News Archive - 1999
News Archive - 1999
Back to the most recent Puppet News
| December 31, 1999
Puppet pieces top year's best lists |
| In the flurry of the end of the year "best" lists, San Francisco
reviewers have highlighted several puppetry pieces:
Mabou Mines company's Peter and Wendy, part of the Berkeley Repertory's season, topped everyone's "Best Theater in the Bay Area" lists. Steven Winn, Chronicle Theater Critic said in his review "The Mabou Mines company's adaptation of J.M. Barrie's classic tale was the most transformative show of the year, a swirl of actors, puppets, projections and a Celtic-Caribbean score that conjured pure guileless delight." San Francisco Chronicle movie critics also picked "Being John Malkovich" as one of their top 10 films. And Basil Twist, creator of Symphonie Fantastique, made it into Sam Whiting's Year in Review, Pictures. The picture of Basil is not to be missed. |
| December 31, 1999
Spitting Image puppets up for sale |
| 800 puppets used in the satirical British television puppet show, Spittin
Image, will be auctioned at The Whitechapel Gallery in east London. The
collection is being sold on behalf of one of the series' creators, Roger
Law. He and business partner Peter Fluck created infamous caricatures
during the 1980's of political figures, royalty and other public figures.
The series was canceled by ITV in 1996 and a year afterwards Law closed down his production studio before setting off traveling around Australia. He is now artist in residence at the National Art School in Sydney. Law was quoted as saying: "As I am trying not to fill my life with work and deadlines, funds at times can be a trifle thin. In an effort to reduce expenditure, I applied for pensioner status, only to be told I was too young, so I have become a student instead." |
| December 31, 1999
Puppets designed for New Year bash in New York |
| An AP Press story by Cristine Gonzalex describes Oregon artist Michael
Curry's New Year's puppets, designed for the New York TImes Square Millennium
party.
At his workshop in Oregon, Curry and a crew of 57 painters, engineers and craftspeople are making 160 oversized puppets to celebrate the world's cultures, time zone by time zone, in an unprecedented, 24-hour countdown to the millennium. ``I didn't want this to be a National Geographic survey of each culture,'' said Curry, 41. ``I wanted to do justice to the richness of the world's cultures, to show the vastness of these cultures with artistry.'' To prepare for a production of such magnitude, creative producer Geoff Puckett began recruiting designers years ago. ``The advantage of using human-manipulated puppetry is that it allows the imagination to fill in the blanks,'' said Puckett, founder of EffectDesign Inc., based in San Francisco. ``Seeing the people who manipulate these figures gives the audience opportunity to imagine themselves as being part of the entire procession.'' |
| December 31, 1999
Punchline now open! |
| *Punchee! Punchee! Punchee!
There's a new tool for all of Punch & Judy's friends worldwide who have internet access. Dave Riley (aka Professor Ratbagy) of Brisbane, Australia, has set up a discussion list for everything to do with Punch & Judy -- lore, tradition, technique... you name it -- anything and everything to do with Punchology can be raised on this list. It's called PUNCHLINE and it costs nothing to subscribe! Linking professors and supporters everywhere the list is open to all via a simple joining process: You can write to Punch.Judy-subscribe@listbot.com , and you will be
sent a verification message! You can either visit Listbot to join --
http://www.listbot.com -- OR visit the Punchlines home page at : To post to the list, introduce your subject header with a "PUNCHLINE" tag. PUNCHLINE is set up under the auspices of The Worldwide Friends of Punch and Judy. |
| December 31, 1999
New England Marionette Opera closes for good |
| It is with great sadness that I report the following, from Ted Leach,
founder of the new England Marionette Opera:
On January 1, 1999, at 12:22 p.m., a fire totally destroyed the New England Marionette Opera. Consumed by the fire were more than 200 handcrafted marionettes, all sets from nine complete operatic productions, all sound, and light and office devices. Only the two large travelling bridges survived the six-hour inferno. On November 4, 1999, the decision was made to not try to reopen the theatre. On December 31, 1999, at 11:59 p.m., the New England Marionette Opera will legally terminate. We have, however, decided to leave behind this web site to show visitors the professionalism, the grandeur and the magic that was The New England Marionette Opera. Our web site appears exactly as it did on the day of our last performance, December 20, 1998 with the single exception of one new page devoted to the fire. You may still contact us at the email link on the site and our guestbook is still open. To everyone on both sides of the proscenium who was a part of our magnificent
seven-year run we say - addio. |
| December 31, 1999
Stravinsky's The History of a Soldier to be done with puppets in San Francisco Bay Area |
| According to the SFBAPG newsletter, San Francisco Bay Area puppetmaster
Lewis Mahlmann in collaboration with The Puppet Company's Randal Metz
will be working the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra to present a live
puppet performance of Igor Stravinksy's L'histoire du Soldat (The
History of a Soldier).
There will be two performances: Friday January 28, 2000, 8:00 pm at St. John's Presbyterian, Berkeley and Sunday January 30, 2000, 3:00 pm at the Martin Myer Sanctuary, San Francisco. Tickets can be bought at the door. This will be the third time that Lewis Mahlmann has presented this production. The first time, he received a telegram from Igor Stravinsky congratulating him on the puppet telling of Stravinsky's musical work. This is a Lilliputian Players Production, directed by Mahlmann and with puppets designed by WIlliam Stewart Jones. Mahlmann will perform the soldier and Randal Metz will perform the Devil, who plays a game of wits for the soldier's soul. |
| December 31, 1999
Jim Henson Company joins forces with AcmeCity |
| Jim Henson Company announced a multimedia deal with AcmeCity, an Internet
entertainment home page community. The new official home for Henson fans
of The Muppet Show, Jim Henson's Muppet Babies and Fraggle Rock will be
found in a special Jim Henson area of home pages within the AcmeCity community.
The Jim Henson Company home page community will allow fans of Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Rizzo, Animal and the Fraggle Rock characters to build fan pages to the Henson stable of characters. In addition, the community will feature special multimedia entertainment, video clips from Henson's leading shows and news of The Jim Henson Company's latest activities. In making the announcement, Craig Allen, V.P. and General Manager of The Jim Henson Company stated, ``Our deal with AcmeCity empowers our fan base to deepen their relationships with Henson characters, while enabling our company to preserve our intellectual property rights on the Web. We're excited about this new relationship as Warner Bros. has been very aggressive online and they meet the needs of new media audiences, while addressing the digital concerns of established entertainment companies such as our own.'' It is unclear if the above statement means that the Jim Henson Company will start to actively discourage fan pages not located at AcmeCity. Time will tell. More information can be found at the Jim Henson Company site. |
| November 20, 1999
Thanksgiving...
