As part of its popular, family-friendly Summertime Saturday Puppet Show Series hosting acclaimed puppeteers from around New England and beyond, the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry will present The Dinosaur Show by Missouri’s Mesner Puppet Theater on Saturday, July 21 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Ballard Institute Theater located at 1 Royce Circle in Downtown Storrs.

Make no bones about it –The Dinosaur Show is sure to tickle your funny bone and stimulate your imagination! Mesner Puppet Theater reaches into the past using hand, rod, shadow, and body puppets to bring this prehistoric tale to life. Join paleontologist Dr. Dino Sawyer (played by 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. This show is 45 minutes long and recommended for ages 4+.

Mesner Puppet Theater is a globally known professional puppet theatre company founded by Paul Mesner in Kansas City, Missouri. The company performs a local season of plays and tours nationally and internationally, reaching more than 30,000 people annually. Mike Horner joined MPT in 2006 and became the company’s Artistic Director in 2016. As the company’s lead puppet builder, Mike designs puppets for MPT’s shows as well as for other theatrical and video clients.

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.

As part of its popular family-friendly Summertime Saturday Puppet Show Series hosting acclaimed puppeteers from around New England and beyond, the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry at the University of Connecticut will present Peter Rabbit Tales by Pennsylvania’s Tuckers’ Tales Puppet Theatre on Saturday, July 14 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Ballard Institute Theater located at 1 Royce Circle in Downtown Storrs. Also join us for our grand opening of our new exhibitions “Spiffy Pictures: Adventures in Television Animation” and “Frank Ballard into the 80s” at noon with free refreshments and tour!

The favorite of children the world over, Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit stories have been loved for generations. Now Tuckers’ Tales Puppet Theatre brings them to life in an irresistible manner with colorful scenery and turn-of-the-century costumes for an unforgettable theater experience. Included are: The Tale of Peter Rabbit, The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse, and The Tale of Benjamin Bunny. This show is 45 minutes long and recommended for ages 4+.

Tuckers’ Tales Puppet Theatre is a Philadelphia-area-based performing company founded in 1981 by co-directors Marianne and Tom Tucker. With a repertoire of 36 shows, they have performed at puppet, folk, ethnic, and street festivals; and at craft fairs, libraries, theaters and schools around North America. Audiences from small children to senior citizens have enjoyed the variety of styles skillfully displayed in their colorful and entertaining programs.

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.

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.

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.

As part of the 2018 Spring Puppet Forum Series, the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry at the University of Connecticut will present a discussion with Paul Spirito, Helder Mira, and Sarah Nolen on Thursday, April 26, 2018 at 7 p.m. in the Ballard Institute Theater, located at 1 Royce Circle in Downtown Storrs.

Director, puppeteer, and UConn Puppet Arts technical supervisor Paul Spirito, Hartford filmmaker Helder Mira, and puppeteer, filmmaker, and UConn Puppet Arts alumna Sarah Nolen discuss the process and dynamics of Spirito’s new puppet film Ancestral. The film, shot entirely on UConn’s Depot Campus by Spirito, Mira, Nolen and other UConn Puppet Arts Program students, tells the tale of an eccentric inventor, living in the shadow of his father’s failures, who overcomes the doubts of his community and reconnects his culture with its past. This forum is co-sponsored by the UConn Puppet Arts Program.

Paul Spirito began his career as an industrial designer in the toy industry, and then entered UConn’s Puppet Arts graduate program, completing his MFA in 2007, after which he became the program’s Puppetry Technical Supervisor. At UConn, Paul guides students through every step of the puppet making and performance process. His obsession with the people of the industrial age and interests in machinery are the driving forces behind much of his work. Paul hopes to push the art of puppetry forward by infusing traditional forms and techniques with 21^st-century materials and processes. He is the founder of the Hartford Art Sled Derby, an annual event celebrating the creativity and excitement of sliding down a snowy hill in an original creation–art sledding!

