tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34482962011-04-21T14:46:38.222-04:00Puppet Inventions, new materials, new uses for old materials, recycling deluxewillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467528678788850897noreply@blogger.comBlogger301100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448296.post-1138819716838971422006-04-01T13:44:00.000-05:002006-04-25T15:48:13.903-04:00

Index - this list will be updated and reposted periodicallyWhite Shadows- 05/09/02, Wire Marionette Controls -05/07/02, TableTop HandPuppets- 06/01/02, BottleBased Rods-07/07/02,Sok Sekrts07/07/02 Solo Booth- 09/08/02, Paper Bag Stage- 09/08/02, Quik StyroHead -08/07/02, Bigger Booth -24/08/02, Curtain o' Light-23/08/02, Rolling Racks-19/08/02, PortaBridge- 12/01/02, Plastic Canvas Masks - 12

willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467528678788850897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448296.post-1142452561971581012006-03-15T14:51:00.000-05:002006-03-15T15:06:12.613-05:00

Egg-Carton DragonMAR 2006I've used "Puff," a dragon mouth puppet made from an pulp paper egg carton for years. Recently, a puppetry class of challenged adults I teach was working on a production of "The Frog Princess" set in Florida. To add some interest to the opening scene in the garden with the well, they decided that Princess Lily should be chased around by a couple of alligators. So we

willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467528678788850897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448296.post-1140715712110229152006-02-23T12:23:00.000-05:002006-02-23T12:28:32.116-05:00

Wire slides for Toy TheatreThe slides I'm currently using are hand-bent from malleable, slightly stiff wire, scavenged from cheap umbrellas. Local puppeteers collect these every spring when gusty weather in downtown Boston sends many bumbershoots into the trash cans, especially around historic Copley Sq. I haven't seen this type in stores recently, but there still seem to be a number of such

willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467528678788850897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448296.post-1140715086309095762006-02-23T12:14:00.000-05:002006-02-23T12:21:31.570-05:00

Bowling Pin People This project began as a way to quickly create table top figures for use with a class of mentally challenged adults at a sheltered art center. There were a few small white plastic bowling pins lying around from an activities class. We first just drew faces and wrote names to have something to work with. However, these cheap toys tip over easily, and require a lot of

willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467528678788850897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448296.post-1140035515854501442006-02-15T15:29:00.000-05:002006-02-23T12:20:19.693-05:00

A lesson in design and practice revised Winter 2006 (Key Vocabulary in CAPS; glossary at end)A few hours spent on this project will result in both a usable small puppet theater and an understanding of the parameters for presenting puppetry to a small audience. Refer to sketches 1 -6Simple XEROX BOX Stage - for tabletop use1) Get sturdy copy-paper carton with a seperate lid; white if possible

willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467528678788850897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448296.post-1138742037150740632006-01-31T15:58:00.000-05:002006-02-03T16:29:38.190-05:00

"One piece" Puppet StageJan. 2006     This design is based on one originated for touring by Paul      Vincent-Davis, the longtime Artist-in-Residence at the Puppet Showplace Theatre in Brookline MA. It's been used by all and sundry in programs there for the last quarter century or so. The fitup was even used as PVD's main stage for a production of "Punch & Judy" and as one of the three stages for

willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467528678788850897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448296.post-1113945386317690772005-04-19T17:14:00.000-04:002006-02-02T15:19:34.290-05:00

S T Y R O G O Y L E SSPRING 2005Styrogoyles were invented for one of the early First Night parades in Boston. The year before we had suffered in the cold hoisting top-heavy Bread & Puppet ?gures. I was determined to create something lighter, so I requested a small budget and set to scrounging. I had orginally intended to use beadfoam packing forms simply as a light-weight base on which make

willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467528678788850897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448296.post-1113853224921971282005-04-18T15:36:00.000-04:002005-04-18T15:53:08.116-04:00

Suspended Horseinstructions - Will Stackman ; Spring 2005 (based on a Puppeteers Collective design) Active youngsters really get into these simple parade pieces which doesn't require any masking. The figure is based on the pantomime hobby horse from British tradition. A group of these makes an easy display and stores in very little space.1) Get a roll of relatively soft fence or heavy bailing

willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467528678788850897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448296.post-1091040765345282622004-07-28T14:51:00.000-04:002004-07-28T15:19:47.753-04:00

Technote:MANIPULATION MANIPULATION 2004 Several years ago, I saw an brief act by one of the students at the O'Neill Puppetry Conference which used a series of signs to advance the action. This reminded me of a similar skit I'd seen at summer camp long ago. Since I was committed to performing at a special Puppet Slam for an upcoming Puppets/Education Magic weekend, as well as teching that

willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467528678788850897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448296.post-867948052003-01-01T15:04:00.000-05:002006-02-02T15:26:53.313-05:00

