Cast is set for the upcoming show. We had a lot of fun people audition for this show which made my decision difficult, for which I was very grateful.
CAST - John Brewster, Jay Byrd, Topping Haggerty, Howard Katz, Patrick Knisely, Nancy Lyon, Amy McKenna, Menelaos Prokos, Chadwick Smith, Leng Wong; LIGHTING & VIDEO TECH - Gene Joe; DIRECTOR - Sara Farr
Also, I learned this week that the Puppet Improv Project's application to become a sponsored project under the Austin Creative Alliance was accepted. This is great news as it takes the pressure off me to fund everything, and we can now start looking for funding to help bring in training, sponsor workshops, help us enter festivals and travel, and generally share our art form with a larger crowd. In the immediate future, this could mean that some of the things we planned but were doubtful we could do in the upcoming show, can now happen. Yay!
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Puppet Katamari - Video and Auditions
Whew! What a GREAT day. :-) The PIP had a morning video shoot in Zilker Park for a comedic short film we are working on for the upcoming Puppet Katamari show. It included a bunch of kids and Schave & Reilly and it went off splendidly. The rain clouds threatened - it was humid - but as usual, no rain. Good for us, bad for Texas. We also got to then shoot some video of the puppets riding the miniature train!
That was really fun. I've never ridden the Zilker Zephyr, and even though a small child fell off the train (and was scared but did NOT get seriously hurt, and in fact finished the ride), both the ride and the puppet filming was MORE than I had hoped it would be. I really do LOVE trains, and have a dream of someday opening my own PUPPET THEATER with a little toy train that circles the room on a elevated track when it's time to open house for shows. This imaginary theater will be called "The Depot" and have a train station theme. Doesn't that sound AWESOME!! So imagine my joy at getting to ride a tiny train in Zilker with a bunch of friends acting silly with puppets.
BTW! Those awesome puppeteers today were: Jayme Ramsey, Gene Joe, Topping Haggerty, Cody Melcher and Amy McKenna. And I had great acting and production assistant support from the fabulous Jenn Baldillez.
After that, the PIP held auditions for the upcoming Puppet Katamari show. We had a nice big group auditioning and everyone was really strong. It is going to be a tough decision to narrow down the list -- which is a success in itself.
Next up for the PIP? More filming and finishing our puppet building. Once the cast is set, our rehearsals begin. Look to the site soon for ticket sales, and look to the newspapers soon for our ads. THIS SHOW IS GOING TO BE GREAT!!
That was really fun. I've never ridden the Zilker Zephyr, and even though a small child fell off the train (and was scared but did NOT get seriously hurt, and in fact finished the ride), both the ride and the puppet filming was MORE than I had hoped it would be. I really do LOVE trains, and have a dream of someday opening my own PUPPET THEATER with a little toy train that circles the room on a elevated track when it's time to open house for shows. This imaginary theater will be called "The Depot" and have a train station theme. Doesn't that sound AWESOME!! So imagine my joy at getting to ride a tiny train in Zilker with a bunch of friends acting silly with puppets.
BTW! Those awesome puppeteers today were: Jayme Ramsey, Gene Joe, Topping Haggerty, Cody Melcher and Amy McKenna. And I had great acting and production assistant support from the fabulous Jenn Baldillez.
After that, the PIP held auditions for the upcoming Puppet Katamari show. We had a nice big group auditioning and everyone was really strong. It is going to be a tough decision to narrow down the list -- which is a success in itself.
Next up for the PIP? More filming and finishing our puppet building. Once the cast is set, our rehearsals begin. Look to the site soon for ticket sales, and look to the newspapers soon for our ads. THIS SHOW IS GOING TO BE GREAT!!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Blacklight Puppets
Here are some blacklight puppet designs for the 3rd quarter show, Puppet Katamari.
FISH SHAPES
OTHER - LOBSTER
OTHER - STARFISH
OTHER - BARRACUDA
OTHER - EEL
OTHER - JELLYFISH
FISH SHAPES
 |  |  |
TRIANGULAR - PINK | ROUNDED - ORANGE | RECTANGULAR - YELLOW |
OTHER - LOBSTER
 |
LOBSTER - GREEN |
OTHER - STARFISH
 |
STARFISH - ORANGE |
OTHER - BARRACUDA
 |
BARRACUDA - BLUE |
OTHER - EEL
 |
EEL - GREEN/WHITE |
 |
EEL - YELLOW/WHITE |
 |
EEL - PINK/WHITE |
OTHER - JELLYFISH
 |
JELLYFISH (ROD) - PINK/ORANGE |
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
"Puppet Katamari" Casting Call
SHOW FORMAT
The show will be a puppet variety show lasting 1 hour and 40 min, (with a 10 min intermission). There will be pre-filmed puppet video shorts, some games/scenes created like Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, filmed live over the players heads, and an underwater themed black-light narrative (3 acts interwoven into the show).
