For its 2018 Spring Puppet Forum Series, the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry at the University of Connecticut will host four free scintillating discussions with puppeteers, historians, directors, and builders on Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. in Feb. through April at in the Ballard Institute Theater, located at 1 Royce Circle in Storrs Center. These forums will illuminate new perspectives on the creation, history, aesthetics, and performance of puppetry today. The Spring Puppet Forum schedule will include the following talks:

Feb. 8: Nurturing New Work for Puppet Theater: the Jim Henson Foundation with Cheryl Henson, Richard Termine, Z Briggs, and Leslee Asch

Join Jim Henson Foundation President Cheryl Henson, board members Leslee Asch and Richard Termine (a Puppet Arts Program alumnus), and foundation manager Z Briggs (also a Puppet Arts alumna) in a discussion about the foundation’s dynamic methods of supporting innovative new puppet productions across the United States.

 March 1: American Puppet Modernism: The Early 20th Century with Steve Abrams, John Bell, and Bart. P. Roccoberton, Jr.

In conjunction with the Ballard Institute’s new American Puppet Modernism exhibition, Puppetry Journal editor Steve Abrams, Puppet Arts Program Director Bart. P. Roccoberton, Jr., and Ballard Institute Director John Bell discuss the fascinating history of early 20th-century puppetry in the U.S., from cross-country touring shows to giant inflatable puppets, avant-garde operas and other ground-breaking innovations.

April 12: Direction and Collaboration: Making Theater with Actors and Puppets with Madeline Sayet and Zach Broome

Exciting young director, writer, performer, and educator Madeline Sayet, together with puppet designer and Puppet Arts graduate student Zachary Broome discuss puppetry and the collaborative process in the making of Connecticut Repertory Theatre’s Spring 2018 production of She Kills Monsters. This forum is co-sponsored by the Connecticut Repertory Theatre.

April 26: Puppets and Film: Paul Spirito’s Ancestral with Paul Spirito

Director, puppeteer, and Puppet Arts technical supervisor Paul Spirito discusses the process and dynamics of his new puppet film Ancestral, shot entirely on UConn’s Depot Campus.

Admission to these events 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. Forums will be broadcast via Facebook Live. Visit bimp.uconn.edu or call 860-486-8580 for more information.

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 Cheryl Henson, Leslee Asch, Lindsey “Z” Briggs, and Richard Termine titled Nurturing New Work for Puppet Theater: The Jim Henson Foundation on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018 at 7 p.m. in the Ballard Institute Theater, located at 1 Royce Circle in Storrs Center.

Join Jim Henson Foundation President Cheryl Henson, board members Leslee Asch and Richard Termine (a Puppet Arts Program alumnus), and foundation manager Lindsey “Z” Briggs (also a Puppet Arts alumna) in a discussion about the foundation’s dynamic methods of supporting innovative new puppet productions across the United States.

The Jim Henson Foundation was founded in 1982 by Muppets creator Jim Henson to promote and develop the art of puppetry in the United States. Each year the Foundation introduces thousands of adults and families to the magic of puppet theater through grant-making and public awareness efforts. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded over 900 grants to more than 300 American puppet artists for the creation and development of new work. As the only grant-making institution with a mission to promote puppetry in the United States, The Jim Henson Foundation has become a major advocate and resource for puppet artists.

Cheryl Henson is the President of The Jim Henson Foundation and a member of the Board of Directors of The Jim Henson Company. Cheryl was Executive Producer for the Henson International Festival of Puppet Theater.

Leslee Asch has been a member of the Board of Directors of The Jim Henson Foundation since 1984. Leslee was Producing Director for the Henson International Festival of Puppet Theater.

Lindsey “Z” Briggs is the Foundation Manager of The Jim Henson Foundation, Co-Artistic Director of WonderSpark Puppets, and has been working as a professional puppeteer since 2004.

Richard Termine has served as a trustee of The Jim Henson Foundation since 1987 and is currently its Vice President. He worked as a puppet designer and builder for The Jim Henson Company, and is currently a performing arts photographer who has photographed many of the world’s leading performers and puppet artists.

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. Forums will be broadcast via Facebook Live. Call 860-486-8580 for more information.

The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry at the University of Connecticut will host its Spring Puppet Performance Series on four Saturdays from February to May 2018, featuring outstanding works for puppet theater by professional puppeteers from across the Northeast and beyond. Each show will be performed twice, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. All performances will take place at the Ballard Institute Theater, located at 1 Royce Circle in Storrs Center. Productions and dates include:

February 24: Plastic by Puzzle Theatre — What is more surprising than a plastic-bag world, where funny and colorful creatures are born and transform themselves as much as they like? In this special international performance, Montreal-based Puzzle Theatre offers an original, multicolored performance with unusual puppets created on the spot with plastic bags, filled humor and unexpected situations. Recommended for ages 5+.
 

