This day long activity is a community service by the  guild  and will include hands on workshops for all levels of interest and ability. This includes kids make-and-take projects and puppet shows will alsobe available throughout the day. Meet Puppetry Arts Guild of Utah members from all over the state.  Get inspired.  Learn more about this fun and wonderful multidisciplinary art form.   Then finish the day off with  the SCERA’S premier of “Pinocchio”.

Download the Festival Poster (PDF Document)

SOME OF THE WORKSHOPS AT THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL

Shadow Puppets and More

The art of the shadow is more fascinating than you can imagine.  Here are a bunch of ways for making and using shadows.  Included are Susan’s latest ideas for making articulated shadow puppets in the classroom setting using spoons and straws as well as wires—with no drawing skills needed. $1 Donation for materials fee suggested.

Susan Niedert has been teaching puppetry workshops and emphasizing the storytelling potential of puppets for over 20 years. She has enjoyed working with all types of puppets and is also the director of the World of Puppetry Museum at the Fine Arts Center in Brigham City.  Come join the fun and take your own special shadow puppet home.

Video Puppetry (age 10+)

Want to improve your YouTube videos or vlog?  Curious how puppets can improve your educational videos? Do you just like to play with dolls and cameras? Learn video-specific puppetry techniques with an emphasis on Focus, Breath, Lip-synch, and character interaction.

Puppets provided, but participants are encouraged to bring their own.  Puppets from Sock Puppet workshop can be used.

$3 material fee. Class size: 25 max.

Tyler Morgan is President of the Puppetry Arts Guild of Utah, and has been a professional puppeteer for more than 11 yrs. He holds a Masters Degree in Puppetry and has taught workshops around the country.

Mask Puppetry (age 10+)

Is a mask a disguise or a whole other character?  Is it even a puppet?  Come and find out as we explore the mask and how it can be used on stage. Learn Mask Puppetry techniques with an emphasis on movement and character interactions.

Masks provided, but participants are encouraged to bring their own.

$5 material Fee. Class Size: 25 max.

Tyler Morgan is President of the Puppetry Arts Guild of Utah, and has been a professional puppeteer for more than 11 yrs. He holds a Masters Degree in Puppetry and has taught workshops around the country.

Wanna-Be Puppets (all ages)

Do you want a nice puppet but don’t have the time nor creative mind to make one?

Or maybe you are creative but want another source for puppet making.
How many stuffed animals do you have laying around the house doing nothing?

Turn them into puppets!

Learn how to turn stuffed animals into hand puppet, rod puppets, or marionettes. Bring your favorite stuffed animals or there will be some for sale at the class for $2. Material fee will be $1. I will supply the material & tools, you supply the fun! (OK–I will supply fun also!)

Lorie Hawley has been involved with the Utah Puppet Guild for nearly 20 yrs. She has done puppet shows for the local libraries and loves teaching puppet making classes. She loves the magic that puppetry brings to all.

Foam Ball Bird Marionette (all ages)

Come and make a simple bird marionette out of styrofoam balls & a nylon stocking. This cute little bird has great movement & is lots of fun to make. Material fee, or just buy a kit for $5.

Lorie Hawley has been involved with the Utah Puppet Guild for nearly 20 yrs. She has done puppet shows for the local libraries and loves teaching puppet making classes. She loves the magic that puppetry brings to all.

Sock Puppets–with pizzazz   (age 8+ hot glue guns will be used)

Only your imagination will limit your possibilities.  You will construct a sock puppet with a wide mouth and a funky, fun foam body.  You will come out of the class with a character ready for his/her/its own show.  Bring your best imagined possibilities and create a true work of art.  Use your new friend in a variety of your own shows.  Have him ready to star in the video workshop offered the last hour, or expand your possibilities and use him to… help give book reports, demonstrations, cub scouts, practice your ventriloquism, deliver your invitation to the next dance (or accept/decline such an invitation), entertain younger brothers or sisters, or even give it away (if you can stand to part with it) as that special gift for someone who seems to have everything.

$1 material fee
Class size limited to 16

Additional Workshops will include:

Puppet Play Workshop (with performance for the Follies)
Puppets for Kids
Controls and Mechanisms Demonstration (Advanced)
Laytex Mold Demonstration (Advanced)

Watch for more info to be posted by March 30th.

Find out the details here.

My name is Davis Kirby and I am helping Jeff Cornett and Lee Bryan, the Co-Directors of the 2009 National Puppetry Festival, with some publicity.  I wanted to see if we could get some information in your next regional newsletter  and put a link on your regional website.  Right now, we just want to do a brief introduction of the Festival, and later I will be sending you a little article once a month about the progress of the festival and the accompanying events.

I don’t know if you have a website, but I also wanted to send you a jpg you can post on your regional website and hyperlink to our own website.  The address of our website is www.nationalpuppetryfestival.org and the official launch date is September 1, 2008.   Please feel free to use the moving JPG or the static JPG to link (attached).

Here is our brief news splash:

For Immediate Release:

The 2009 National Puppetry Festival will be held July 14 – 19 on the campus of Georgia Tech University in Atlanta.  The festival organizers are in the process of finalizing performers and workshop presenters.  Anyone wishing to submit a performance or workshop for consideration should do so immediately.

Performance inquiries should be sent to Reay Schloss at reaypuppet at yahoo dot com.

Workshop inquiries should be sent to Michael and Valerie Nelson at mail at magicalmoonshine dot org.

The festival website, www.nationalpuppetryfestival.org, will include full information about registration, performances, and workshops beginning September 1.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you.

Davis Kirby
Publicity Director