Ladder-based Hand Puppet StageJan 2003    Using a pair of stepladders and some boards to improvise a hand-puppet stage goes back several decades, and can be useful for workshops and school programs. Professional troupes, such as the Tilroe's Frog Print Puppet Theatre or the Periale's Perry Alley Theatre have based touring shows on the idea. Several variations are possible.    The quickest

willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467528678788850897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448296.post-854380872002-12-03T14:02:00.000-05:002006-02-02T15:30:03.916-05:00

Plastic Canvas MasksLate Nov. 2002Halloween's past, but there's always New Year's Eve, Mardi Gras, and next Halloween. This technote is inspired by a project last month with a group of artistically-inclined but challenged adults. It uses inexpensive common craft materials.Plastic "canvas" mesh in various colors is sold at chain craft stores for as low as 20 cents an 10+"x13+" inch sheet.

willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467528678788850897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448296.post-853867572002-12-02T13:12:00.000-05:002002-12-03T14:02:01.000-05:00

Technote: CarpetSculpt Carpet Sculpture Late Nov 2002   Paper sculpture techniques can be employed to design large, light-weight puppet heads and masks, as well as body parts. Often, corrugated cardboard is used for such designs. Sealed with housepaint, these creations can last quite a while. Eventually, the essential fragility of the material makes them unusable except for display.

willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467528678788850897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448296.post-853384182002-12-01T13:48:00.000-05:002002-12-01T14:00:06.000-05:00

Technote: Stands Stand By Me Late Nov. 2002 Supporting a puppet stage using stands rather than frames has become a popular alternative, especially with puppet teams. Folding stand can be expensive; homemade alternatives, such as buckets of cement or plaster get cumbersome. This is a grab-bag survey of alternatives. Classic photographers' light stands, mostly made by Lowell, show up in yard

willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467528678788850897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448296.post-853382592002-12-01T13:43:00.000-05:002006-02-02T15:33:54.786-05:00

PortaBridgeLate Nov 2002   Even if there is a stage, in most multipurpose rooms the platform's too low to present string puppets without some sort of "bridge." This makes touring small scale marionette shows to such venues too cumbersome and uneconomic. This miniature setup will serve for a one person variety presentation or lecture-demo using string puppets strung to work at foot level. 1)

willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467528678788850897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448296.post-824758982002-10-03T13:55:00.000-04:002002-10-03T13:59:10.000-04:00

Technote: FuzzyPuppets Cleaning Fuzzy Puppets Oct 2002 There are two secrets to cleaning and restoring "fake fur" and other longhaired commercial puppets and stuffed animals; foam carpet cleaner and the vacuum. Check the label before buying the cleaner; watch out for stain-removing claims with usually mean bleach, and for warnings about fumes. Also get a clean smooth sponge, preferably one

willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467528678788850897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448296.post-806597862002-08-24T13:51:00.000-04:002002-08-24T13:53:30.000-04:00

Technote: Larger HandPuppet Booths Two's a Crowd Aug 2002     Handpuppet stages for two or more puppeteers share many of the same specifications as solo fitups. (See Aug 9 2002) Playboards can be reach further side to side, up to eight feet. However, beyond six feet may seem out of scale with the puppets. The height of the playboard is determined by the tallest puppeteer, which may put a

willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467528678788850897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448296.post-806206292002-08-23T13:15:00.000-04:002002-08-24T13:54:05.000-04:00

Technote: CurtainOfLight CURTAIN OF LIGHT TECHNIQUES Late Aug 02 The theatrical illusion known to the magic fraternity as "black art theatre", promoted on the 19th century European stage by Auzinger and others, was adapted for serious puppetry by Czech puppeteers in the '60s and is sometimes refered to as their invention. Contemporary American puppeteers such as Jim Gamble or Roman Paska

willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467528678788850897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448296.post-804355222002-08-19T13:14:00.000-04:002002-08-19T13:14:45.580-04:00

Technote: RollWings Rolling Racks into "Wings" Aug 2002         A pair of rolling masking units proved invaluable during the NorthEast / Mid-Atlantic Regional PofA Fest in Easton Ma three summers ago, and have since been handy at several evening puppetry events at various locations around Boston. These movable wings or backdrop units were constructed by taking parts from three cheap

willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467528678788850897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448296.post-800415942002-08-09T16:46:00.000-04:002002-08-09T16:55:33.000-04:00

Technote: HandPuptBooth Specifications for a Modern Solo HandPuppet Booth Aug 2002 There are various construction techniques for creating handpuppet stages, ranging from fitups made using two step ladders. a couple of boards, and curtains to elaborate assemblies made from wooden frames loose-pin hinged together, also usually covered with curtains. But many modern handpuppet stages share

willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467528678788850897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448296.post-799955572002-08-08T16:14:00.000-04:002006-02-03T16:19:25.800-05:00

