Muppets & "Wig Tape" -- using this technique as I build

Puppet Hunt

It seems to me that lots MORE ppl are interested in puppetry these days... or it could be that my brain is just open to puppets. In either case, I've been approached by a couple of ppl regarding where can they GET puppets.

There are plenty of puppets out there for purchase. Are you looking for a "Muppet" style made of foam and fleece, operated by hand (mouth) and rod (arms)? That's what most ppl think of when they think of "puppets. But the older type of hand puppet is a "Punch & Judy" type of puppet -- like the ones seen on Mr. Roger's Neighborhood -- where your fingers operate the arms and head (no mouth movement). There is also the "sock" style puppets -- another kind of hand puppet where your hand moves the mouth

I make my puppets bc buying them can be expensive. Puppets are labor intensive and the demand for puppets is small. There are plenty of cool stuffed-animal type puppets, too. I'd also recommend looking in kids stores, but you can find these online, too.

Also, you get what you pay for. If you are looking for a puppet to do shows with, you probably want the puppet to be easy to hang onto and manipulate. Mass produced puppets may be cheaper, but they may also not give you the range of motion you want. The joints can be overstuffed and/or stiff, which means you have to tense your muscles to make it move. This kind of repetitive stress on your own joints can lead to injuries. I've noticed that some mass produced puppets you can buy for cheap are hard to hold, have joints that are difficult to move, break easily and are HEAVY. A 3 min scene is a long time if you're holding something out away from your body. Professional puppets are easy to hold, easy to manipulate, durable, and lightweight so that you can hold them for extended periods of time.

Here are some places to find puppets online:

* FAO Schwartz Whatnots! -- Disney-Muppets have teamed with FAO to give you Whatnots! Muppet Extras you can customize and buy for $129.99
* Swazzle
* Russ Walko -- Russ sells this basic rodded arm, flexible rubber palate puppet for $200.
* Furry Puppet Studio
* Thistledown Puppets
* Rick Lyon
* Craigslist
* Ebay
* Puppet Project -- make your own puppet!!

Hope this helps.

Sesame Street Muppet Songs

"FAT CAT SAT HAT"


"AIR"


"SOME... NONE"


"EVERYBODY'S SONG"


"OPPOSITES"

Henson Quotes

• Life's like a movie, write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending.
• Listening is the first step and the last step.
• The personalities of the Muppet characters are really quite innocent and everyone, in some way or another, seems to be able to relate to this innocence.
• If you're doing a large, complicated character with radio controls, it might take a number of people several months to make it and if you're talking about a quick little hand puppet, it could be made in 2 days, so there's enormous range there, and no real easy generalities.
• The most sophisticated people I know - inside they are all children.
• I know I drive some people crazy with what seems like ridiculous optimism, but it has always worked for me.

Hey Puppet Lovers!

"CRACK! The Improvised Puppet Musical" has a 6 show run with Gnap! Theater Projects at SVT this summer -- first 3 weekends in August, Fri/Sat @ 8pm. This is an open casting call notice for that run. 

When: 2pm - 4pm on Sunday, May 16th 
Where: SVT -- during the Merlin Works Mixer

Call backs will be the following Sunday, 2pm - 4pm on May 23rd. You can find a description of Crack! (2009) in the SHOWS section on my PIP website.

Stuffed & Unstrung

The Henson studios have launched a their first NYC show under the "Henson Alternative" branch -- "Stuffed & Unstrung" -- a television-tech boosted version of "Puppet Up!" created by Patrick Bristow & Brian Henson.

STUFFED AND UNSTRUNG is a wild new puppet improv performance from Henson Alternative, The Jim Henson Company's label for content created exclusively for adults. This LIVE comedy features the world-renowned Henson puppeteers performing in spontaneous, irreverent, unscripted style. Created by award-winning director, producer, writer and performer Brian Henson and actor and improvisational guru Patrick Bristow, STUFFED AND UNSTRUNG is actually “two shows in one” -- as the hilarious puppetry is projected on large screens flanking the stage while simultanously, the astounding talents of puppeteers are on display below. It's never the same show twice as the skilled art of puppetry and comedic intelligent nonsense collide in this uproarious multimedia romp packed with twisted sketches, songs and storylines! ... Union Square Theater -- 100 East 17th Street, New York, NY  10003

If you are in New York, I highly recommend this show! 

Puppets in Austin & the O'Neil Puppetry Conference

Met an actor/puppeteer the other night - Caroline Reck. She is friends with Connor Hopkins, of Trouble Puppet Theater. A recent graduate of the Towson University MFA Theater program, Caroline is currently working on a new puppet show -- "Fup Duck" to be performed at SVT March 17th-20th. The White Ghost Shivers band will be in the show, too!  Very exciting!

A graduate of the Lecoq School of Physical Theatre in Paris, France. She served as Artistic Director and host of “Cabaret Le Cochard,” a musical revue on a barge on the River Seine in Paris. An actor/ director and frequent collaborator on devised work, her background is in mime, object theatre and puppetry. Her international collaborators include the Paris-based Sous Un Otre Angle, Mangiare Theatre Company in Sligo, Ireland and RedStarDogFish in Sydney, Australia. Since returning to the States in 2006, her New York productions include Nutmeat, a Burlesque Fairytale (NYC Fringe) and several productions for Red Fern Theatre at the 78th Street Theatre Lab.

When we were chatting, Caroline reminded me of this festival...

O'Neil Puppetry Conference

I would love to go to this... someday!