March 24: I Spy Butterfly by Faye Dupras — How does a nature-loving explorer kid become a bug’s best friend? Find out in this delightful eco-story by UConn Puppet Arts alumna Faye Dupras 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. Live music, colorful critters, and oodles of audience interaction make this show a fun ecological romp in the wild! Recommended for ages 3+ (but all ages are welcome to attend!). 

April 14: The Pied Piper of Hamelin by CactusHead Puppets — The town of Hamelin has a rat problem, and there’s only one person who can help! CactusHead Puppets, comprised of UConn Puppet Arts alumni Megan and John Regan, brings the story of The Pied Piper to life in this comedic, updated adaptation of the traditional folktale told with multiple puppetry styles and plenty of dancing rats! Recommended for ages 4+ (but all ages are welcome to attend!).

May 12: Rumplestiltskin by Stevens Puppets — Performed by famed marionette theater company Stevens Puppets, Rumplestiltskin is a fast-paced, action-filled, rhyming rendition of the classic tale, following the Miller as he weaves a web of lies to convince the King that his daughter can spin straw into gold! Enter the outrageously outspoken and never-happy villain, Rumplestiltskin, whose preposterous demands create even more mayhem in the land of Stiltskin. Recommended for all ages.

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.

All sales are final — there are no refunds

The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry and the UConn Puppet Arts Program will present the 2018 UConn Winter Puppet Slam on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018 at 8 p.m. in UConn’s Studio Theatre located at 802 Bolton Road, Storrs, Conn. 06269. The UConn Winter Puppet Slam will feature short works by professional puppeteers and performers from around New England, including Bonnie Duncan, Jim Napolitano, John O’Donnell, and Paul Spirito, as well as new works for puppet and object theater by students from UConn’s School of Fine Arts.

UConn Puppet Slams provide an opportunity for established artists and neophyte students alike to try out new and experimental work in all areas of object performance before an audience eager to experience exciting puppetry in all its forms. The 2018 Winter Slam will include Boston-based dancer and puppeteer Bonnie Duncan performing Seraphina, a dark and sexy love story between two hands, presented on a table top. Popular Connecticut-based puppeteer Jim Napolitano (a UConn Puppet Arts alumnus) will perform I Hate Brenda using an innovative projection format, “Way Yang Zerox,” that Napolitano invented with fellow puppeteer Tim Lagasse. Napolitano will also present Bedtime Story with Uncle Nappy, a cautionary tale of procreation. Paul Spirito, UConn Puppet Arts technical supervisor and director of online programs, will be experimenting with combining poetry with objects from the natural world. New media artist John O’Donnell, professor of printmaking in UConn’s Department of Art and Art History, will present Ghost of a Wall, a timely performance piece with elaborate costumes, music, and stacks of boxes. The UConn Winter Puppet Slam will also feature new works by UConn graduate and undergraduate students studying puppetry, digital animation, and stop-motion filmmaking. Funding for the UConn Winter Puppet Slam is made possible in part by the HBH Fund, created by Heather Henson.

The UConn Winter Puppet Slam is free and open to the public; donations are greatly appreciated. Seating is limited and is on a first-come, first served basis. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. The event will take place in UConn’s Studio Theatre located at 802 Bolton Rd, Storrs, Conn. For directions to the Studio Theatre, visit crt.uconn.edu/directions/. These performances are recommended for mature audiences. For more information, call the Ballard Institute at 860-486-8580, visit bimp.uconn.edu, or email us at bimp@uconn.edu.

The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry will be closed:

Friday, December 22 through Tuesday, December 26

Saturday, December 30 through Thursday, January 4

Happy Holidays!

As part of its Fall Puppet Performance Series, the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry at the University of Connecticut will present Santa Got Fired and Other Silly Stories by Nappy’s Puppets on December 2, 2017 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Ballard Institute Theater, located at 1 Royce Circle in Storrs Center.

You will delight in the wonder of Nappy’s Puppet’s holiday show, Santa Got Fired and Other Silly Stories as Jim “Nappy” Napolitano tells the tale of how Santa got his job, as well as other fun and silly shadow puppet stories. This show is designed to entertain, inspire and educate the audience on the range and scope of puppetry as an art form.  This show is 45 minutes long and is recommended for ages 3 and up.

Acclaimed Connecticut puppeteer Jim Napolitano, an alumnus of UConn Puppet Arts Program, is well known for his television credits, including Between the Lions on PBS, The Book of Pooh on the Disney Channel, and the cartoon Kirby on Fox.

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 its Fall Puppet Forum Series, the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry at the University of Connecticut will present Mascots!: Sports Spectacle in the 21st Century, with nationally recognized mascot performer AJ Mass and mascot performer/builder David Raymond, on Dec. 7, 2017 at 7 p.m. in the Ballard Institute Theater, located at 1 Royce Circle in Storrs Center. This event coincides with the Ballard Institute’s exhibition, Mascots! Mask Performance in the 21st Century, which is on display in the Ballard Museum now through Feb. 11, 2018.

