News Archive - 2001

December 23, 2001 Puppet Theatre Writers' Conference

From Lynne Jennings: If you write or want to write for the puppet theatre...If you saw or have heard from puppeteer friends about The Fable of the Fox... You'll want to come to San Diego in February 2002 to study with those fabulous folks from Binefar, Spain who created and performed the piece. With 25+ years of experience, Los Titiriteros de Binefar have gathered awards and friends from festivals around the world for their unique and touching performances. 1998's Puppetry International proclaimed: ...Los Titiriteros left me feeling simultaneously full, drained, and ultimately transformed.... Crabgrass Puppet Theatre's Bonnie Hall said of Fable ...One of the most wonderful things I have ever seen... so beautifully done that it made practically everyone in the audience cry... Here's the information: PUPPET THEATRE WRITERS' CONFERENCE When: Feb. 3-9, 2002 Where: On the beach in San Diego Who: Anyone who writes or wants to write for the puppet stage "Telling Stories with Puppets...Before You Start to Build" Mentor/Master Presenters: Paco Paricio and Pilar Amoros from LOS TITIRITEROS DE BINEFAR, Spain Work will focus on: -Conceiving and developing the show -The process of dramaturgy -Building character -How to present conflict -The importance of materials in conveying meaning There will be two parts to the conference: 1. Using illustrations from their work, Paco and Pilar will walk participants through their unique process of designing and developing a show for the puppet stage. Please note: they will demonstrate how and why they craft the story, not how they make the puppets. 2. Participants may bring an idea, a story and/or a concept to develop during the week, and get in depth feedback and support from presenters and participants alike. A collaborative, nurturing process. Please note: a key element is that you bring something that you have not yet started to build PLUS, an exciting extra if you can come a day early: The Children's Theater Festival at San Diego State University, Feb. 2, 2002 will feature performances of Fable of the Fox, by Los Titiriteros, and 2 pieces by Dockteatern Tittut from Stockholm, Sweden: Wanna Be Wolf, a shadow play designed by Fabrizio Montecchi of Italy's Teatro Gioco Vita, and Langel and the Horse Named Blue. SIMULTANEOUS TRANSLATION OF THE CONFERENCE WILL BE PROVIDED, SO A KNOWLEDGE OF SPANISH IS NOT NECESSARY. Cost: $500 plus housing (if needed, at a very affordable beach front motel, available with/without kitchenettes) Registration limited to no more than 15 participants. Application Deadline: January 15, 2001 A $150 deposit, made out to the San Diego Guild of Puppetry will hold your place. ...Endorsed by UNIMA-USA (UNIMA members receive a 10% discount on registration)... For more information, call,email or write the registrar: Lynne Jennings, phone: 619-427-8088; email: LynneJenn@aol.com; address: 281 East Millan St., Chula Vista, CA 91910 COME EARLY! STAY LATE! TAKE A HOLIDAY FROM WINTER IN SUNNY SAN DIEGO!

October 7, 2001 San Diego Police Need Your Help: Do You Have ANY Information About This Item?

Detective Curt Goldberg of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, Homicide Division, is looking for information concerning the "Anteater" in the picture. It was manufactured in 1978 in Palo Alto California by "The Puppet Factory". Detective Goldberg is attempting to determine where this type of toy might have been sold, when and under what circumstances. If you have any information, please contact him at cgoldbsh@hotmail.com or at (858) 974-2405.   Note from Rose Sage, webmaster of The Puppetry Home Page: Detective Goldberg has an email address with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, but has requested I post his hotmail address here because of concerns about spam at his work address. If you have any information, please email him or call.

October 2, 2001 Conservatory of Puppetry Arts Announces Alliance with the Alan Cook Puppet Collection

Pasadena, California Southern California's cultural organization dedicated to the art of the puppet has adopted a puppet collection. The debut project for Conservatory of Puppetry Arts, a project of Community Partners, begins with the cataloguing and organization of the Alan Cook Puppet Collection. COPA joins Alan's International Puppetry Museum in the project. Cook, a puppet collector from childhood, has amassed one of the best private collections of puppetry and puppet-related items in the United States. Puppets from around the world in every puppet form make this collection an important part of Southern California's cultural heritage. Work on the project will be done in at the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena. The Armory has generously donated the space. An open house will be held October 6, 2001, 1 to 4 pm introducing the project to the general public and puppeteer community. October 6 is a day dedicated to the arts in Los Angeles County. The Armory Center for the Arts is located at 1020 N. Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, California. (626) 792-5101. (Thanks to Greg Williams of The Puppet Studio for this news item.)

