Needle Felting Puppets (i.e. Sheep are Cool!)
By Pam Corcoran
Felted wool is my favorite medium for making puppets. This method of
construction allows me to sit in a comfy chair overlooking the bird feeder and
make a vast array of charming puppets without getting wet, without waiting for
stuff to dry, or without getting poisoned by toxic glues.
Workshop participants will explore principles of puppet design while learning how
to create puppets from needle felted wool. While making either a rod puppet or a
hand puppet, participants will learn a variety of construction techniques. Come
learn more about working with wool! It is light weight, great for all seasons (the
hand puppets actually let your hand breath and not get clammy), and is a
renewable source. And, sheep like getting haircuts!
Materials Fee: $10
Class Length: 9 hours (Friday: 10 am-5pm w/ lunch break. Saturday: 10am-1pm)
Class size: 12
Pop-Up Puppet Slam²: Pop-ups on Pop-ups on Pop-ups!!!!
By Kat pleviak
What happens when shadow puppetry meets portable micro-theater at an intimate puppet
festival? An impromptu puppet slam, of course ;)
In this hands-on intensive, participants will design and build their own pop-up flipbook shadow theater and create an original 3–5 minute puppet slam performance designed for this unique format.
Guided by Sea Beast Puppet Company's Artistic Director, Kat Pleviak, artists will explore how shadow imagery, movement, and sequencing function within the compact storytelling structure of a flipbook theater. Participants will develop visual narratives using paper craft to construct a small portable performance that allows images to unfold through the magic of light.
The class concludes with a public Puppet Meltdown puppet slam to showcase the work created at the festival, where participants will premiere the work they created during the intensive. This workshop is designed for puppeteers, theatre makers, visual storytellers, and adventurous artists interested in exploring shadow puppetry as a compact performance medium. No prior shadow puppetry experience is required, though curiosity and a willingness to experiment are a must! No need to bring anything; all materials will be provided. Sign up today, as space is limited. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials Fee: $20
Class Length: 9 hours (Friday: 10 am-5pm w/ lunch break. Saturday: 10am-1pm)
Class size: 12
Page to Screen TV Puppetry Workshop
By Liz Hara and Frankie Cordero
Write and film a puppet short with seasoned television professionals Liz Hara and Frankie Cordero! In this fifteen-hour workshop, participants will learn the three-act story structure, then work together in a writer’s room to craft a script with Liz on Thursday. Friday and Saturday morning, students will rehearse and film under the direction of Frankie. Liz and Frankie will be team teaching and guiding everyone through the process the whole weekend.
This class is for intermediate to advanced on-camera puppeteers. You must already have an excellent grasp of eye focus, lip sync, movement, etc. using external monitors. Space for up to eight participants. Audition reel required: contact laurie@puppetlaurieate.com for more information.
Don’t miss this chance to work with some of the best in the industry!
Materials Fee: none
Class Length: 15 hours (Thursday: 10 am-5 pm w/ lunch break. Friday: 10 am-5pm w/ lunch break. Saturday: 10am-1pm)
Class size: 8
MAKE IT!
By Vanessa Valliere
MAKE IT! is a full day workshop in the creation of puppetry/object work.
The workshop will start with some introductions of basic principles of the devising process and will slowly work up to a 2-3 minute piece that you can take to your next puppet slam or use as a seed for a longer piece. The workshop will explore multiple inroads to the devising process, such as drawing inspiration from physical impulse, music, and objects. Some time will also be dedicated to working through common devising roadblocks like perfectionism and premature criticism. The emphasis will be more on the creation of new work and less on specific puppetry techniques.
No prior experience in puppetry is required – Vanessa is excited to facilitate your process, no matter where you are in your exploration.
(Paired with Dancing Prancing Puppets.)
Materials Fee: none
Class Length: 6 hours (Friday: 10 am-5pm w/ lunch break)
Class size: 12
Dancing Prancing Puppets
By Miss Pussycat
Inspired by limberjacks, Miss Pussycat has figured out a few different ways to make dancing puppets for a tabletop show. Participants will learn how about various types of joints for arms and legs, practice movement, and create their own dancing prancing tabletop puppet.
FOR AGES 14 AND UP. Workshop materials are provided but participants should bring their own scissors, glue guns, and exacto or box cutter if possible.
(Paired with The Devising Process.)
Materials Fee: None
Class Length: 3 hours (Saturday: 10am-1pm)
Class size: 12
Parade Puppets
By Laurie Rossbach
Join puppeteer and artist Laurie Rossbach of Madison Children's Museum to create masks and giant parade puppets using simple found materials- cardboard and boxes, recycled materials, fabric, bamboo poles and found objects. Free and all ages. Materials and tools included, but bring any of your own materials to use and share. Join us in our evening puppet parade with your creation.
Open to the Public
Saturday afternoon