Mascot spectacle reaches millions of Americans on a daily basis in sporting events throughout the country. How and why do sports mascots inspire and enthrall modern audiences? Join mascot builders and performers David Raymond and AJ Mass as they explain the magic of mascot performance.

AJ Mass was born and raised in Flushing, New York, and studied broadcast journalism at Syracuse University. He performed as the New York Mets’ Mr. Met for four years, and also with an off-Broadway improvisational comedy troupe. AJ taught theater arts to schoolchildren in the tri-state area before moving to New Jersey. He wrote about sports for TalentedMrRoto.com, capturing the attention of ESPN.com, which then began to publish his column on a weekly basis. In 2007, AJ joined the staff of ESPN.com full-time as a proud member of the ESPN Fantasy Sports team. AJ’s first book, How Fantasy Sports Explains the World: What Pujols and Peyton Can Teach Us About Wookiees and Wall Street, was published in August of 2011. His second book, Yes, It’s Hot in Here: Adventures in the Weird, Woolly World of Sports Mascots, was incredibly well received in April of 2014. The buzz surrounding this effort attracted the attention of Academy Award-winning film director Errol Morris, who made AJ the centerpiece of his 2015 documentary short, Being Mr. Met.

David Raymond pioneered the field of sports mascots with his innovative performance of the world-renowned Phillie Phanatic in 1978. He was the original Phanatic, and his vision and performance skills spawned a revolution in the mascot industry, leading sportscaster and baseball analyst Tim McCarver to name the Phanatic the “best mascot in baseball” in 1993. Creating fan adoration, brand leadership and sponsorship opportunities for the Phillies and the Phanatic for 16 years catapulted Raymond into the world of character branding. As the nation’s leading market consultant for character branding on and off the field, court, or in the board room, Raymond has worked with over 250 sports teams and companies across the nation through his company Raymond Entertainment Group (REG), based in West Grove, Pennsylvania. In 2006 David co-founded the Fun Department, a team-building company that specializes in low-cost employee engagement for the purposes of morale, retention, health and productivity. Raymond has been profiled by CNN, Sports Illustrated, the New York Times, HBO, SiriusXM and NPR.

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. Forums will be broadcast via Facebook Live. Call 860-486-8580 for more information or visit bimp.uconn.edu.

As part of its Fall Puppet Performance Series, the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry will present Sleeping Beauty by Tanglewood Marionettes on November 4, 2017 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Ballard Institute Theater, located at 1 Royce Circle in Storrs Center.

A classic tale that appeals to children of all ages, Sleeping Beauty begins in King Felix’s great hall with the celebration of Princess Aurora’s birth. The party goes awry when the Wicked Witch arrives and curses the princess. Will the curse come true? Will someone with a “true heart” appear? Join us as Tanglewood Marionettes performs this beloved fairy tale with beautifully handcrafted marionettes brought to life by a master puppeteer. Recommended for ages 4+.

Founded in 1993 by Anne Ware and Peter Schaefer, Tanglewood Marionettes is a nationally touring marionette theater based in New England. Their repertoire consists primarily of classic tales performed by skilled puppeteers who have spent many years perfecting their art. The company’s large, beautifully handcrafted marionettes, colorful sets, and integrated lighting and sound create a fully immersive theatrical experience. Tanglewood Marionettes has received two Citations for Excellence in the Art of Puppetry from UNIMA-USA (the American center of the Union International de la Marionette).

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 2017 Fall Puppet Forum Series, the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry at the University of Connecticut will present a discussion with puppet scholar and historian Matthew Cohen entitled Puppet Riches: The Angst Collection at Yale University on November 30, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. in the Ballard Institute Theater, located at 1 Royce Circle in Storrs Center.

Dr. Cohen, equally acclaimed as a puppet scholar and rod-puppet master, will discuss the rich and exciting details of the new Dr. Walter Angst and Sir Henry Angest collection of over 20,000 Javanese rod puppets and shadow figures at the Yale University Art Gallery—the world’s largest collection of Indonesian puppets.

Matthew Isaac Cohen is Professor of International Theatre and Director of the Centre for Asian Theatre and Dance at Royal Holloway, University of London. He is a historian and anthropologist of Southeast Asian theater and world puppetry, and performs wayang kulit (shadow puppet theatre) under the nom-de-stage of Ki Kanda Buwana, a royal title and name given by the royal court of Kacirebonan of West Java, Indonesia. He has held visiting appointments and fellowships at Sanata Dharma University in Indonesia, the University of Malaya in Malaysia, the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences and the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry. In the fall of 2017, he is a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Yale University Art Gallery, researching and helping to curate the Angst collection. Dr. Cohen’s most recent book is Inventing the Performing Arts: Modernity and Tradition in Colonial Indonesia (University of Hawaii Press, 2016).

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. Forums will be broadcast via Facebook Live. Call 860-486-8580 for more information or visit bimp.uconn.edu.