September 30, 2001 Two New Puppet Videos available at Puppeteers of America Store

The Puppeteers of America store has announced that they are carrying two new puppet videos: "The American Puppet", the first documentary to chronicle the story of American puppetry. As the back of the video box says "From the streets and taverns of colonial America to the bright lights of today's Broadway stage... Archival film, rare photographs, historical reenactments and engaging interviews from some of the most influential puppeteers of the 20th century, help bring the story of American puppetry to life." An intimate, backstage report from Seattle's Festival of the Millennium by Warner Blake called "Puppet Festival: a documentary by Warner Blake" is now available at the store. This is Warner Blake's video documentary of the 1999 Puppeteers of America Festival of the Millennium in Seattle. The 90 minute documentary features front and back stage views of performances never before seen in America including the incredible marionettes of Huang Yi Que, Martin Bridles' "Piggery Jokery", "The Gertrude Show" from Israel, Robert Poulter's Toy Theatre from England and Yaya Coulibably and Troupe Sogolon from Mali. Plus segments of shows by American favorites including Ines Zeller Bass with "Isidor's Cheek", Oregon Shadow Theatre's performance of "Thumbelina" and Paul Mesner's "Sleeping Beauty". This video also has original music by Mick Doherty. Monumental puppetry packed into two videos! You can get copies through the Puppeteers of America Bookstore.

September 30, 2001 Muppetfest Postpones

Because of the tragedies in New York, Washington DC and Pennsylvania, Muppetfest, originally scheduled for September 22-23, was postponed. Festival organizers have said they will hold the festival, probably at the beginning of the year. Keep your eyes on the Muppet fan news site, toughpigs.com, for any news on the festival. The official website for the Muppet Fest is http://www.creationent.com/muppet_fest/index.html

August 19, 2001 Arlyn Award Announced

The first Arlyn Award for Outstanding Design in the Puppet Theatre was also announced at the Tampa Festival this summer. The recipient is Vladimir Oskolkov of the Jura Samoilov Puppet Theatre in Tjumen, Russia for the production of "The Nose" by Nikolai Golgol. Photos & jury comments will be posted shortly at http://members.shaw.ca/arlynaward

August 19, 2001 Albrecht Roser Lauded by US Puppetry Organizations

The Boards of Puppeteers of America and UNIMA-USA unanimously approved the following Proclamation. Presented Tampa, FL July 13, 2001 read by Randel McGee, President UNIMA-USA and Steve Abrams, President, Puppeteers of America WHEREAS Albrecht Roser and Gustaf are celebrating their 50th anniversary (What a surprise!); and WHEREAS Albrecht has been a major influence on American puppetry for twenty-five years through stunning artistic example and as a compassionate and inspiring teacher (In Granny's own words, "Learn, learn, learn!"); and WHEREAS through his amazing almost mystical powers of observation he knits together portraits of human life that touch our souls; and WHEREAS Albrecht lifts us gently from our center of gravity and plays on our emotions like a symphony; and WHEREAS through Albrecht we have been blessed with the kindness, grace, and humor of Ingrid Hofer; and WHEREAS Albrecht continues of apply his artistic and technical genius to extend puppetry into the future while preserving the integrity of tradition; THEREFORE, the joint Boards of the Puppeteers of America, Inc. and UNIMA-USA hereby proclaim Albrecht Roser our honored professor, esteemed artist, and treasured friend. This was the first ever joint proclamation issued by the two U.S. Puppetry Organizations.

August 19, 2001 Puppeteers of America Awards Announced

Steve Abrams, former President of Puppeteers of America, sent in the list of people who were given PofA awards at the National Festival in Tampa this summer. The list includes: Presidents award Ronnie Burkett Trustees award Joyce and Chuck Berty Norma Bigler Puppeteers of America Award Larry Baranski, curator of puppet collection in Detriot George Latshaw award for writiing and editing Andrew and Bonnie Periale Jim Henson Award for Innovation (formerly vice presidents award for innovation) Michael Curry Marjorie Batchelder McPharlin Award (education, a new award) Bruce Chesse A great group, it was a thrill to present them.

