Workshops

CHECK OUT OUR AMAZING WORKSHOPS!

 
Yoga-inspired Stretches and Alignment for the Working Puppeteer
with Debbie Lutzky Allen of Parasol Puppets (Jamesport, MO)

You know those aches and pains you get after your third show of the day?  We can do something about that.  I’ve been a puppeteer for over 40 years and a therapeutic yoga teacher for 15 years.  After a group discussion of what style of puppetry you do and what kind of strain that puts on your body, we will learn some poses and stretches that will help you to move and bend more easily.  Nothing scary, I promise.  If you have a yoga mat and strap, please bring them.
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Puppets and Live Actors Sharing the Stage
with Brant Bollman of Uplifting Puppet Co. (Oskaloosa, IA)

In this hands-on workshop, explore how puppetry and human performers can work together to create dynamic theatrical storytelling! Learn practical tips and tricks for combining giant puppets with live actors, choreographing action scenes and sword fights, and blending shadow projection into your scenic design and performance work.

Participants will experiment with our portable shadow theatre table and create their own shadow character for the screen. Brave volunteers can also step inside a giant puppet and try out larger-than-life “cage combat” movement scenes with fellow performers.

Perfect for actors, directors, educators, designers, and anyone curious about visual storytelling and experimental theatre.
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Needle Felting: Using a Natural, Renewable Resource to Construct Puppets (Sheep Are Cool)
with Pam Corcoran of Corcoran Puppets (Stevens Point, WI)

In this hands-on workshop, each participant will create an animal rod puppet, gaining experience
with structure, shaping, and surface detail. While participants are free to create any animal they
choose, the instructor will demonstrate the process by making a chicken.
Working with wool as a natural, renewable resource invites continued exploration, and
participants will leave with both the skills and inspiration to keep creating long after the
workshop ends.

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Shadow Puppetry Workshops!
with Cat Aceto

Part 1: Step Away from the Screen: Enhancing Paper Shadow Puppets with Objects, Layers, and Silhouettes
Build shadow puppets with joints and mechanisms in an easy intuitive way that requires no math or engineering understanding. Add in actor silhouettes and found objects. Use multiple light sources including flashlights and overhead projectors to create complex, multilayered shadows that enhance emotion. 

Part 2.  Shadow Theatre Magic: Creating Cinematic  and Special Effects with an Overhead Projector and Translucency, Reflection, and Refraction.
Explore special effects that can be created by the interaction of light sources with a variety of materials, including found objects, mirrored tile, glass plates, paints, clear glue, and polarizing filters. Discover how to use an overhead projector to create cinematic techniques such as fades, pans, and changes in focus.

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Puppet Manipulation and Character Development
with David Quesal of Quesal Puppet Troupe (Macomb, IL)

How lifelike a puppet is can have an impact on the quality of the performance and the audience’s enjoyment. This workshop will give a series of pointers to help puppeteers hone their skills in movements and acting to enhance their performances and make their puppets look more alive.

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Crafting Puppet Films
with Allex U. Griffin of Griffin Eye Productions (Fairfield, IA)

An inspiring workshop that brings the art of puppet filmmaking! Designed for all skill levels, this class explores creative techniques for making captivating short films with puppets, no matter your budget or space. Alex will guide you through the essentials with easily accessible information and materials, helping unlock your imagination and aid in crafting engaging puppet films.

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“Stained Glass” Crankies
with Camilla Henneman

We will be creating a crankie box with a scroll made from translucent material “painted” with colored tissue and images/silhouettes sandwiched in between layers. This gives a stained glass effect when lit from behind.

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The Best Pipe and Drape Puppet Stage
with Art Grueneberger of Puppet Art Theater Co. (Sacrmento, CA)

Set Up in 5 Minutes. Break Down in 5. Fits in Your Car. Looks Like a Pro Built It.

You’re a puppeteer, not a roadie. You shouldn’t need a crew, a truck, or an hour of setup time just to get your stage ready. This workshop is for performers who want a smarter solution.

The pipe and drape puppet stage is a game-changer: lightweight, affordable, surprisingly sturdy, and professional-looking enough to book real gigs. Whether you’re performing at birthday parties, libraries, festivals, or theaters, this setup travels with you and assembles fast, no tools required.

In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn:

No welding. No carpentry. No engineering degree. Just a smart, practical system that lets you focus on what you actually love, the puppetry.

 

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