From: CzechMarionettes-AT-aol.com
Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2006 00:17:37 EDT
To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Largerican puppllection?


In a message dated 4/8/2006 11:51:17 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
BiersBlackwood-AT-aol.com writes:
The question about puppet collections and the answers, including references 
to props and set pieces, reminds me of the query about back drops from the 
 etc. (see full text at bottom.) 
Dear Sean K.

1.  The person who had inquired about backdrops (ffantona-AT-yahoo.coml ) 
actually asked about borrowing if possible, before she asked about making new ones.

2.  There is a Free Puppet Library (mostly large paper mache puppets) inside 
the Grand Army Plaza Sailors' and Soldiers' Memorial Arch in Brooklyn, NY. run 
by the ever so selfless and generous Theresa Linnihan & Sarah Peattie of 
Puppeteers' Cooperative (the former also Associate Director of 
Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre or CAMT).  http://www.gis.net/~puppetco/ 

3. As some of you may know, CAMT uses marionettes some of which are over a 
century old (and some of them possibly as much as one-hundred-and-eighty, yes, 
you heard right, one-eight-zero years old).  These marvels made from linden 
wood are actually more resilient than the controls we made for them some 16 years 
ago when we started using them.  They had been  used by several generations 
of amateur and semi-professional puppeteers before they took a half-a-century 
sleeping beauty nap starting in mid 1930s.  No, we don't let them out, except 
for exceptional film or photo shoots, but should our company cease to exist, I 
hope someone will keep them on stage, even after a possible period of 
temporary retirement in a museum display case.

Since our shows return in a rotating repertory every four years or so, we 
wouldn't let others use our backdrops: made of light canvas, they are much less 
durable than the marionettes. 

Vit Horejs
Artistic Director
THE CZECHOSLOVAK-AMERICAN MARIONETTE THEATRE

coming soon to your neighborhood's Memorial Arch 
(Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn) 
"Bass Saxophone" 
based on a story by Josef Skvorecky 
In wartime Czechoslovakia occupied by Nazis, young jazz lovers risk their 
lives to play prohibited swing music
May 27-June 25, Saturdays 2 & 7 pm, Sundays 2 & 5 pm
Tix 212-868-4444 www.SmartTix.com
czechmarionettes-AT-aol.com http://www.czechmarionettes.org 212-777-3891

In a message dated 4/8/2006 11:51:17 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
BiersBlackwood-AT-aol.com writes:
The question about puppet collections and the answers, including references 
to props and set pieces, reminds me of the query about back drops from the 
other day.   I wonder if the person who was looking for someone to make a 
backdrop 
would be interested in making use of one that already exists, and may have 
been used in a puppet production many years, and perhaps decades, ago.   

And I wonder, too, if any collection or theatre that has such backdrops 
either on display or rolled up in storage would be interested in having the 
piece 
(or other set pieces) used or rented out to a new show.

I ask this because I personally like the idea of keeping theatrical elements 
in show as long as possible... I have some puppets that are well over a 
century old which I hope to use in a show sometime this year or next, and 
even my 
puppet booth is of a certain vintage, the wooden frame covered with still 
beautiful blue velvet roundings.   So I wonder if any of the collections 
mentioned 
might have a program, or consider the possibility, of loaning or renting out 
backdrops, frames, set pieces, puppets, etc., to other groups for an agreed 
upon 
term.

Just a thought... it would be interesting to hear what others think.    Sean.K
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