August 19, 2001 Punch and Judy Novelties available

From Chris Somerville at chris.somerville@btinternet.com Dear Punch and Judy enthusiast, I thought you might be interested in a cut-out novelty Punch and Judy Show which can be downloaded from http://www.punchandjudy.com . This has been designed by Christopher Van der Craats who suggests it could be printed on computer-printer compatible card and sold to the public to augment the Punch performer's income. It is a nice novelty. It can be found by clicking the button marked P&J novelties. September 4th is the publication date of the new Royal Mail Puppet Stamps featuring the Punch and Judy figures of Bryan Clarke. I know of three different First Day Covers which celebrate this event. First Day Covers are a specially designed envelope, on which are mounted the featured stamps. These are carefully hand-franked with a specially designed cancellation, on the first day of posting. Of course these are collectors' items and increase in value. They are also nice things to send to friends. You can get details of a Commemorative Cover linked with The World Wide Friends of Punch and Judy, featuring images supplied by Glyn Edwards, from http://www.britishfirstdaycovers.com who offer the cover with set of 6 stamps for £9.75 The Harlequin Puppet Theatre Limited Edition First Day Cover is available with the Punch and Judy stamps for £3.50. Full details at http://www.punchandjudy.com/stampcover.htm Covercraft is producing a souvenir first day cover produced in association with the The British Puppet and Model Theatre Guild. The envelope features Whanslaw's "Soko" sitting next to a toy theatre. The stamps will be franked with the PUK logo. The cost for cover and full set of stamps will be £7.95.Ê Contact Peter Charlton at peterpuppet@care4free.net to order. I guess most Punch enthusiasts will want one of each cover for their scrapbooks.

August 19, 2001 Time-Life selling Muppet DVDs

Time-Life has now released "The Best of the Muppet Show" collection on DVDs. Their website has all the details.

August 11, 2001 Ronnie Burkett's "Happy" - Transcendence, Wonderment and Sterlings

Ronnie Burkett's play with marionettes "Happy" was awarded 2 "Sterling" theatre awards in Edmonton, Alberta. "Happy" won the top award as "Best Play" and Ronnie won as "Best Actor in a Leading Role". http://www.edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/stories/010619/5062413.html And Jonathan Myerson of London's Independet Review had this to say about the London premier of "Happy": Yes, these are puppets I'm talking about. Who cares? Happy is a monumental achievement - two unstinting, unbroken hours of word, song, minuscule gesture, inventiveness, surrealism and humanity. And if theatre's about transcendence, about wonderment, this is the best theatre in London. http://www.independent.co.uk/story.jsp?story=79351

August 11, 2001 Seattle Puppet Festival Video Now Available

From: Northwest Puppet Center An intimate, backstage report from Seattle's Festival of the Millennium by Warner Blake is now available. Warner Blake's video documentary of the 1999 Puppeteers of America Festival of the Millennium in Seattle is finished and well worth the wait. The 90 minute documentary features front and back stage views of performances never before seen in America including the incredible marionettes of Huang Yi Que, Martin Bridles' "Piggery Jokery", "The Gertrude Show" from Israel, Robert Poulter's Toy Theatre from England and Yaya Coulibably and Troupe Sogolon from Mali. Plus segments of shows by American favorites including Ines Zeller Bass with "Isidor's Cheek", Oregon Shadow Theatre's performance of "Thumbelina" and Paul Mesner's "Sleeping Beauty". There are also excerpts from workshops by Yang Feng, Mr. Huang, Jim Gamble, Bill Holm's lecture/demo on NW Native American puppets and more. Other video highlights include the Pot Pourri satire of Nathanson & Levenson, the Millennium Parade, the Punch and Judy Faire and the lightning-struck tree. Warner also took the time to interview some of our puppetry elders - Lettie Schubert, George Latshaw, Carl Holm and Alan Cook -, professional and amateur puppeteers, festal virgins and kid puppeteers. For those of you who were there, this is a wonderful memento of a memorable week. For those of you who weren't, the video has some unique and worthwhile puppet scenes and interviews. For more info visit http://www.angelarmsworks.com/puppetfestival/index.html. You get copies through the Puppeteers of America Bookstore, Amazon.com or directly from Warner at warner@angelarmsworks.com.

