
the Board of Trustees. This will bring us in line with
better business practices for non-profits and address
the concerns set forth at the beginning of this letter.
Some goals and questions that were voiced:
Creating a step by step strategic plan.
Who are we?
What does PofA do?
Creating the job description of Executive Director.
Who could we attract to this job?
How can we find the funds in the Budget?
Where will we locate?
A suggested transition period of 3 years.
The Plan of action:
Budget study needed.
Create a Job profile.
Organizational chart needed.
Reach out to Arts organizations and puppetry centers
for proposals for office space/ infrastructure. (Partnering with other arts organizations could have tremendous value.)
Create a search committee.
These steps are established business practices.
Our goal is to be able to announce this person at the
National Festival, 2013.
In summary:
Hiring an Executive Director will help the Puppeteers of America increase its potential by serving its
membership better.
Results being: Better managed services, better communication and eventually, lower costs, more festivals and programs.
An Executive Director will enable the Puppeteers
of America to fulfill its mission and increase our influence and support for puppetry in the US and the
world.
What can you do? You can support this change by advocating with members, supporting the process, and
supporting the eventual Executive Director.
We welcome your suggestions and insights. Please
direct them to any board member by mail or email.
As always, it is my pleasure to serve.
Anna Vargas, President
REUM-
...with a view.
M’el Reum
H
ere I sit, with eighteen inches of snow on my front stairs
and on my car. It has been an unusual winter. The best part
of being snowed in is I get to sit before the fire and pick up an
old puppet book and re read it, The book was “Marionettes and
How to Make Them”, by F.J. McIsaac and illustrated by none
other then Tony Sarg. In it, is one of my favorite puppet stories
and I will take the liberty of telling it again for everyone. I know
it happened because I heard the same story from magician Walter “Zany“ Blaney. At the end of a performance an enthusiastic
audience called for Tony Sarg, (the artist-puppeteer) and on the
spur of the moment, he walked on stage leading Greta, a small
marionette. The stage had a proscenium arch only six feet tall.
The audience rushed back stage and reported that Sarg appeared
twelve feet tall and five hundred pounds. The proportion and
scale was perfect. He was so pleased with the idea that it became
a permanent part of his show. What a beautiful story.
The New Year has offered a brand new set of shows all over the
country. Gretchen Van Lente’s Drama of Works in Brooklyn,
New York are doing “How the Earth Got its Color.” Also in
Brooklyn, Puppet Works is doing Perault’s “Puss in Boots.” It
has been adapted from the 1697 French fantasy by Nick Coppola
of West Babylon, New York.
The Puppetry Arts Institute in Kansas City has Anitra Steele’s
“Further Adventures of Jack’s Cow,” The Melchior Marionette
Theatre in Greenwood, Indiana, is doing good old “Rumpelstiltskin”
Our California puppeteers are busy working on a one day Festival at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. They have
been seeking local puppeteers to perform for the occasion.
Angela Beasley of Savannah, Georgia always has an interesting
show going on. She is doing “Beyond the Moss Curtain.” It is
a musical variety show about Savannah and some of it notable
natives, Juliet Low, Johnny Mercer, Paula Dean, etc., etc. What a
great way to teach your audience about their city.
Congratulations to Steve Axtel of Ventura, California for being
a great part of the puppetry world for thirty years. His puppets
have appeared everywhere. Congratulations, as well, to Drew
Allison of the Gray Seal Puppets of Charlotte, North Carolina.
The company had a commercial during the Super Bowl. I didn’t
see it here in Denver, but I heard it was a real winner. On the
“Good for You List” is the Puppetry Center of San Diego, California. They have received a grant for 2012 from the Mason Hirst
Foundation. In California, Franklin Haynes, of Riverside, is doing “Frankie’s Toy Box Show” in Calabasass. ImaginOcean is
doing a black light show in Costa Mesa California.
American Museum of The Moving Image in Astoria, New York
held a wonderful exhibit of “Jim Henson’s Fantastic World.”
The exhibit covered everything from pencil drawings Jim had
made to a full size Miss Piggie.