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| November 20, 1999
Mum Puppettheatre Airport Exhibit |
| From Robert Smythe, Mum Puppettheatre:
Mum Puppettheatre is proud to announce that the Philadelphia International Airport, as part of its continuing "Art in the Airport" series, will open an exhibition of Mum Puppettheatre's work Friday, November 19. The museum-quality exhibition will feature puppets and video and will be located between Terminals A and B, opposite the foodcourt, a destination for over 60% of the airport's travellers. Lea Douglas, Director of Exhibitions, estimates that over 4 million international visitors will see Mum Puppettheatre's puppets and masks by the time the show closes in June 2000. The exhibition features puppets and masks from Mum Puppettheatre's productions of "From the Ashes" and "When the War is Over," as well as hand puppets from Robert Smythe's 1991 collaboration with the Wilma Theatre for "The Puppetmaster of Lodz." Continuously running video accompanying the exhibit features segments from "Friends, Fables and Fun," "From the Ashes," and "The Velveteen Rabbit." We are thrilled that the exhibit opens just in time for Thanksgiving, the busiest travel week of the year. This coincides with the opening of the sixth year of "The Velveteen Rabbit," November 26 1999 at our new theatre, 115 Arch Street, Philadelphia. If you're passing through town you still have time to see us! Robert Smythe |
| November 20, 1999
Oakland Christmas Revels to feature puppets by Ralph Lee |
| The Christmas Revels, held in Oakland, California at the Scottish Rite Theatre features "monumental puppets designed by one of the world's foremost puppetry artists, Ralph Lee of the Mettawee River Theater Company in New York. Incorporating music, dance and drama, Revels productions build on universal and timeless themes drawn from the myth and ritual of varied cultures to celebrate the Solstice Season."
Their website, which has dates and times of the shows is at http://home.earthlink.net/~calrevels. As of today, the website had no mention of Mr. Lee's puppets, but their printed material emphasizes them. |
| November 18, 1999
Sock puppet makes it big... |
| Businesswire.com reports that Internet pet store Pets.com will sponsor a 36 foot tall balloon for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. The balloon (or falloon, a combination of a float and a balloon) will be in the likeness of Pets.com spokesdog, a sock puppet. "We are very excited that the Pets.com puppet can bring his energy and love of pets to Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade," said Julie Wainwright, CEO of Pets.com. "The parade is a fun part of the Thanksgiving Day holiday for millions of American families. Having our spokespuppet as part of the parade is a wonderful reminder of the great companions that pets make and the important role that they play in our families." |
| November 16, 1999
Israeli-Palestinian Sesame Street Politically Charged |
| A November 9, 1999 article by Lee Hockstader in the Washington Post details the rough road traveled by the Israeli-Palestinian co-production of Sesame Street ("Rechov Sumsum" as the show is known in Hebrew and "Sharaa Simsim" as it is known in Arabic). Hockstader states "In unmistakable ways, the currents of discord and mutual suspicion surrounding the show have mirrored the ups and downs of peacemaking in the region." |
| November 11, 1999
The ClockWorks experimental puppetry theatre closes its doors |
| from jonnyclockworks@hotmail.com Dear Friends, Supporters, and Other curious OnLookers, The Inevitable has finally come to pass. On, Friday, October 29th, 1999 The ClockWorks, experimental puppetry theatre, was EVICTED from our home of nearly 5 years, at #508 East 12th Street, NYC. For over the last 3 years we have been embroiled in legal discourse with our LandLords over a variety of concerns, ranging from flooding to financial problems. Since spring, the frequency of these cases increased, never quite allowing us to plan any events too far in advance, {much to our chagrin}. Last week, we were informed that we lost our most recent case, and could expect to be evicted. As I still received rental notices thru this week, it was assumed that we would receive a final notice before our immanent dismissal from my home, workshop, and oftime theatre. Unfortunately, this was not to be.The building super knocked upon my door this afternoon and informed me that the Marshall was on his way, and he felt terribly, as the LandLords had instructed him not to "warn me in advance". Fortunately I was home at that time, for the LandLord had arranged for a truck to cart away our "garbage" immediately following the serving of notice of eviction. Thanks to the wranglings of the super, I was able to scramble and rescue our puppets, sets, my clothes, and the kitties { Mr.Hironimous J.Peeps and Mr.Alchemy } and get them shoved tightly {VERY VERY TIGHTLY} into our storage space next door. This was accomplished ONLY with the outstanding support of my dear neighbors and friends. Our Home was gone, our theatre closed, however on Sunday Evening, October 31st, All Hallows Eve, around 300 neighbors and friends joined with us outside The Old Devil Moon Restaurant, for our fourth annual All Souls Bash, Including Our Final Performance on 12th Street, our Burning Of The StrawMan Ritual. Slightly before midnight, the Grim Sweeper and Bone Collector arrived with their cart coming down the street. They Proceeded to remove the Sun and Moon that had adorned our theatre since it's opening. As they reached up to remove the winged Wheel that hung over the door, the crowd began to scream out in protest. I struck up a deal with the pair and made the sacrificial exchange the StrawMan. The StrawMan, who normally provides an incendiary spectacle, refused to burn, no matter how long the Grim Sweeper held his burning broom to it. Despite the initial strange magic, he was finally charred and broken upon the pavement. We then conjured up a 13 foot tall Pumpkin Headed Beast which proceeded to chase the deathly couple away and down the street. Then removing the Wheel, I snuck away down the opposite direction, to the teary cries of the neighborhood. Run away, run away, pechance to fight another day. Please keep us in mind when you encounter real estate, as we hope to find either another storefront,OR More Likely, a live/work loft space which will allow us to continue our works. I cannot emphasize enough how difficult it has been in this city for an artistic group such as ours that requires space to build create and rehearse our pieces. The city wide real estate blitz has pushed struggling new theaters such as ours aside,in favor of more lucrative incomes. When we arrived on 12th Street,we were the first non-drug front on the block, {after Old Devil Moon of course}, and now the artists job of Gentrification is done, time to move along. Please let us know if you know where we should go.{Our LandLords suggested we go to Hell. I hope you have a nicer suggestion} We had hopes to premiere two new works this year; "The Crazy Locomotive" by S.I.Witkiewitz, a full scale work for a large ensemble of actors puppets and automata, and "ASSEMBLAGE of Souls at La Circ DaDa" a solo work evoking the circus and the mysteries behind the puppet freakshow arcade. With faith and will,we shall accomplish this increasingly daunting task. Thanx for everyone who has helped us over these last 4 years and 8 months. Please Keep us in your thoughts. PEACE. Sincerely, Jonathan Edward Cross A.K.A. JonnyClockWorks |
| November 11, 1999
National Puppetry Conference, June 10-18, 2000 |
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| November 11, 1999
Assault on Mr. Punch |
| The Colchester Borough Council, in Essex, is considering whether to ban Punch and Judy shows on the basis they encourage domestic violence. BBC News Online article |
| November 11, 1999
visions2000 update |
| from heyworthpr@pavilion.co.uk October 2000 sees Brighton and the UK get animated with visions, Britain's largest festival of international animated theatre. While the main focus of the festival is in Brighton, smaller "satellite" festivals and touring are set to take place from Aberdeen to Belfast to Cardiff. Provisional dates for performances in Brighton are: Wednesday 18 - Sunday 29 October 2000. Exhibitions in Brighton will run from 7 - 29 October 2000 at the University of Brighton, Grand Parade, Brighton. The visions team is currently combing the UK and abroad for the very best in contemporary theatre which uses puppetry and props in innovative ways. As well as performances for both adults and children, the festival programmes exhibitions, film screenings and workshops. visions2000 promises events which will be dramatic, daring and downright entertaining. |