Independent filmmaker Helder Mira is a native of Hartford, CT. After producing video for the City of Hartford and Hartford Public Access Television, he started Rabbit Ears Media. He produced short pieces for the CT Forum, the Greater Hartford Arts Council, the Wadsworth Atheneum, and various music videos, and went on to work as second-unit director of photography on such features as The Last Intervention, Asockalypse, and Subconscious. In 2010, he wrote and directed Royal Comics, featuring the acting talents of frequent collaborators, Sea Tea Improv. The comedy short brought together his love for films, comedy, and comic book storytelling. He is currently the Multimedia Producer for the Office of Communications at Trinity College, where he produces videos about the engaging work of the college’s students, faculty, and alumni. Helder lives in Hartford, a city that introduced him to art and diversity of storytelling. His work is viewable at www.rabbitearsmedia.com.

Sarah Nolen is a puppeteer and filmmaker, originally from Austin, Texas. She has a Master of Fine Arts in Puppet Arts from UConn, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Cinema-Television from Southern Methodist University. In 2017, Sarah moved to Boston and is currently Puppet Showplace Theater’s third-ever resident artist. Sarah has performed as a puppeteer for the Boston Pops Orchestra, EnvisionFEST Hartford, and toured internationally with her own work, as well as part of the ensemble for Red Ball Theater’s Reverse Cascade. Her solo puppet works have been selected for the National Puppet Slams of 2013, 2014 and 2015. She has trained with Sesame Street’s Puppeteer Workshop, Sandglass Theater, and the National Puppetry Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. As a filmmaker, Sarah has worked as a production coordinator for nationally syndicated television shows on networks such as CMT & HGTV. Her television pilot, Treeples (2016) was selected to screen at film festivals around the country, including the Slamdance Film Festival and the Atlanta Film Festival. She was a 2015 recipient of The Mister Rogers Memorial Scholarship in support of this project. For more information on her puppetry work, visit www.sarahnolen.com.

Admission to this event is free (donations greatly appreciated!), and refreshments will be served. Come early, and experience our puppet exhibitions, as well as the video resources in our library nook. Visitors can park in the Storrs Center Garage located at 33 Royce Circle. Parking in the Storrs Center Garage is free for the first two hours and $1 per hour thereafter, with a daily maximum charge of $8. The discussion portion of this forum will be streamed via Facebook Live starting at approximately 7:25 p.m. Call 860-486-8580 for more information.

The Ballard Institute will be closed on Sunday, 4/1 for the Easter holiday.

Happy Easter!

As part of its 2018 Spring Puppet Performance Series, the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry at the University of Connecticut will present The Pied Piper of Hamelin by CactusHead Puppets on Saturday, April 14, 2018 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Ballard Institute Theater, located at 1 Royce Circle in Downtown Storrs.

The town of Hamelin has a rat problem, and there’s only one person who can help! CactusHead Puppets brings the story of The Pied Piper to life in this comedic, updated adaptation of the traditional folktale. Not only does the town find a musical solution to pest control, but the kids of Hamelin also teach the grownups a lesson about generosity. In the end, the townspeople all come together in celebration. Join puppeteers John and Megan Regan (both graduates of UConn’s Puppet Arts Program) as they present this classic tale, told with multiple puppetry styles, and plenty of dancing rats! The Pied Piper of Hamelin is 40 minutes long and is recommended for ages 4+, but all ages are welcome to attend.

CactusHead Puppets was started in 2010 by husband and wife team John and Megan Regan soon after they graduated from UConn. Since then they have created six shows based on favorite and familiar folktales, and have toured throughout the Northeast. Megan is originally from the Kansas City area, where she worked with Paul Mesner Puppets. John is from western Massachusetts, and is honored to be performing in some of the same venues where he saw puppet shows growing up. CactusHead Puppets also hosts the annual Paper City Puppet Slam in Holyoke, MA.

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 in the Storrs Center Garage 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, visit bimp.uconn.edu or call 860-486-8580.

As part of the 2018 Spring Puppet Forum Series, the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry will present a discussion with director Madeline Sayet and puppet designer Zach Broome entitled Direction and Collaboration: Making Theater with Actors and Puppets on Thursday, April 12, 2018 at 7 p.m. in the Ballard Institute Theater, located at 1 Royce Circle in Storrs Center.