Lots of good publicity throughout the country in the newspapers and local computer news. Bob and Judy Brown of Oakton,
Virginia had a great write up in the Maryland Gazette.net. It fills
the readers in on Bob’s work at the Puppet Co Playhouse in Glen
Echo Maryland. Speaking of which, the Puppet Co Playhouse,
under the guidance of Allan Stevens, and Mayfield and Christopher Piper presented Mozart’s “Magic Flute” in February. What
a wonderful way to introduce opera to young people.
The Parker Chronicle in Colorado had a picture and write-up on
the work of David Privett , Parker, Colorado who built a 9 foot
high ghost for a Christmas production. The Parker Arts council
granted the group a $5,000. grant to build the puppets.
In the Heart of the Beast Puppet Theater, Minneapolis, Minnesota is doing “Hard Headed Hearts,” a play based on the writings of Garcia Lorca. The show is filled with puppets, scrolls and
drums, and lots of unusual antics to keep he audience happy.
Open Eye Theatre, also in Minneapolis has some beautiful puppets directed and designed by Michael Sommers. They are presenting “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.” The marionette Sorcerer is
a work of art. A sorcerer everyone can love.
Locally, Kate O’Kami, Evergreen Colorado and I went to see
David Simpich, of Colorado Springs. David is doing “ Firebird.” It was especially fun for me because a millennium ago
I did “Firebird.” It is always fun to see another puppeteer do
a show that you have done. It was very different and we both
had taken bits and pieces from the many versions of the Russian
Fairy tale. Our shows were so different and yet they were both
“Firebird.” Some stories have so much to offer. Also in Denver,
Annie Zook, is doing “Silly Jack” to be followed by “Cinderella
Mexican Style” at the Denver Puppet Theatre.
Deborah Costine of Southborough, Massachusetts is presenting her delightful “Twig Family in the Oak Tree.” It takes place
in a tree and you get to watch the antics of the family in the
tree. Deb says she loves doing it because each time, she discovers something new that makes the show better.
It thrills me reading newsletters when an old friend shows up in
photos and a write-up. The NY Newsletter had pictures of Ed
Sheehy, New York , New York has learned to do Taiwanese puppets and has mastered the technique.
Sandglass Theatre of Putney, Vermont hosted Wonderspark
Puppets, Lindsey “Z” Briggs and Chad Williams performing
“Little Red Riding Hood.”
In Connecticut, the O’Neill Puppetry Conference awaits you
every summer with ideas and imagination and instruction.
They are now accepting applications. This year in the center of
the country Puppet Fest Mid-West is celebrating its 10th year.
It hardly seems possible. Come and join us in Missouri. Who
knows what Peter and Debbie Lutzky Allen have up their
sleeves? It is always fun. I will be there teaching the class on soft
bodied marionettes.
K
eep checking the P of A website for regionals and any local
puppet days or weekends.
M’El REUM
827 Milwaukee Street
Denver, CO 80206
[email protected]
GUILDCONNECTION
The
Kurt Hunter
I
t has been a weird winter in Minnesota, not cold, not white.
February is usually the month when everyone has had enough,
but instead most people are hoping for snow. Usually we only
do that hoping in December when the holidays are approaching.
Of course we don’t let absence (or excess) of weather spoil a good
celebration.
• There was plenty of holiday celebrating by puppetry guilds
across the country in the last few months. The Orange County
Puppetry Guild spent two months celebrating. In December they
met for a Christmas Potpourri of puppet performances and in January they took a field trip to the Bob Baker Marionette Theatre to
see his “Holiday Spectacular.”
• Bob Baker’s Theatre also hosted the Los Angeles Guild of Puppetry in early December for their holiday party. The party included performances from their first ever 24 Hour Puppet Theater
Workshop. Teams had just 24 hours to conceptualize, build and
prepare to perform their original pieces.
• Members of the Phoenix Guild of Puppetry were hosted in
December by Connie Galeener for a holiday party complete with
potluck, gift exchange, short puppet performances and music by
anyone willing to bring an instrument along.
• The Willamette Valley Puppeteers went on a field trip in December to see “A Christmas Carol” directed by Dan Stone at LinnBenton Community College. The show incorporated giant puppets and masks. The group was given a backstage tour after the
performance.
• Michelle O’Donnell and Stan Gulick got everyone into the holiday spirit when they performed “Peppy Penguin” for the December meeting of the Puppet Guild of Greater St. Louis.