| October 30, 1999
Being John Malkovich opens to rave reviews |
| The Spike Jonze file, Being John Malkovich, about a puppeteer who finds a portal to actor John Malkovich's brain, has opened to rave reviews across the US. The film employed the puppet building and performing talents of Images in Motion, Luman Coad and the Huber Marionettes. For an article on Images in Motion owners Kamela Portuges and Lee Armstrong and their work on the film, see http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/10/27/DD87942.DTL The Being John Malkovich website has an article on Phil Huber at http://www.beingjohnmalkovich.com/madness/ The Being John Malkovich website and Internet Database Listing Reviews: Andrew O'Hehir, Salon Magazine David Elliott, San Diego Union Tribune David Germain, Newsday J. Hoberman, Village Voice Wesley Morris, San Francisco Examiner Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle |
| October 30, 1999
Up a Tree in San Francisco |
| Up a Tree, a communal puppet play about activists and their battle against logging in Northern California, is playing in San Francisco at Intersection of the Arts. The play employs marionettes, bunraku style figures, handheld animals and Balinese shadow puppets, all puppeteered by the Monkey Thump Puppet Collective. It continues through November 21 at Intersection for the Arts, 446 Valencia St., San Francisco. Tickets: $9-$14. Call (415) 626-3311. Steven Winn's review, San Francisco Chronicle, http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/10/30/DD73771.DTL Robert Hurwitt's review, San Francisco Examiner http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/examiner/archive/1999/10/29/WEEKEND11930.dtl |
| October 30, 1999
Lion King in London |
| Julie Taymor's puppet infused Lion King has opened in London. For Susannah Clapp's review in the Guardian Unlimited: http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,3917330,00.html |
| October 30, 1999
Dr. Frankenstein, master puppeteer |
| Susan King in the LA Times discusses the release of James Whales' Bride of Frankenstein on DVD and writes of an interesting tidbit from film historian and archivist Scott MacQueen. MacQueen says that a potential sequel for the film found Dr. Frankenstein and his wife working for a traveling marionette theater and re-creating the birth of the Monster with the puppets. http://www.latimes.com/business/cutting/othtech/19991021/t000095072.html |
| October 30, 1999
Mum Puppettheatre wins Barrymore Award for excellence in theatre. |
| On October 18, 1999, at the fifth annual Barrymore Awards in Philadelphia, Mum Puppettheatre won its sixth Award for Excellence in Theatre, presented to Adam Wernick for his original music for Seance.
For an older, yet informative article on Mum Puppettheatre |
| October 18, 1999
The Huber Marionettes Star in Monte Carlo |
| The Huber Marionettes have had a smash run in The Crazy Horse Show at Le Cabaret, Casino de Monte Carlo. The tour is from September 10 - October 31. Show times are Sunday, Tuesday - Thursday 11pm, Friday & Saturday 9 & 11pm. For gurther information contact: David Alexander, Manager for The Huber Marionettes, (626) 791-0461, or email: Hubrpuppet@aol.com. For an article on the Huber Marionettes at the Magic Castle, visit http://www.beingjohnmalkovich.com/madness/ |
| October 18, 1999
Street of Blood wins six Betties! |
| On September 30 at the Betty Mitchell Awards (or "Betties" as they are called) for the 1998/99 Calgary theatre season, Ronnie Burkett's Street of Blood won six awards: Outstanding Set Design Outstanding Costume Design Outstanding Original Music Score Fast Forward (local weekly) Reader's Choice Award for Best Show of the Season Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (way to go, Ronnie!) Best Production Congratulations to Ronnie for once again presenting another production that is first and foremost excellent theatre and then is excellent puppetry. For more information on the Street of Blood, visit http://www.canadianstage.com/onStage/99-00_season/f_99-00_season.htm |
| October 18, 1999
Congratulations to the 1998-1999 UNIMA-USA Citations for Excellence Winners! |
| The 1998-1999 UNIMA-USA Citations for Excellence in the Art of Puppetry were announced August 2, 1999 at the General Meeting of UNIMA-USA held at the Puppeteers of AMerica National Festival in Seattle, Washington. The Citations for Excellence were conceived by Jim Henson in 1975 when he was President of UNIMA-USA. It was his intention to recognize and reward high standars in Puppetry in North America. UNIMA-USA retains a committee of approximately 60 reviewers throughout North America. The reviewers submit nominations for shows that "... touch their audiences deeply, that totally engage, enchant and enthrall. Citation-worthy shows are also prime examples of excellent theatre." The Citations are given in two categories, Recorded Media and Live Theater. This year, there were no productions that met the criteria for an award in the Rcorded Media category and there are no Citations for Recorded Media this year. This year's winners in the Live Theater Category were: Symphonie Fantastique by Basil Twist Isidor's Cheek by Ines Zeller Bass, Sandglass Theater, directed by Eric Bass, design and construction by Jana Zeller An Arabian Adventure by Tanglewood Marionettes Chinese TakeOut Theatre by Andrew Periale, Perry Alley Theatre Thumbelina by Oregon Shadow Theatre, directed by Deb Chase Tinka's New Dress by Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes Congratulations to all the winners. More information can be found at http://www.unima-usa.org/ |
| October 18, 1999
Boston Wins The New England Marionette Opera |
| The New England Marionette Opera has announced that they are now officially a partner with the Emerson Majestic Theatre in Boston. If the company decides to rebuild in the wake of its disastrous 1999 New Year's Day fire, the premier Boston theatre would be their principal performance venue. http://www.marionettes.com/fire/ |
| October 18, 1999
Inuit Marionettes Seized by U.S. Customs |
| US officials siezed six Inuit marionettes from Canada when they were mailed south for repairs. The marionettes are made from traditional Inuit materials, such as caribou, musk ox, whalebone, and sealskin. The 1972 U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act prohibits importing a banned marine products, including sealskin. The puppets, said a Canadian official, were made by Inuit elders to teach their children about traditional myths. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating. http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/world/DailyNews/canada990806_puppets.html |
| October 18, 1999
Ticktock wins national Emmy |
| Mississippi Educational Television, for the first time, has earned a national Emmy Award.The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences presented to ETV the Public Service Announcement Award for Ticktock Minutes, a series of one-minute educational music videos performed with a puppet designed to teach educational concepts to a general audience of children ages 4 through 12. Congratulations to executive producer and puppet builder Peter Zapletal, writer/lyricist Michael Earl, composer Randy Klein, producer Diane Hartman, and art director Karen Wing. http://www.etv.state.ms.us/programming/emmy03.html |
| October 18, 1999
Punch and Judy Faire information published on the Web |
| Bob Comings has put up a page devoted to the Punch and Judy fair at the 1999 Puppeteers of America Seattle festival. Visit it at http://www.zapcom.net/~bcomings/SeattleFaire/Faire99A.html |
| July 7, 1999
In Memoriam for Arlyn Coad |
| Peter Lewis wrote this memoriam for Arlyn Coad in the New York Guild's newsletter, PuppetMaster: Arlyn Coad, co-creator of Coad Canada Puppets, succumbed to leukemia at her North Vancouver, British Columbia home on Thursday, May 27, 1999. She was a supremely gifted designer/builder who, along with her husband, Luman, formed their internationally-acclaimed compnay in 1966. Together, they created more than 30 works, and won Citations of Excellence in the Art of Puppetry from the American Centre of L'Union Internationale de la Marionnette (UNIMA-USA). She is survived by Luman, three daughters and three grandchildren. A celebration of her life is planned for the National Puppet Festival in Seattle this August. Contributions to the creation of a puppetry award can be made to the Arlyn Coad Trust, c/o the North Shore Arts Commission, 148 East Second Street, No. Vancouver, BC V7L1C3, CANADA. |
| July 7, 1999
Puppet hacks into extraterrestrial site |
| BBC News Science Editor Dr. David Whitehouse reports that the SETI@home Website was broken into by hackers, who replaced the site's first page with a picture of 80's puppet star, Alf.