DATES & TIMES
"Uncensored Shows" Fri. 9/23, Sat. 9/24, Fri. 9/30, Sat. 10/1 @ 8PM
This show will be rated "T [Teen]" for audiences ages 13+
(1 hour 40 min with a 10 min intermission)
"Family Matinees" Sun 9/25 & 10/2 @ 2PM
This show will be rated "E [Everyone]" for audiences ages 6+
(only 1 hour, no intermission)
REHEARSALS
We will rehearse once a week starting in August (time/date pending).
Rehearsals will be split into skill sets to maximize rehearsal time. Though the best effort will be made to set an accommodating rehearsal schedule, cast members will be REQUIRED to attend all rehearsals relevant to their role in the show in order to be cast into the show.
* Tech (just tech ppl) - 7pm Tue, Sept 20th
* Full Tech - 7pm Wed, Sept 21st
* Full Dress - 7pm Thu, Sept 22nd
CAST
Principle cast includes Topping Haggerty, Patrick Knisley and Bob Khosravi. We will have a stage manager and tech assistant to Sara Farr (director & lead tech). However, we need a SEA] of supporting players to help create our PUPPET KATAMARI show.
AUDITION DATE & TIME
Sat. July 30th 2-4pm.
AUDITION LOCATION
Yellow Room at the Dougherty Arts Center, 1110 Barton Springs Rd
WHAT TO WEAR
Come wearing comfy clothes that allow you to move freely. Knowledge of puppet manipulation and puppet improv basics are a PLUS!
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We are reaching out to all of Austin in search of people who SERIOUSLY want to PLAY with puppets, and be a part of the BIGGEST puppet improv show in Austin. Some puppet manipulation skills with Fleece & Foam puppets is helpful. BUT, if you'd like to be a part of this show and learn more about puppet improv, this will be a good learning opportunity.
PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT INFO@PUPPETIMPROVPROJECT.COM BY 5PM THUR. 07/21 TO RESERVE AN AUDITION SLOT.
You *must* reserve an audition slot and let me know you're coming to make sure we have room for everyone. The Auditions will run 2 hours, but you will not be required to be there the entire time. Each persons slot will be a limited time.
I WILL E-MAIL YOU BACK BY FRI. 07/22 AND LET YOU KNOW YOUR AUDITION TIME.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Super Fun @ "Nerd Nite"
The PIP made an appearance last night at Nerd Nite to talk about our passion for puppets.
This monthly event is really cool because it's a bunch of people talking about the THING that they are obsessed with. Last night the 3 speakers talked about birds watching, hydroponic plants and puppet! I was the one talking about puppets. Patrick Knisley went with me to do a puppet improv demo. We also brought up a nerd from the audience to play with us. It was SUPER fun!
So, here is a BIG thank you to the organizers - Dan Rumney, JC Dwyer and Lewis Weil- who were kind enough to let us share our love of puppets and improv. Check out their site for info about upcoming shows.
Here is their website - NERD NITE AUSTIN - and you can find their Facebook page HERE and join their group HERE.
If you are sad you missed us, come on over to the Puppet Improv Project Facebook page HERE so that you can learn about our next shows and appearances.
This monthly event is really cool because it's a bunch of people talking about the THING that they are obsessed with. Last night the 3 speakers talked about birds watching, hydroponic plants and puppet! I was the one talking about puppets. Patrick Knisley went with me to do a puppet improv demo. We also brought up a nerd from the audience to play with us. It was SUPER fun!
So, here is a BIG thank you to the organizers - Dan Rumney, JC Dwyer and Lewis Weil- who were kind enough to let us share our love of puppets and improv. Check out their site for info about upcoming shows.
Here is their website - NERD NITE AUSTIN - and you can find their Facebook page HERE and join their group HERE.
If you are sad you missed us, come on over to the Puppet Improv Project Facebook page HERE so that you can learn about our next shows and appearances.
Puppet "Magic"
I got to work with a new group of puppet improvisers in the recent PIP Workshops. Watching these guys pick up and improvise with puppets was delightful. It seems a bit "magic." I remember learning about this "magic" on my trip to Atlanta and the Center for Puppetry arts back in September. Puppets act on our psyche in two ways.
First, they act on our intellect. We understand they are not real, and we suspend our disbelief and see them for what they are -- symbols. And since our brain is already in a mode to see everything in a puppet show as symbolic, it really messes with us when the other punch lands. (Punch! Ha ha!)
Second, they act on our spirituality. The "base" puppets dredge up our own memories, and then they become part of our association with the iconic symbol the puppet represents.
First, they act on our intellect. We understand they are not real, and we suspend our disbelief and see them for what they are -- symbols. And since our brain is already in a mode to see everything in a puppet show as symbolic, it really messes with us when the other punch lands. (Punch! Ha ha!)
Second, they act on our spirituality. The "base" puppets dredge up our own memories, and then they become part of our association with the iconic symbol the puppet represents.
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