Exciting young director, writer, performer, and educator Madeline Sayet, together with puppet designer and UConn Puppet Arts graduate student Zachary Broome discuss puppetry and the collaborative process in the making of Connecticut Repertory Theatre’s production of Qui Nguyen’s play She Kills Monsters, a performance which integrates traditional acting as well as elaborate costumes and puppets. This forum is co-sponsored by the Connecticut Repertory Theatre. 

She Kills Monsters, which runs from March 22 to March 31 at UConn’s Studio Theatre, finds an intriguing balance between comedy and themes of death and loss, while appealing to the geek in us all. After the loss of her little sister Tilly in a car accident, Agnes attempts to get to know her better through the Dungeons and Dragons notebook she left behind. Immersed in a wild adventure of a fantasy world full of monsters, homicidal fairies and elves, and 90s pop culture, Agnes learns more about her sister and the misunderstood gaming world she was a part of before she was abruptly taken away. Find out more and buy tickets by visiting crt.uconn.edu.

Madeline Sayet is a director of new plays, classics and opera, and was just named to Forbes magazine’s “30 under 30” List of “youthful visionaries” for 2018 in the category of Hollywood & Entertainment. She is a TED Fellow, MIT Media Lab Director’s Fellow, an O’Neill/Kennedy Center/NNPN National Directing Fellow and a Ph.D. candidate at the Shakespeare Institute (Stratford-upon-Avon, UK), where she is writing about Native representation in 21^st-century Shakespearean performance and the long history from which it stems. Sayet was the Resident Director at Amerinda (American Indian Artists) Inc. in New York from 2013-2016 where she developed new plays by Native playwrights and launched the Native American Shakespeare Ensemble. In 2011, she received The White House Champion of Change Award from President Barack Obama for her work as a writer, director, performer, and educator. Her work uses minimalist magical realism to interrogate questions of gendering and indigenous perspectives, and to reimagine classic plays to give voice to those that have been silenced. You can read more at www.madelinesayet.com.

Zach Broome is a graduate student pursuing an MFA degree in Puppet Arts at UConn. He has a background in technical theater and visual art and enjoys designing and fabricating puppets. Two of his puppets recently appeared in the gallery exhibit at the National Puppetry Festival in St. Paul, Minnesota. Zach hopes to find work that allows him to blend his love for puppetry, art, and traditional theater.

Admission to this event is free (donations greatly appreciated!), and refreshments will be served. Come early, and visit our new “American Puppet Modernism: The Early 20th Century” exhibition, as well as the video resources in our library nook. Visitors can park in the Storrs Center Garage located at 33 Royce Circle. Parking in the Storrs Center Garage is free for the first two hours and $1 per hour thereafter, with a daily maximum charge of $8. Forums will be broadcast via Facebook Live. Call 860-486-8580 for more information.

As part of its 2018 Spring Puppet Performance Series, the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry is pleased to welcome back Boston-area puppeteer and UConn Puppet Arts alumna Faye Dupras to perform I Spy Butterfly on March 24, 2018 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Ballard Institute Theater, located at 1 Royce Circle in Storrs Center.

How does a nature-loving explorer kid become a bug’s best friend? Find out in this delightful eco-story about the ways we all grow and change. When Trudy’s caterpillar friend Harold suddenly transforms into a chrysalis, she’s determined to do the same. Just when she is about to give up hope, she learns that her tiny friend needs her now more than ever. Live music, colorful critters, and oodles of audience interaction make this show a fun ecological romp in the wild! This show is 45 minutes long and is recommended for ages 3+ (but all ages are welcome to attend!).

Faye Dupras is a theater artist who began her puppet journey over twenty years ago when she met and apprenticed under her childhood hero, puppeteer Noreen Young. Since then she has performed around the world and has worked as a director, designer, and educator throughout Eastern Canada and the United States. In 2004 Faye founded Foreign Landscapes Productions, a company whose mission it to produce and tour engaging original puppet shows for peoples of all ages. Critics have described Faye’s award winning shows as “spellbinding,” “imaginative,” and “powerful.” Faye is excited to return to her alma mater to perform her new work.

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 in the Storrs Center Garage 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, call 860-486-8580.