The SETI@home project looks for evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence by processing data collected by telescopes. The processing is done on home computers, by people willing to download and run the SETI program. Some fans of the sitcom puppet alien obviously thought he made a good mascot for SETI. The SETI project disagreed, and the the picture of Alf was promptly removed. You can still see it by visiting the BBC's news article about the incident: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_386000/386565.stm |
| July 7, 1999
Bob Kramer's Marionettes in Prague |
| Richard Krechel Of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch details Bob Kramer's Marionettes at the International Festival of Marionette Art for Children in Prague. Kramer and his partner, Doug Feltch, along with 60 puppets, two other puppeteers and a technical assistant, are participating in the Festival and are the only troupe representing the United States. The event features 80 companies from 60 nations. |
| June 30, 1999
LÉLÉ Puppet Theater of Lithuania to tour Texas |
| The Lithuanian-American Community of Houston is pleased to announce the US premiere of the LÉLÉ Puppet Theater of Vilnius, Lithuania. LÉLÉ is well known throughout Europe, Asia and Africa and, for the first time, will entertain US audiences this year. It will perform its most popular children's play "A Circus is A Circus."
The production is a series of skillfully strung episodes revolving around a little frog, named Goody, who takes a detour from his normal routine and inadvertently hops into a circus performance. Klounas, the clown, and the trainer find him wandering around the grounds. They befriend him and give him a backstage tour of their circus. Contacts: Edmita Bulota LÉLÉ will perform on the following dates: July 24, 1999 July 27 - 31, 1999 August 1, 1999 August 3 -4, 1999 August 6 - 8, 1999 |
| June 29, 1999
Ronnie Burkett's Tinka's New Dress opens in London |
| The Guardian Newspaper has a lengthy article and a glowing review about Ronnie Burkett's show, Tinka's New Dress, which is playing in London at the Barbican Pit through July 10. The show pays tribute to the 100 Czech puppeteers who were killed by the Nazis during the occupation of Prague and to their satirical puppet shows that helped keep the spirit of the Resistance alive. "Sometimes I think that the only way that I can make sense of this big, crazy world is by making it small," says Burkett in the article. |
| June 29, 1999
"Puppet Happenings," a new email newsletter from the Jim Henson Foundation |
| A new email list, which currently emphasizes puppet performances in the New York City area, has been started by the Jim Henson Foundation. This list is updated regularly and distributed each Friday. To receive the most recent copy via snail mail, please send a SASE to the address below. An email edition is available by sending an e-mail message to puppetsNYC@henson.com. To subscribe to the email list, send a message to foundation@henson.com, and type "subscribe puppetsNYC" in the subject line. If you would like to add your event to the list, please e-mail your listing to foundation@henson.com , or mail your flyer to the address below.
Puppet Happenings |
| June 29, 1999
Losing the New England Marionette Theater |
| Gail Kelley of the Boston Globe writes about the loss of two theaters to New Hampshire. One of the theaters, the New England Marionette Theater in Peterborough, was destroyed by fire January 1, 1999. |
| June 4, 1999
Kermit the Frog now on government payroll |
| In a story called "The Mint-Green Voice for Change", the Washington Post writes that Kermit the Frog has been signed as the U.S. Mint's new "spokesfrog". The Treasurey Department agency announced that Kermit will help promote the new series of 50 state commemorative quarters. The Mint has signed a 3 year contract with the Jim Henson Co. that will allow it to use Kermit in an "extensive print and broadcast campaign to educate Americans of all ages on America's newest change." The cost to the Mint for using the green superstar is still under negotiation. |
| May 31, 1999
Basil Twist's Symphonie Fantastique extended through July 4 in San Francisco! |
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| Basil Twists underwater abstract puppet show, Symphonie Fantastique, extended its run in San Franciso's Zeum Theater until July 4, 1999. Set to the five movements of Hector Berlioz's 19th-century classical composition, the hour-long Symphonie Fantastique is performed by five puppeteers in a 1000-gallon tank. Basil is a native of San Francisco and the city has responded with great enthusiasm to his innovative work. (The third movement and the fifth movements are each worth the price of admission...extraordinary!)
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| May 31, 1999
Japan names puppeteer as "Living Treasure" |
| In a recent article, the San Francisco Chronicle's Patricia Abe reviews the book In Search of the Spirit: The Living National Treasures of Japan by Sheila Hamanaka and Ayano Ohmi http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/05/30/RV66553.DTL Bunraku master, Yoshida Minosuke, was one of the 100 artists honored with the designation "Living Treasure", a master of specific art important to the nation's cultural legacy. He spent 10 years working a Bunraku puppet's legs, another 15 studying the left hand, and now, having risen to the pinnacle of the art, works only a puppet's head and right hand. Weighing up to 50 pounds and nearly five feet tall, Bunraku puppets require three operators. The authors note that in Japan ``it is considered important to work well in groups. Nowhere is this more true than in Bunraku.'' Another artist recognized was Komanosuke Takemoto, a singer of narrative chants to accompany Bunraku puppet theater. Each of the 11 artists will receive $16,000 a year to help them practice their craft and train successors. |
| May 31, 1999
Samuel L. Jackson, on performing opposite puppets |
| Samuel L. Jackson is rapidly turning into the master of quotable lines about "Star Wars". After saying he would do anything to be in the next Star Wars movie (look for that quote elsewhere on the Net), he gained the role of Jedi Master Mace Windu. Most of Jackson's scenes were with puppet star Yoda, performed by Frank Oz. On acting with a puppet co-star, Jackson said it would unnerve him when a scene was over, and Yoda would immediately slump in his chair. He said his first instinct was to perform CPR. He also said `It's definitely a rare opportunity to act in a scene with Yoda,'' said Jackson. ``And it did require acting. Yoda was a puppet, of course, with Frank Oz's voice, but we rehearsed lines and I knew what his expressions would be. Even as a puppet, Yoda's a lot better than some of the actors I've had to work with.'' http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/05/16/PK104036.DTL |
| May 27, 1999
Obie Awards for Ronnie Burkett and Basil Twist |
| The Village Voice this week recognized two puppet artists with Obie Awards, which honor the best work of the Off-Broadway season. Ronnie Burkett was given a special citation for Tinka's New Dress and Basil Twist was honored for Symphonie Fantastique. It's exciting that two, count them two, puppet shows were honored with the annual theater awards. Congratulations to both Ronnie and Basil. |
| May 27, 1999
Deadline for Puppeteers of America National Festival is June 1st! |
| The deadline for paying the balance of your fee to the Puppeteers of America 1999 Festival of the Millenium in Seattle is June 1. There's a late fee after June 1.