August 11, 2001 Dog Puppet Runs for City Council in San Rafael

Rebecca Rosen Lum in the Marin Journal writes that a freelance artist is running a tongue-in-cheek campaign for the San Rafael City Council using a puppet as a candidate. The article states "Robert Cooper, 51, a 21-year resident of the city, brought candidate Argyle Sox - a dog puppet - to City Hall yesterday to file papers. It was the candidate's first political setback. He was turned away because he is neither 18 nor a registered voter." See http://www.marinij.com/news/stories/index1001966.html for the full story. (Thanks to Lettie Schubert for sending this news item in.)

August 11, 2001 Vents of Perception

The Dallas Morning News has an article by Diana Steele on scientists studying how the senses help the brain fill perception gaps to give meaning to events. The article uses a ventriloquist and their dummy as an example of how the brain fills in the gaps between reality and perception and allows the audience to perceive two people talking to one another. See http://www.dallasnews.com/lifestyles/290747_illusions_19li.html for the full story.

August 11, 2001 Greek Puppet Centre Closed Down

From Stathis Markopoulos, secretary of UNIMA-HELLAS We are sad to announce that the Greek Puppet Centre does not exist anymore. The municipal authorities of Zografou, Athens decided that it's more important for the public interest to house a group of scouts than the puppet activities. The Centre will open again the soonest possible (at a new home not found yet). Since 1996, UNIMA-Hellas has been running a puppet centre in Athens (Biskini 61, Zografou, Athens). It has served as a meeting place for puppeteers and also accommodated most of the activities of the association. It has been open to the public twice a week. Apart from the special activities/ events organized in the Puppet Centre, it constantly offered: Puppet Library. (over 80 selected books of the international puppet bibliography which you could read in the Centre or borrow for home). Information about performances, festivals, workshops etc. Puppet magazines from many countries Videotheque Small workshop with all basic tools and materials for puppet construction ( for puppeteers who do not have their own workshop) Room for rehearsals. The Centre has been available (when not open to the public) to -puppeteers who do not own a place for their rehearsals. All these 5 years, the Puppet Centre served the art of puppetry in Greece in as many ways as possible. Most members of UNIMA, but also other people interested, have used it somehow in their work. It's a pity that we are obliged to close it down. On the other hand it is a very good chance for the Centre to make a new start taking in mind all problems and mistakes of the past, setting new goals and trying to reach better results. We 'd like to thank all people who helped the Centre with volunteer work and promise to do our best for the next step. Stathis Markopoulos secretary of UNIMA-HELLAS e-mail: ayusaya@otenet.gr www.homestead.com/unimahellas/unimahellas.html www.homestead.com/ayusaya/ayusaya.html

August 11, 2001 2001 Citations of Excellence in the Art of Puppetry from UNIMA-USA