A Better Paper BagAug 2002Many puppeteers have used a large brown-paper grocery bags to present a single hand puppet, often as a walk-around act. The refinements presented here are the result of a decade of experimentation and observation.If the bag is to be used more than once, use two - one inside the other. If the new smaller bags - paper or plastic? - are all that's available, it may be

willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467528678788850897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448296.post-799536982002-08-07T17:42:00.000-04:002002-08-29T17:04:56.000-04:00

Technote: QuikStyroHead QUIK STYRO HEAD - repost Aug 2002 (repost) 1) Start with open cell real styrofoam ball or egg. Bore out neck hole or insert rod. 2) Add carefully trimmed styrofoam nose, cheeks, brows, chin, etc. Glue with waterproof foam glue. Reinforce with toothpicks or bamboo cooking skewers. (See note at bottom about closed cel foam [beadfoam]) 3) Get some light-weight latex

willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467528678788850897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448296.post-790768592002-07-17T16:12:00.000-04:002006-02-02T16:52:20.113-05:00

PLASTIC BOTTLE BASED ROD PUPPETS JULY 2002Puppeteers have been recycling plastic bottles for puppet heads and bodies for years. After surveying various methods, here's my "system" for making efficient rod puppet bodies from larger plastic bottles. BODY1)Last summer at the National Puppetry Fest in Tampa, Bill Laurenzin exhibited a set of neutral rod puppets built around flat dishwashing liquid

willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467528678788850897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448296.post-786597052002-07-07T17:32:00.000-04:002002-07-07T17:33:48.000-04:00

Technote: SokSekrets Sok Puppet Sekrets July2002 Since Soks, the dot.com puppet is back at work, there's a renewed interest in this type of hand puppet. Most people view them as trivial and even demeaning, but sock puppets can be very versatile for comic creations. 1) Start with washed socks. New out of the package don't stretch well. Holes in the toes can be a problem; worn heels are easier

willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467528678788850897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448296.post-776689892002-06-12T17:08:00.000-04:002002-07-19T14:50:12.000-04:00

Don't despair; a longer article on stuffed toys to puppets is coming. Here's the outline. 1) Remove and replace some of the stuffing. Confine same. Free up the joints; sew across them in two parallel lines of stitches. Darts will help sometimes. Costume figures; check doll accesories at craft chain stores. 2)Manipulation choices. A.Direct contact; add handle to back either

willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467528678788850897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448296.post-772263342002-06-01T15:17:00.000-04:002002-06-01T15:19:56.000-04:00

Technote: PuppetConversion HandPuppets on the TableTop June 1, 2000 The quickest way I've found to use Handpuppets as Tabletop Figures is to mount them on cones made from long narrow funnels purchased at the carparts store. Usually less than $2.00, these can be easily shortened to fit inside large hand puppets. They make quite convenient displays stands. If the puppet's neck tube is narrow,

willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467528678788850897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448296.post-763553682002-05-09T16:07:00.000-04:002002-06-04T15:44:14.000-04:00

Technote: White Shadows WHITE SHADOWS MAY 2002 So called "white shadows" have a venerable stagecraft history, having been used to create ghostly effects during the 19th century and possibly earlier. Painting an image on a mirror and then reflecting it onto some surface is described in 16th century stage manuals. Shorty after WWII a company presenting abstract light shows toured in France

willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467528678788850897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448296.post-762661762002-05-07T12:23:00.000-04:002006-02-03T16:27:28.456-05:00

WIRE MARIONETTE CONTROLSMay 2002Traditional European marionette controls may date back to the ancient Greeks. The simplest translation of the words describing how puppets can be controlled is "metal wires." The more complicated string controls probably came in during the Renaissance when Marco Polo et al. re-established trade with the Orient and Chinese string puppets were brought back. These

willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467528678788850897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448296.post-754769282002-04-16T16:56:00.000-04:002002-09-03T16:46:09.000-04:00

Technote: Microwave Papier Mache Microwave Papier Mache 16 Apr. 2002 Yes, you can speed up working with papier mache by using your microwave - carefully. But you can't put items with plasticene, aluminum foil, or stryofoam inside into the oven. So this method is only really useful if you're working directly with paper. To make a head, for instance. 1) If you need a hollow core, consider

willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00467528678788850897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448296.post-753696932002-04-13T18:23:00.000-04:002002-04-13T18:23:30.280-04:00

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TECH NOTES:Sealing Styrofoam SEALING STYROFOAM 13 April 2002 Lightweight latex spackle, something akin to "Model Magic" is the best way to quickly seal and surface styrofoam objects before painting or papier mache. 1) Stick something like a bamboo skewer into the foam for a handle. 2)Put on disposable poly gloves or just use a clean plastic grocery bag. 3)Scoop up some spackle and smear it

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