The Puppeteers of America Festival of the Millenium is a weeklong festival and conference devoted to the art of puppetry. It is held August 1 - 7, 1999 at the University of Washington, in Seattle. Puppeteers and puppet afficionados will gather from around the world for a fun and intense week of performances, workshops, classes, demonstrations, exhibits, and symposia by international artists and experts. 24-hour a day non-stop activities. If you haven't reserved a space yet, better hurry! There are only 150 openings left. This promises to be the puppet blow-out of the year, with great performances, workshops and intravenous coffee for the all night puppet gabs. Don't miss it! The registration form for the festival (for both new registrants and registrants who want to pay off their balance) can be found at |
| April 23, 1999
Señor Wences dead at 103 |
| Señor Wences, the Spanish-born ventriloquist who has been delighting audiences since the 1950's with his puppets, died last Tuesday night in his home in New York. Señor Wences and his puppet Johnny (his fist in a wig) and Pedro (a head in a box with the catch phrase "S'all right" made over 50 appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show. In recent years, he appeared on The Tonight Show, The David Letterman Show and The Muppet Show. Polly Anderson's AP article at The Seattle Times: http://www.seattletimes.com/news/entertainment/html98/wenc_19990421.html Detroit Free Press article: http://www.freep.com/news/obituaries/qsenor21.htm Paul Brownfield's LA Times article http://www.latimes.com/CNS_DAYS/990421/t000035757.html |
| April 23, 1999
Puppetry in Churches |
| The Star Telegram has an interesting article by Beccy Tanner on the use of puppetry, magic and performing arts by churches. Ed Preston, children's minister at Riverlawn Christian Church in Wichita says of puppetry's appeal "It allows you to communicate things you wouldn't dare say out loud."
http://www.star-telegram.com/news/doc/1047/1:RELIGION53/1:RELIGION53042299.html |
| April 23, 1999
Dummy vs. the IRS |
| San Francisco police Officer Bob Geary walks his beat in North Beach with his ventriloquist dummy, Brendan O'Smarty. When Geary requested a tax deduction for the dummy, the IRS ruled the dummy was not a legitimate deduction, even though San Francisco voters gave Geary a thumbs up to carry O'Smarty on patrol. Geary will appeal the IRS decision.
San Francisco Examiner article by Elizabeth Fernandez |
| April 23, 1999
Carter Family Marionettes' Magic Flute |
| The Carter Family Marionettes, are bringing Mozart's The Magic Flute to young audiences in Seattle. The Seattle Times theater critic Misha Berson singles out the hand carved marionettes of Julius Sateu and Chris Carter's costumes.
http://www.seattletimes.com/news/entertainment/html98/flut_19990410.html |
| April 23, 1999
NEA funding to go to puppetry in Minnesota |
| The National Endowment for the Arts awarded grants totaling $1.9 million to 21 Minnesota arts organizations today. Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre received $46,000.
Read the NEA announcement: and Mary Abbe's article about Minnesota's allocations in the Star Tribune |
| April 23, 1999
GTE and CTW to produce puppet shows together |
| Business Wire reports that General Electric and the Children's Television Workshop have signed an agreement to produce eduational programs. Under the agreement, CTW becomes the exclusive worldwide licensee of the 30-second sponsored educational spots, which feature puppets Omni, Beacon and Watt. CTW will own the international sales rights and be allowed to spin off new series and films, and develop merchandise. |
| April 23, 1999
Mediterranean puppeteers to attend festival in Beirut |
| The European Commission is partially funding a weeklong puppet festival in Beirut at the end of April. "...The festival will include shows, meetings and workshops to introduce those who are interested to the educational, artistic and technical aspects of puppeteering,” said Karim Karroub, the festival organizer.
Sonia Sabbah's article in the Daily Star: |
| April 23, 1999
Puppet Street Theater in Texas |
| John Kelso of the Austin, Texas American-Statesmen has an article on Paul "Boxman" Covell who with Sylvester the Cat and Roland the Lion is bringing standing-room-only audiences to his street theater puppet show. Kelso calls it "avant weird".
http://www.austin360.com:80/news/1metro/1999/04/23kelso.html |
| April 1, 1999
Symphonie Fantastique coming to San Francisco |
| Basil Twists successful underwater abstract puppet show, Symphonie Fantastique, is coming to San Francisco's Zeum Theater for a limited engagement. Previews start April 27th and opening night is May 5th. Set to the five movements of Hector Berlioz’s 19th-century classical composition, the hour-long SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE is performed by five puppeteers in a 1000-gallon tank (twice as large as the 500-gallon tank used in the original New York production). |
| April 1, 1999
Fans fight to save MST3K |
| Fans of the SciFi puppet show "Mystery Science Theater 3000" are waging a campaign to keep the very funny show from leaving the airwaves after its 10 season. The SciFi channel has announced that it will not be ordering new episodes of MST3K and devotees of the series are once again hoping to keep it alive. They urge everyone to watch the series premier on April 11th. For information on the effort to keep the show from being canceled, visit |
| March 31, 1999
Ronnie Burkett's Goodbye Tour for "Les Vieux Amis" |
| The Montreal Gazette highlights Ronnie Burkett's goodbye tour of "Les Vieux Amis", Burkett's sole family show. Burkett's productions are usually designed for adult audiences, but this play is billed as suitable for children 6 to 12. It's been touring for three years and is about a group of senior citizens who talk, fight, sing and dance in a park. Reviewer Kathryn Greenway says "It's funny, sad, contemplative and occasionally rambunctious. Like life. " |
| March 29, 1999
Gepetto! The Musical! |
| Gepetto will soon be singing his way into your living room. Variety announcee that Tom Moore will direct a live action musical of ``Geppetto,'' for Walt Disney Television. It will star (wait for it) Drew Carey as the famous puppet maker. It will air next season on ABC's ``The Wonderful World of Disney.'' http://dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/en/story.html?s=v/nm/19990328/en/people-briefs_28.html |
| March 29, 1999
Ether Telegrams |
| CalArts Cotsen Center for Puppetry and the Arts director Janie Geiser presents her new work-in progress "Ether Telegrams". Actors concealed by masks or manipulating rod and shadow puppets take on the ghostly theme of supernaturalism in a piece that LA Times reviewer Robert Koehler calls "a fascinating experiment and certainly rare in a Los Angeles theater scene so dependent on living actors and naturalism." Puppet builder Anney McKilligan is singled out for praise. http://www.latimes.com/HOME/NEWS/VALLEY/CALENDAR/t000026568.1.html |
| March 29, 1999
Enter the Puppet.... |
| The Pepsi-Cola Company announces the return of Bruce Lee...as a puppet.