• The members of the Savannah Coastal Puppetry Guild held
a party that you would never see here in the northland. Their
Holiday Oyster Roast was held in December at the Puppet People
Studio.
• The Detroit Puppeteers Guild stretched out the holiday season
with a performance of “The Christmas Mouse” by Chris Clark at
their January meeting. Members were encouraged to bring their
kids, grandkids, or neighbor kids for the performance.
• The San Francisco Bay Area Puppeteers Guild broke the party mold with their “Holiday Party – Valentine’s day Edition!” in
February. The event included a performance of “Anansi and the
Moss Covered Rock” by Sharon Clay’s 4-H Puppeteers, selected
readings from “Co-Creation: Fifty Years in the Making,” Conrad
Bishop and Elizabeth Fuller’s new book, and “Mr. Blues Lavender
Dreams” by Artie Poore, a guest from New York.
• The members of the Puppetry Guild of Northeastern Ohio took
a February field trip to see Nancy Sander perform “The Man Who
Kept House.” Following the performance Nancy had everyone
over to her house for potluck “high tea.”
• The Connecticut Guild of Puppetry held their annual “Margo
Rose – O’Neill Scholarship Fund Raiser” in January. This year’s
entertainment was “Puppet Boomerang,” performances by past
guild scholarship recipients.
• In December the Puppetry Guild of Greater New York took a
tour of the exhibit “Jim Henson’s Fantastic World” at the American
Museum of the Moving Image and the offices of Jim Henson Associates thanks to the cooperation of Z. Briggs and Cheryl Henson.
• The National Capital Puppetry Guild had an interesting meeting in November thanks to Susan Wall, Heidi and Sam Rugg and
Michael Cotter. They all brought in their traveling stages to show
everyone how it is done.
• My own guild, the Twin Cities Puppeteers, was treated to
“Time for Dr. Orbius” in January. This video project was created
by Rick Liljeblad with assistance from Tom O’Lenick. In addition
to the video we got an up close look at the puppets and Rick and
Tom answered all of our questions about the project.
• Following their discussions about the guild future in September
the Florida Suncoast Puppet Guild decided to meet twice a year
in September and in February. They also decided to put the guild
on Facebook to help keep everyone in communication between
meetings.
• Keeping a guild together is rarely easy. One of the cords holding the Wisconsin Guild of Puppetry together is their newsletter
“Puppetcetera” put together by Joan McCarthy.
• Kevin Hedgpeth beefed up the on-line presence of the Phoenix
Guild of Puppetry. Their website now includes a gallery of images, a downloadable PDF membership form and a contact form
for reaching the guild.
W
ell, that’s the bottom of my stack of guild news. I’ve been
hoping for an accumulation of snow, but now I need to hope
for an accumulation of news too. Send me whatever you can. I’d
love to hear what your guild is doing.
KURT HUNTER
5918 W. 39th Street
St. Lois Park, MN 55416
[email protected]
MEMBERSHIP OFFICE
Thanks for letting us know of any change
of address or email addresses.
Much Appreciated.
Membership Office
Puppeteers of America
26 Howard Avenue,
New Haven, CT. 06519-2809
[email protected]
1-888-568-6235
Eureka!!
G
reetings, all you dolly-danglers and hand flappers, too.
I am looking out my office window watching spring
approach. What a winter we’ve had! I haven’t even opened my
first bag of salt yet. It makes you wonder what this summer is
going to be like.
On The Phone: Have you ever listened to those telemarketers
that call you? Take a lesson from them on what not to do. First,
don’t sound like you’re reading. Of course, you must have
an opening paragraph that you’ve rehearsed until it sounds
natural. But I feel that the energy put into the call is what
sells the show. So I psych myself up before a call session. I
say to myself.”These lucky people! Here they are, needing
entertainment, and haven’t a clue as to where to find it and
now I am just dropping it into their laps! I will make them
look good! I am in the position of making it so easy for them
and they don’t even know it yet. Well, I’m going to let them
know right now and they will be delighted to hear from me.”
and then I dial. I know it sounds silly, but it works for me.
When I get them, I have a big smile on my face (an essential;
after all, you are a fun-peddler), and the enthusiasm in my
voice is contagious.