The UNIMA-USA Citations of Excellence in the Art of Puppetry were announced on July 11, 2001, at the Puppeteers of America national festival in Tampa, Florida. The Citations of Excellence were conceived by Jim Henson in 1975 when he was President of UNIMA-USA. It was Jim's intention to recognize and reward high standards in puppetry in North America. Last year the Board of Directors of UNIMA-USA voted to officially give the Citations a new nickname, the UNI. Past UNI recipients, illustrated by photos from the productions, as well as additional information regarding UNIMA-USA and the Citations can be found on UNIMA-USA's official website: www.unima-usa.org. There will be an exhibit of puppets from past recipients on display at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, opening January 2002. UNIMA-USA retains an anonymous committee of approximately 60 reviewers throughout North America who nominate productions for UNI Citations. The UNI's are not a competition, and reviewers can nominate as many productions as they deem worthy. Three nominations qualify a production for a Citation. The reviewers submit nominations for shows that . . . ". . . touch their audiences deeply; that totally engage, enchant and enthrall. Citation-worthy shows are prime examples of excellent theatre." The UNI's are given in two categories, Recorded Media, and Live Theater. This year there are a record 19 recipients. Live Theater: Bonny Hall and Jamie Keithline Crabgrass Puppet Theater "Anansi, Spiderman of Africa!" Figures of Speech Theatre "The Beanstalk Variations" J.E.Cross and The Cosmic Bicycle Theatre "Doctor Kronopolis and the TimeKeeper Chronicles; A Space Opera" Roman Paska and Massimo Schuster "God Mother Radio" "Redmoon Theater's Hunchback" created by Jim Lasko Jon Ludwig, Ping Chong and Mitsuru Ishii Center for Puppetry Arts "Kwaidan" Mary Robinette Harrison and Jodi Eichelberger Other Hand Productions "The Old Man Who Made Trees Blossom" Basil Twist "Petrushka" Jon Ludwig Center for Puppetry Arts "The Plant Doctor" Hanne Tierney with Jane Wang and Sabir Mateen "Salome" by Oscar Wilde Paul Mesner The Paul Mesner Puppets "Sleeping Beauty" Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes Created and performed by Ronnie Burkett "Street of Blood" Chinese Theatre Workshop Director, Writer and Performer Kuang-Yu Fong Design and performance by Stephen Kaplin and Richard Chang Music performed by Baogang Liu, Karen Wong and Zhongxi Wu "Toy Theater Peony Pavilion" Ann Powell, David Powell and Sharon Weisbaum Puppetmongers Theatre "Walidad the Grass Cutter" Recorded Media: Mitchell Kriegman and The Jim Henson Company "Bear in the Big Blue House" Judith Stoia, Michael Frith, Christopher Cerf, Norman Stiles Carol Klein, Michele McDonough "Between the Lions" Mitchell Kriegman, Shadow Projects "The Book of Pooh" John Penotti Greenestreet Films "Illuminata" Shawn Lacy Tessaro HKM Productions Pets.com Sock Puppet advertising campaign

June 16, 2001 Gina Caruso Does Forman Brown

From the Jim Henson Foundation Puppet Happenings Newsletter: In her cabaret show, Gina Caruso presents the story and music of Forman Brown and Harry Burnett, who founded the Yale Puppeteers in the 1920s and later the Turnabout in Hollywood, a successful theater that featured intricate marionette plays and cabaret revues from 1941 to 1956. Friday, June 22 and Friday, June 29 at 7 pm Don't Tell Mama 343 West 46th Street $15 cover, with a 2 drink minimum For reservations, call 212.757.0788. (To subscribe to the Jim Henson Foundation Puppet Happenings e-mail list, send a message to foundation@henson.com, and type "subscribe happenings" in the subject line.)

June 16, 2001 Muppet Con Coming September 22-23 in Pasadena, California

From the Los Angeles Puppet Guild Website: In honor of the 25th anniversary of "The Muppet Show," the first Muppetfest - a two-day celebration of Jim Henson's puppets - will be held at the Pasadena Civic Center on Sept. 22 and 23, kicking off a yearlong series of activities. The TV series made its debut in syndication on Sept. 26, 1976, and continued for five seasons with 120 shows. Open to all Muppet fans, the fest will include guest appearances by the original puppeteers and writers who helped create the Muppets, live musical performances of original Muppet music, screenings of rare footage, presentations from Jim Henson's Creature Shop and interactive exhibitions. In addition, a VIP charity event will be held at the Jim Henson Company's studio in Hollywood. Visit www.henson.com for details on registering for Muppetfest, which organizers hope to make an annual event. The official website for the Muppet Fest is http://www.creationent.com/muppet_fest/index.html

June 16, 2001 Sifl and Olly Creator Profiled

Apple Computer's Final Cut Pro Website profiles Liam Lynch, creator of MTV's Sifl and Olly sock puppets. While the article focuses on how Lynch and others created the show and on software and hardware he uses for digital video creation, it also sheds some light on his puppet creations. The original Sifl and Olly sock puppets I made in Liverpool were the only ones ever used. But we normally had about 200 to 250 characters a season, so we went through several hundred socks through the process of filming all three seasons of the series.Our art department all went a bit insane during the process. So many socks, so little time. http://www.apple.com/hotnews/articles/2001/05/liamlynch/index.html

June 9, 2001 Howdy Doody and Friends on Display in Chicago

The famous marionette, Howdy Doody, and his sidekicks Flub-A-Dub, Dilly Dally, Inspector John J. Fadoozle, Princess Summerfall Winterspring and Phineas T. Bluster are going on display at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. The family of puppeteer Rufus Rose and the Detroit Institute of Arts are working together to bring this show to Chicago. http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010605/en/howdy_doody_1.html