The Pepsi Lipton Tea Partnership debuted a new spot ``Dojo'' on the Lipton Tennis Tournament on Saturday, March 27th at 1:00 p.m. on FOX-TV. The 30-second commercial features a state-of-the-art animated puppet of the legendary Bruce Lee as he takes on characters from the popular "Karate Kid" movies -- young Daniel (Ralph Macchio) and Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita). |
| March 29, 1999
Preview Release Of PuppetTime Director |
| PuppetTime, Inc. announced today that it has released a preview of its 3D storytelling application, PuppetTime(R) Director, on its web site http://www.puppettime.com/. PuppetTime Director allows users to manipulate 3D puppets using PuppetTime's patent-pending 3D digital actor plug-in architecture, which is built on top of Apple's QuickTime. Downloading the free preview will allow Mac users with QuickTime to create and view 3D movies. Playback for Windows users is also available. "The core philosophy at PuppetTime, Inc. is to bring the power of storytelling to the rest of us," says Deeje Cooley, PuppetTime's founder and CTO, "Everyone has a story to tell. Children are natural storytellers, while executives and professionals incorporate storytelling into their daily business practices. PuppetTime will make 3D animation accessible to all." |
| March 27, 1999
New England Marionette Opera wins first place in Internet Awards |
A report from Ted Leach of The New England Marionette Opera:
I am pleased to report that this evening (Wednesday, March 24) at 7:30 pm, the New England Marionette Opera http://www.marionettes.org won the FIRST PLACE internet web site in NH in the Category of NH Internet Achievement Award. There were only 10 categories in the competition and there were 4 winners in each category. Our site won the category. The judges comments read as follows: "Listing events, ticket information, and showing viewers what the theatre looks like and its history makes this site very useful and interesting. Beautiful photos and simple graphics makes it easy to navigate. Text is in web readable size blocks. Hopefully they can continue to use this site, as I read that their theatre perished recently in a fire." Congrats to The New England Marionette Opera! |
| March 27, 1999
Custody battle over Howdy Doody puppet |
| An Reuters report, printed online on the MSNBC site, details the custody battle between the children of Rufus Rose and the Detroit Institute of Arts over the orginal Howdy Doody marionette. The museum has filed suit against Rose's three sons and "Buffalo" Bob Smith's widow, claiming that Smith and Rose agreed to donate the original Howdy to the museum. Smith had given the puppet back to the Rose family shortly before his death last July. |
| March 27, 1999
'Sesame Street' Turns 30 |
| Janice Kaplan of The Washington Post showcases Sesame Street's 30th birthday and offers suggestions to parents on ways to make the most of the popular program. |
| March 27, 1999
Sooty the puppet censured |
| Sooty, the sweet little hand puppet star of British ITV's show "Sooty and Co", has been censured for sniffing and playing with bottles. Critics of the show complained that the puppet and his co-stars, Sweep and Soo, were exhibiting dangerous behaviour which could encourage children to play with drugs. Granada, the production company which makes the program argued that the show's purpose had been to introduce children to fragrances, not to drugs. |
| March 9, 1999
Sara Goldsmith 1902-1999 |
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Sara Goldsmith, an exacting and dedicated puppeteer and doll maker, died Thursday night, March 4, 1999. She was a resident of the "Townhouse" Nursing Home in Uniondale, NY. Ms. Goldsmith was born November 16, 1902 in Syracuse, New York. But eventually established herself as an artist in the New York City area (Newark, NJ and Brooklyn, NY). During the 1930's, along with her older brother Lewis, she built one of the most respected marionette theater companies - the Goldsmith Marionettes - to perform in the New York metropolitan area. Her marionettes were truly miniature actors with meticulous costumes which were, as she put it, "researched and detailed as seriously as the costumes ast the Metropolitan Opera". The Goldsmith Marionettes performed plays based on the adventures of Robin Hood, the story of Moses, Hansel and Gretel and (at the peask of their career) Moliere's "The Doctor in Spite of Himself". Sara and Lewis also created innumerable Vaudeville-type olio marionettes - clowns, musicians, exotic dancers and movie-star look-a-likes. World War II brought an interruption in their work. Brother Lewis joined the armed forces and entertained his fellow troupes as a solo puppeteer. Sara did the same as a civilian. Lewis died shortly after the war and Sara, deciding not to go on without him, turned her talents to the world of doll making. She became one of the first and finest portrait doll makers of the twentieth century. By now her creations are in museums and collections across the country. She dedicated her life to her art and practiced it with seriousness and dignity. Her own collection was passed on to the care of puppeteer Robert Rogers, the director of the new Danbury Kids' Place Theater and Puppetry Center, where they will be put on permanent display in a special gallery space as a loving tribute to special person. |
| March 9, 1999
Mystery Science Theater 3000 bids farewell after 10th season |
| Everyone's favorite scifi puppets, Mystery Science Theatre 3000's Tom Servo, Crow T. Robot and Gypsy, will be off the air when their current season ends on the SciFi channel this year. Read the farewell statement from the SciFi channel at http://www.scifi.com/mst3000/farewell.html. Many thanks to the talented folks at Best Brains for 10 years of hysterically funny heckling of bad movies and wonderful skits. Keep circulating the tapes. |
Kratts' new animal show, Zoboomafoo, features a lemur puppet
Visit the Zoboomafoo site at
March 9, 1999
Chris and Martin Kratt, the creators and stars of the popular PBS showKratts' Creatureshave a new show:Zoboomafoo(zah-BOO-mah-foo), a wildlife series for preschoolers. The Kratts share cohosting duties on the show with a lemur, alternately played by a real lemur and a puppet lemur. (Helpful hint: When the lemur talks, it's the puppet.)
http://www.pbs.org/zoboo/
San Francisco Craft & Folk Art Museum features puppets from Brazil
March 9, 1999
From the San Francisco Craft & Folk Art Museum flyer, on March 24 a new show opens: As Delicias Do Brazil: Arte Popular De Hoje (The Delights of Brazil:Popular Art Today). It runs until May 30th at the Fort Mason museum. It will be a small exhibit, but included in it are mamulengos (puppets), including a 36 inch fully articulated Homen do Nordeste, man of the North. Tuesday thru Sunday 11-5.
