Month: June 2018

BIMP Main Galleries Closed from 7/2-7/13

Posted on by

From July 2 through July 13, 2018, Ballard Institute staff will be installing our new exhibitions Spiffy Pictures: Adventures in Television Animation and Frank Ballard into the 80s.  While the main galleries at the Ballard Institute will be closed during this process, the museum will remain open during normal business hours, and The World of Puppetry: From the Collections of the Ballard Institute will be on display in the lobby.

We  invite you to join us for the grand opening of Spiffy Pictures: Adventures in Television Animation and Frank Ballard into the 80s on July 14 at the Ballard Institute. The opening events will include refreshments at noon and a free tour at 12:30 p.m.

Grand Opening of “Spiffy Pictures: Adventures in Television Animation” and “Frank Ballard into the 80s” on 7/14

Posted on by

The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry at the University of Connecticut will present the grand opening of its new exhibitions Spiffy Pictures: Adventures in Television Animation and Frank Ballard into the 80s: Babes in Toyland, The Blue Bird, and The Fantasticks, on Saturday, July 14, 2018, with refreshments at noon followed by a free tour of the new exhibitions at 12:30 p.m. All events will take place at the Ballard Institute, located at 1 Royce Circle in Downtown Storrs. The exhibition will be on display through Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018.

Spiffy Pictures: Adventures in Television Animation celebrates the work of UConn School of Fine Arts alumnus David Rudman, his brother Adam Rudman, and Todd Hannert, whose Spiffy Pictures company has created award-winning productions for PBS Kids, Sesame Street, Nickelodeon, Disney, Comedy Central, and other media channels. The exhibition features Nick Jr.’s Jack’s Big Music Show, and Disney’s Emmy-nominated Bunnytown. Including over 50 exquisitely crafted Spiffy puppets and fascinating backstage footage, Spiffy Pictures offers exciting insights into the magic of contemporary puppet production for television.

Frank Ballard into the 80s: Babes in Toyland, The Blue Bird, and The Fantasticks features three productions by the UConn Puppet Arts Program’s founding Director Frank Ballard: the 1903 Victor Herbert operetta Babes in Toyland; Maurice Maeterlinck’s 1908 symbolist classic The Blue Bird; and the 1960s Off-Broadway musical The Fantasticks. Marking a departure from Ballard’s early focus on string marionettes, these late-career shows combine actors with puppets of all sizes and forms, constructed from such novel materials as polyurethane foam.

In addition to the exhibition opening, and as part of our Summertime Saturday Puppet Show Series, Tuckers’ Tales Puppet Theatre will perform Peter Rabbit Tales at the Ballard Institute Theater at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. For more information about this performance and to buy tickets, visit bimp.ticketleap.com.

If you require an accommodation to attend an event, please contact Ballard Institute staff at 860-486-8580 or bimp@uconn.edu at least five days in advance.

2018 Summertime Saturday Puppet Show Series

Posted on by

The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry at the University of Connecticut is proud to announce its annual Summertime Saturday Puppet Show Series with performances at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on five consecutive Saturdays from July 14 through Aug. 11, 2018. This summer the Ballard Institute is excited to host acclaimed puppeteers from around New England and beyond, as well as recent Puppet Arts graduates. All performances will take place at the Ballard Institute Theater located at 1 Royce Circle in Downtown Storrs. Ballard Institute Director John Bell says, “We’re very excited to bring a wide array of talented accomplished puppeteers from around the country to the Ballard Institute, including a number of UConn Puppet Arts Program alumni, so they can share their work with our audiences.”

The schedule of Summertime Saturday Puppet Showsincludes the following: 

July 14: Peter Rabbit Tales by Tuckers’ Tales Puppet Theatre

The favorite of children the world over, Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbitstories have been loved for generations. Now Tuckers’ Tales Puppet Theatre, from Abington, Pa.,brings them to life in an irresistible manner with colorful scenery and turn-of-the-century costumes for an unforgettable theater experience. Recommended for ages 4+.

July 21: The Dinosaur Show by Mesner Puppet Theater

Make no bones about it – The Dinosaur Showis sure to tickle your funny bone and stimulate your imagination. Mesner Puppet Theater, from Kansas City, Mo., reaches into the past using hand, rod, shadow, and body puppets to bring this prehistoric tale to life. Join paleontologist Dr. Dino Sawyer (puppeteer Mike Horner) in exploring scientific theories (as well as some improbable ones) that explain what was and what might have been in the Age of the Dinosaurs. Recommended for ages 4+.

July 28: The Velcro Show! by Kalob Puppet Co.

Velcro Kitty was king of his block in the big city of Houston, Texas. He knew how to navigate around cars, other cats, and the dreaded dogs, but now he faces a brand new challenge. His people are acting strange and they have put all their belongings in giant boxes–Velcro is worried. Join Velcro Kitty as he moves across the country and faces the challenges of moving to a small town in Connecticut. His new neighborhood is filled with big cats and creatures he has never seen before. Can Velcro be king again? A story about finding your way, making new friends, dealing with bullies, and finding balance. Recommended for ages 5+.

Aug. 4: The Bremen Town Musicians by CactusHead Puppets

What can a donkey, a dog, a cat, and a rooster do when they have to leave their farm? Become world famous musicians, of course! CactusHead Puppets, founded by UConn Puppet Arts alumni Megan and John Regan, brings to life the hilarious tale of four farm animals that set out on the road to Bremen to pursue their dreams of stardom. Along the way, they encounter a fortune, foil some robbers, and learn how to work together in harmony. This production features lovable rod puppets, elaborate shadow scenes, and CactusHead Puppets’ signature sense of humor. Recommended for ages 4+.

Aug. 11: Monkey and Dino’s Funky Puppet Show! by John Cody

Best friends Monkey (a monkey) and Dino (a dinosaur) are attempting to bring YOU the greatest puppet show EVER! (Or at least a really good one.) Join this simian and reptilian team and a host of their wacky friends as they perform sketches, music, and more, in this new production by UConn Puppet Arts alumnus John Cody. And maybe they’ll even learn something along the way. Or maybe not, who’s to say? There’s only one-way to find out, and that’s to come on down to Monkey and Dino’s Funky Puppet Show! Recommended for ages 6+.

Ticket Prices: Adults: $12; Members/Seniors: $10; Students: $8; Kids: $6 (12 years and under)

Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry, by calling 860-486-8580, or online at bimp.ticketleap.com. A surcharge will be added to any purchases made online. Tickets may also be purchased at the Ballard Institute on the day of performance starting at 10 a.m. There will be open seating and no reservations. Visitors can park in the Storrs Center Garage located at 33 Royce Circle. Parking is free for the first two hours and $1 per hour thereafter, with a daily maximum charge of $8. For more information about these performances or if you require an accommodation to attend this event, please contact Ballard Institute staff at 860-486-8580 or bimp@uconn.edu.