June 2, 2001 2001 A Puppet Odyssey-Tampa Florida

From Steve Abrams, President of Puppeteers of America: The collection of talent gathering in Tampa Florida July 8-14 for the national festival is truly amazing. To visit the festival site go to www.puppeteers.org and click on festival or go directly to www.puppetlove.com/2001festival/index.htm There is still time to register. PERFORMANCES Over 25 performances include the shadow puppets of Richard Bradshaw ofAustralia, Don Quixote from the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, Richard Termine's Diary of a Madman, Marty Robinson's Jackstraws, and Brad Brewer's legendary Crowtations from New York. Festival performers who have received Unima Citations include: Perry Alley Puppets, Magical Moonshine Theatre, Puppetmongers Powell, Tanglewood Marionettes. International artists include Jordi Bertran and Tititriteros de Binefar of Spain. Blair Thomas will perform Lorca's Don Cristobal. An evening of 12 short works from the National Puppetry Conference is almost an additional festival. Performers include Heather Henson, Richard Termine, Gretchen Van Lente, Jim Napolitano, Ron Binion. This is a unique opportunity to see these emerging artists. Marty Robinson, Kathy Mullen, Pam Arciero, Annie Evans, and Richard Termine are festival presenters with numerous media credits with the Jim Henson Company, Between the Lions, and other high profile projects. At the Tampa festival you will have the rare opportunity to see the works they create for live performance. JUST CONFIRMED INSIDE SESAME STREET: Marty Robinson (Telly Monster & Mr. Snuffleupagus) Pam Arciero (Grungetta) Annie Evans (writer for Sesame St) and Kathy Mullen (Kira in "Dark Crystal" and Mokey Fraggle) (if her schedule permits) tell how they got to Sesame Street, and what it is like working there. These major creative contributors to Sesame Street and the Muppets share stories about their careers in puppetry. WORKSHOPS Learn from the best. Almost all of the performers mentioned above will be presenting workshops. Over one hundred workshops are offered Workshop leaders include Phillip Huber for Marionette manipulation, Robert Poutler for toy theatre, Michael Earl for TV puppetry, a workshop on parade puppets at Epcot Center in Orlando. AND Plans are almost set for RONNIE BURKETT WORKSHOP Ronnie Burkett's "Happy," recently the subject of a photo essay in Puppetry Journal plays in London from June 20-July 7. Ronnie has agreed to present a workshop at the Puppeteers of America Festival in Tampa, Florida on Friday July 13. The subject of Ronnie's slide talk and workshop will be text performance creation and writing. Ronnie has received major awardsfor the texts of his plays. "Tinka's New Dress" received an Obie Award and an Unima Citation in 1999. "Street of Blood" won the prestigious Chalmers Canadian Play Award. The Tampa Festival is honored that this distinguished artist is dashing from London to Tampa to be with fellow puppeteers, and talk about his creative work in the theatre. Don't miss 2001 A PUPPET ODYSSEY. It will be an unforgettable experience