Seattle Newspaper Showcases Puppeteer Yang Feng
February 16, 1999
The Seattle Times has a lengthy article on Chinese puppeteer Yang Feng and his family. Yang Feng has made the U.S. his home since 1991 and has passed on his craft to his daughter, Yang Xie Zheng, the first woman in his family to become a puppeteer. He is also a featured performer in the 1999 Puppeteers of America Festival in Seattle.
Peter and Wendy Soars to Rave Reviews in Berkeley
February 13, 1999
The Berkeley production ofPeter and Wendyhas gotten excellent reviews in all the local papers. Read SF Chronicle's Steven Winn's review at
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archiv e/1999/02/05/DD78314.DTL
and SF Examiner's Robert Hurwitt's review at
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/examiner/arc hive/1999/02/05/WEEKEND13812.dtl
MST3K: A Guy, Two Robots and a Satellite of Love
February 13, 1999
The April issue of Sci-Fi Entertainment magazine, on newstands soon, features an article on Mystery Science Theater 3000 by Connie Hirsch.
MST3K's season premier on April 11 will feature appearances from series creator (and puppet designer) Joel Hodgson and Frank Conniff (TV's Frank).
Other MST3K news can be found at
http://www.mst3kinfo.com/
and
http://www.scifi.com/mst3k/
Jim Henson Company to deliverFarscapeto the SciFi Channel
February 13, 1999
Rockne O'Bannon and The Jim Henson Company are bringing a new series to the SciFi Channel.Farscapewill feature human actors mixed with CGI and animatronic characters.
Thang Long Water Puppet Troupe of Hanoi
February 13, 1999
Richard Phillips of the Worls Socialist Web site has written a fascinating article about the Thang Long Water Puppet Troupe of Hanoi. The article is a glimpse of the cultural life and times of ancient Vietnam through the art ofmua roi nuoc.
http://www.wsws.org/articles/1999/feb1999/viet-f05.shtml
Bay Area Students attendThe Puppet Master of Lodz
February 13, 1999
Tyra Lucile Mead column for the San Francisco Chronicle ends with a story of high school students from all over the Bay Area attend a performance of The Marin Theater Company's production ofThe Puppet Master of Lodz. A post play discussion was conducted with the actors and director Lee Sankowich.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/02/12/NB100775.DTL
Reviews of the play:
Steven Winn, SF Chronicle
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/01/23/DD20675.DTL
Robert Hurwitt, SF Examiner
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/examiner/archive/1999/01/23/STYLE3602.dtl
(The Examiner mentions and praises the puppets and the talented puppet designer/builder,Nick Barone. The fact that I'm engaged to Mr. Barone has nothing to do with me mentioning this fact. Nope, nothing at all.)
Yes, that is THE John Styles coming to Detroit!
February 13, 1999
John Field of the No Strings Attached Agency (Phone London - 171 690 7449) responded to my January 26 query as to whether the John Styles appearing at the National Folk Festival August 13-15 in East Lansing, Michigan is THE John Styles of Punch and Judy fame. Mr. Field assures me that the gentleman in question is indeed the world famous P&J Professor. I had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Styles last year in San Francisco, and his performance is not to be missed. For details:
http://www.freep.com/news/mich/qfolk24.htm
Celtic music star to provide music for Berkeley's "Peter and Wendy"
January 31, 1999
Fiddling star Johnny Cunningham talks about his latest project: the Celtic-flavored score for ``Peter and Wendy,'' the Obie-winning puppet version of the Peter Pan story at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. The production plays through February 21 at the Florence Schwimley Little Theatre, 1920 Allston Way, Berkeley. Tickets: $19.50- $35. Show times: 8 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Call (510) 845-4700.
Read Laura Evenson's San Francisco Chronicle article at
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/01/31/PK56888.DTL
New England Marionette Theatre to rebuild!
January 26, 1999
The Boston Globe reports that the New England Marionette Theatre, destroyed by a January 1 fire, hopes to be back in business within a year. Owner Edward Leach as said that they are waiting for an engineer's report on the 158-year old historic building that once housed the country's sixth largest opera company to see if they can reopen at that location, but indicates that the damage to the building may be too great.
The theatre plans to reopen as a non-profit. If you would like to make a donation to help rebuild, send it to:
New England Marionette Opera Marionette Theatre
PO Box 141
Peterborough, NH 03458
The New Odyssey Channel to feature classic Henson works
The new channel promises to showcase Jim Henson's works, such as The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, Fraggle Rock, The Storyteller, The Muppet Show, and specials such as Monster Maker, Dog City, and Secrets of the Muppets." The Jim Henson Co. and Hallmark Entertainment each recently bought 22.5% of the cable channel, and Odyssey's new management team, under the direction of new CEO Margaret Loesch, has said that the new programming and new approach to the Cable Channel will soon be reflected with a new name.
January 26, 1999
Phillip Chapman and T. Erik Browne review the 1/16/99 3 hour preview of the Odyssey Channel in aMuppet Central article located.
An article about Margaret Loesch by Brian Lowry appeared in the LA Times: http://www.latimes.com/HOME/COMMUN/NEWS/ZONE15A/t000005458176.1.html
Satirical Puppet skit lampoons Israeli debate Read the full article at
January 26, 1999
In the Star Tribune, an Associated Press article Karin Laub describes a satirical puppet skit on the show "Harzufim". Puppet versions of "incumbent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and challenger Ehud Barak face off in a TV studio in a fierce election debate. They shout words that their American advisers, standing off-camera, feed them through tiny ear pieces... At the end, tempers cool long enough for the candidates to jump up, hand on heart, and hum 'The Star-Spangled Banner.'"
Lily Tomlin working on animatronic Edith Ann Read Colin Covert's article in the Star Tribune:
January 26, 1999
Lily Tomlin is working on an animatronic version of her popular character, Edith Ann. The life-sized, radio-operated interactive puppet of Edith Ann created by the "Men in Black" special effects crew. "It's very expressive. You know how Edith's eyes squint down and up at the side? I'm really excited about it. Now I can have Edith interact with Trudy or anyone else." She hopes to bring the animatronic character to TV "if I can get everybody interested in it."