A Lifetime Client: Dave Herzog, of Chicago, Illinois, says to
not neglect your previous clients. He has a special mailing just
for them. After all, if you have done a good job why wouldn’t
they want you back? I work very hard at building friendships
that will last over the years. Just last night I got the validation
I work for: a client of mine called me long distance to tell me
her Grand Baby arrived safely, and she knew I would want to
know; now I don’t have to wait for summer to find out. Now
that’s client keeping!
Your Website: I was out shopping and the cashier found
out I was a puppeteer. He was curious so I suggested he log
onto my website. He immediately pulled out his smart phone
and logged on. He scrolled through the site until he came to
the picture gallery. This is what he looked at - the pictures. It
suddenly occurred to me that I needed more pictures on my
gallery. I went home, got out some of my better puppets and
took close-ups. Next, when I went to my next show I gave my
smart phone to the preschool teacher and said,”Take a bizillion
pictures.” She took pictures of the show and even more of
the children interacting with the puppets after the show. She
knew what she wanted to capture: delighted children hugging
puppets. After that, I took photos of my own. “Who wants to
have their picture taken with a puppet?” I shouted. I snapped
and snapped and snapped. At home I deleted most but I got at
least fifteen “keepers.” These will go on my site and will also
be printed out and sent to the client with a thank you.
Be Kind To Your Hands: I’m building a new stage...again!...
and I am reminded of a tip that Dan Henry, of Towaco, New
Jersey told me years ago: when screwing in a screw first slide
it across a bar of soap; it will go in like butter.
Handouts: Another good way to endear your client who is
a principal is the handout. As I said in a previous column,
Peggy Pearson of Greenwood, Indiana provides a printed
handout to the principal of the curriculum standards the
show provides (she found these listed on the Internet). The
principal must include these in his report, and she has made
it easy. Mel Biske, of Bollingbrook,Illinois, is the master
of school shows. He provides a handout to every teacher.
Nothing like having the audience prepared!
Permanent Markers: A happy “Howdy!” goes out to Bob
and Judy Brown, of Alexandria, Virginia. Bob wrote,”I use
permanent felt markers on almost all my animal puppets. It
is easier to add stripes to a cat already assembled rather than
piecing material. Highlighter markers in pink and orange are
great for adding color to cheeks and eye shadow. Blend with
a scrap of fabric wrapped around your finger. And test on a
scrap of fabric before using them in the real thing.”
Script Writing: And from Judy Brown, the guru of script
writing, an axiom we need to remember: “Once the witch is in
the oven the play is over.” I agree, Judy. No long denouement
for us.
Another Script Axiom: I would like to add one of my own:
“Start the show with a bang.”. As the curtain goes up, a puppet
entering with. “oh dear, oh dear...” says to the audience, “oh
drear, oh drear.” you need to capture the audience immediately.
In my Baba Yaga, the witch whirls out onto the stage, shouts,
“Take that, Spider King!” and throws a ball of fire into the air.
Yes, I had their attention and then started the show.
Face Painitng: When puppeteers get together, they’re always
swapping tips. Rick Morse, of Flushing, Michigan, said that
Peter Allen gave him this tip: After buying a felt color called
“doll face” he liked the color so well that he went to Home
Depot and bought a gallon of latex paint to match. Now he
just takes a dipper of paint and can “mess with it” without
starting from scratch.
Painting Lights: Continuing on the painting theme, Sam
Rugg, of Richmond, Virginia, reminds us that when we
paint our lights to use the paint especially made for painting
barbecues.
Hemming Chiffon: I heard from Melanie Zimmer, of Vernon,
New York. She writes, I hate, hate, hate chiffon! She struggled
with hemming it until she went on YouTube and watched a
video called (surprisingly) “How To Hem Chiffon.” A woman
shows how she uses a butane lighter to melt the chiffon into a
hem. Melanie suggests trying it on a scrap of material first. I
suggest tying back your hair...
W
ell, folks, my holding tank where I keep all the tips for
the next column looks pretty anorexic, so help me fatten
it up. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
Have a fun and profitable summer!
Nancy
NANCY H. SANDER
1250 Granger Avenue
Lakewood, OH 44107
[email protected]