May 21, 2001 Puppeteers of America Puppetry Store: New Directors Sought

From Steve Abrams, President of Puppeteers of America: After twelve years of outstanding service to the members of the Puppeters of America, Inc, Jeanine and John Bartelt have decided to move on to yet another grand adventure. Jeanine and John can boast of raising the standards of the Puppetry Store and bringing it into the 21st century. A highly efficient operation, a reputation for prompt and courteous service, and offering the inventory of the store in a printed catalog and from its own web page are only some of the advances made by Jeanine and John. We owe them our thanks. They will be missed. The search committee chaired by Jean Hasselschwert is presently reviewing applications for the position of Store Director. Please review the job description below and if interested send your curricula vitae to: Jean Hasselschwert, Chair Puppetry Store Search Committee 128 Larchwood Bowling Green, OH 43402-2170 or Email at jhassel@wcnet.org The position comes with a small honorarium. Additional information will be furnished upon request. Statement of purpose: The Puppetry Store director is to furnish puppetry and puppetry related materials to both members of Puppeteers of America, Inc. and the general public. Job Description: 1. To establish a not-for-profit business in the state of the director. Keep state taxes and non-profit annual reports current to maintain the business status in good standing. 2. Set up and maintain bank accounts for deposit only, petty cash, and merchant bank card services. Acquire bank card verification equipment. Keep careful financial records of all transactions. To furnish the organization's treasurer with financial records and merchandise invoices for payment. 3. To act as a representative of Puppeteers of America, Inc. in dealing with the membership and public. It is very helpful if the director is a puppeteer as many technical as well as product related questions are asked. 4. To fill orders received via mail service, fax, phone, email, and on line catalog. This should be done in a timely manner to insure customer satisfaction. 5. To maintain merchandise by ordering from suppliers. To look for new titles of interest to customers both domestic and foreign. 6. To furnish merchandise to Puppeteers of America, Inc. related events sponsored by guilds and regions. 7. To personally run the National Festival store by organizing and supervising the staff, furnishing titles from the store, organizing all consignment sales, dealing with the host state concerning taxes, and working with the festival committee in setting up and maintaining the site. 8. To design advertisement for the Puppetry Journal, Playboard and other non-Puppeteers of America publications. 9. To maintain the On-Line Store site. 10. To prepare and furnish up-to-date printed catalogs upon request. 11. To report to the Board of Puppeteers of America throughout the year. To prepare and submit an annual budget and report. 12. This job requires as many as 20 hours a week, at times even more. The director should have enough storage space and office space to accommodate inventory and files. There will be customers who ask to come and see the merchandise. The merchandise should be in a place easily accessible to the public if the director chooses to open the store to this service.

April 28, 2001 Festival Uses Puppets for Lesson

In a bid to promote puppets as powerful tools that can be used to convey messages on life threatening issues in Africa, community health awareness activists are organizing an international puppet festival to be held in Nairobi next year. For the full story, go to: http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010426/en/kenya_puppets_1.html Associated Press writer George Mwangi writes about CHAPS, the organization behind the festival: CHAPS has trained over 350 puppeteers, who have formed about 40 troupes based in rural and urban communities throughout Kenya. The organizers are holding regional festivals to raise funds and create awareness for the international festival from Feb. 15-23, 2002. To read more about CHAPS and its battle against AIDS, read these articles: Puppets Winning War Against HIV Spread By Francis Ayieko & Meshack Nyaoke http://www.web.net/~iccaf/humanrights/kenyainfo/kenyanewsmay00.htm#Puppets Puppetry: Raising Awareness in Kenya Family Planning Private Sector (Kenya) Community Health Awareness Puppeteers by Rufus Eshuchi http://www.transparency.de/iacc/9th_iacc/papers/day3/ws9/d3ws9_reshuchi.html

April 28, 2001 Puppets & Stuff Now Online

Shawn Sorrell of Wildjoker Designs has recently started Puppets & Stuff, a community on the Web for puppeteers. This site offers free web space for puppeteers. It also offers a bulletin board, chat page and searchable databases of pages. Shawn is a terrific guy and a great web designer, and I think his site is going to be a welcome addition to puppetry on the web.

April 28, 2001 Sooty the Puppet Brings in the Barristers

The BBC reports that the UK Census organization is in trouble with Sooty, the popular tv glove puppet. The government's Central Office of Information is running a census campaign and used an image of the glove puppet without the permission of the Gullane Entertainment Company, owner of Sooty's copyrights. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/entertainment/tv_and_radio/newsid_1300000/1300137.stm

April 23, 2001   "Street of Blood" wins GLAAD Award

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) awarded The Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionette's production "Street of Blood" their Outstanding New York Theater - Broadway and Off Broadway media award. The media awards honor members of the entertainment community who have made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Congratulations to Ronnie! http://www.glaad.org/org/press/index.html?record=2750

[The Puppetry Home Page]
[What's New] [Classifieds] [More Recent Puppet News]
[Puppetry Organizations] [Puppetry Festivals] [Puppet Theaters]
[Puppetry Definitions] [Using Puppetry] [Puppetry Traditions Around the World]
[Puppetry Schools, Workshops and Internships] [Puppetry Exhibits and Museums]
[Puppet Building and Building Materials] [Puppet Builders and Sellers] [Performers and Performance Companies]
[Other Puppetry Sites and Resources]

Questions?
Last updated December 31 1999