John Styles in Detroit? Read the article at
January 26, 1999
The Detroit Free Press reports that the National Folk Festival August 13-15 in East Lansing, Michigan, has a listing of "Puppetry- John Styles". Is this the world-famous John Styles from England, one of the world's best Punch and Judy professors? Or is there another talented puppeteer with the same name? Anyone out there know?
http://www.freep.com/news/mich/qfolk24.htm
Puppeteers of America renames Youth Scholarship in honor of Mike and Francis Oznowicz Jim Napolitano
January 24, 1999
Rick Morse, president of The Puppeteers of America, has announced that the PofA Board of Trustees has voted unanimously to rename the P of A Youth Scholarship the Mike and Frances Oznowicz Youth Scholarship. The Oznowiczs were extraordinary forces for puppetry in the US and it's fitting that a scholarship dedicated to helping young people participate in puppet festivals be named after them. To send a donation to the scholarship fund:
PofA Scholarship Chair
PO Box 577
Milford, CT 06460
Ventriloquist Can't Fly with Pig
January 20, 1999
The Associated Press reports that Debbie and Alicia Dacoba's ventriloquism act is grounded because no airline will let the Dacobas travel with their ventriloquist dummy: Pork Chop, an 18-pound Vietnamese potbellied pig. A live 18-pound Vietnamese potbellied pig. Read the Detroit Free Press Online's reprint of the story at
http://www.freep.com/news/airtravel/wpig20.htm
The Cincinnati Enquirer Showcases Puppeteer Jerry Handorf http://enquirer.com/editions/1999/01/20/loc_jerry_handorfs.html
January 20, 1999
The Cincinnati Enquirer had a long and enthusiastic article today about Jerry Handorf, co-founder and artistic director of Madcap Productions Puppet Theatre, based in Price Hill, Ohio. Read John Johnston's article at
Puppetry from There to Here to benefit The National Puppetry Conference Performances featuring new and innovative works created and performed by the artists from the National Puppetry Conference in their New York City debut will be held from Wednesday, January 20 thru Saturday January 23 and at a Benefit Performance at 3:00pm, Sunday January 24,1999 The Sunday Benefit will include all of the weeks performances, a reception and celebration to follow. Call Richard Termine for info and tickets at 212.439.7597 "PUPPETRY FROM THERE TO HERE" will include presenting artists Ronald Binion, Eric Blanc, Art Gruenberger, Mary Harrison, Stacy Havens, Heather Henson, Larry Hunt, Cathy McCullough, Bobbie Nidzgorski, Martin P. Robinson, Greg Ruhe, Ellen Singer, Richard Termine, Eric Ting, Emily WIlson. For specifics: Phone: 212.647.0202 To purchase Tickets: Phone: 212.647.0202 or CultureFinder:
January 19, 1999
The National Puppetry Conference at The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center will benefit from performances to be held this week and weekend to be presented at H.E.R.E. Performance and Art Center, 145 6th. Avenue (Between Spring and Broome), New York, NY 10013.
WEB: www.here.org
Fax: 212.647.0257
www.ticketweb.com
http://www.culturefinder.com/cgi-bin/culturefinder/cf/calendar/event?record=46250&date=419309
Border's Books reported to have No Strings Attached on sale
January 19, 1999
Borders Books have reportedly put No Strings Attached-the Inside Story of Jim Henson's Creature Shop onto their sale tables for $3.99. While the online Borders is still selling the book for $24.00, stores in San Rafael California have drastically cut the prices of the popular puppetry/animatronics picture book. Check out the Borders near you.
Update: January 20, 1999. The Borders in Palo Alto, California had a huge stack of No Strings Attached for sale for $3.99 also, so be sure to check a store near you for this great deal. The book originally retailed for $34, and with the exception of a seemingly endless chapter on the movie Buddy, it's a fascinating read with wonderful pictures.
David Simpich tours California with The Pilgrim's Progress
January 17, 1999
The David Simpich Marionette Theatre is touring California January 20 - February 13 with John Bunyan's classic The Pilgrim's Progress. David Simpich has received several UNIMA-USA Citations of Excellence for his work in puppetry and The President's Award from the Puppeteers of America.
Puppetmaster of Lodz opens at the Marin Theatre Company For more details, read San Francisco Chronicle writer Peter Stack's article at: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/01/17/PK36 238.DTL
January 17, 1999
Henryk Hajwentreger of Poland is serving as artistic consultant on Marin Theatre Company's production of Gilles Segal's The Puppetmaster of Lodz. The drama focuses on a concentration camp escapee who does not believe the war is over and keeps re-enacting his life with his only companions, his puppets. San Francisco Bay Area Puppeteers Guild president Nick Barone created the puppets for the production.
LEGOLAND California Looking for Puppeteers
January 17, 1999
LEGOLAND California is hiring for all entertainments positions, including puppeteers, for their 1999 season. Auditions are in the San Diego area January 23-25, 1999.
For details, visit the LEGOLAND California Web site:
http://www.legolandca.com/jobdetail.asp?job=47
or read the Classified ad in The Puppetry Home Page Classifieds.
And give 3 cheers for a new permanent venue for puppetry!
| January 11, 1999
Underwater Puppet Theater Coming to San Francisco |
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| "Symphonie Fantastique", Basil Twists's underwater puppet show is coming to San Francisco in May or April. The show opened May of last year and has been delighting off-off-Broadway audiences with its abstract visions, set to Berlioz's score. To read Steven Winn's San Francisco Chronicle article, visit http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/01/09/DD95600.DTL |
| January 10, 1999
Australian Government Allows Vietnamese Puppeteers into the Country |
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| Australia's Department of Immigration has allowed Vietnam's Thang Long puppeteers to enter Australia to perform at the annual Sydney festival. The troupe was denied visas earlier in the week. Read the Sydney Morning Herald article by Grace Nichols at http://www.smh.com.au/news/9901/06/text/national6.html |
Fire Destroys New England Marionette Opera Theatre
January 2, 1999
On January 1st at mid-day the New England Marionette Theatre suffered an electrical fire that started in the basement and within a short period of time destroyed the historic building in downtown Peterborough, New Hampshire. Firefighters from seven communities fought the flames for more than eight hours. Over 200 marionettes were destroyed in the fire, but luckily no one was injured.
This is a devastating artistic and historic loss.My heart goes out to theater owner and founder Ted Leach, artistic director Roger duPen and the many others who helped make the New England Marionette Theatre the sixth largest presenter of opera in the US and one of the few professional venues for adult puppetry in the US. The future of the company is unknown.
The New England Marionette Theatre has collected photos and newspaper articles about the fire at their website http://www.marionettes.com/
Vietnamese puppeteers refused Australian visas
For more information on Vietnamese Water Puppetry, read David Taylor's Vietnamese Water Puppets.
January 1, 1999
The San Jose Mercury News reports that members of Thang Long Water Puppet Company were refused entry visas into Australia. They were booked at the annual Sydney Festival,with more than 200,000 people expected to see them perform. The decision was perhaps due to fears that members of the group would request refuge status, as members of another Vietnamese puppetry group did in 1997. The company's Sydney producer, Ian Scobie, stated
"It would seem obvious to me that a company that has performed regularly in countries like France, Italy and the United States shouldn't been viewed as a risk for visa purposes,'' he said. "It's bizarre in the extreme."
For a review of the Thang Long Water Puppet Company's 1995 tour, read San Francisco Chronicle writer Jesse Hamlin's Puppets That Walk On Water
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Last updated December 31 1999
