Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:09:54 EST
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: [Puptcrit] halloween puppet show


When we started blue sky puppet theatre 35 years ago we made a good  part of  
our living doing political satire street shows here in washington  dc. After 
the 1980 reagan election when things just didn't seem funny  anymore and we 
had families to support we made the somewhat easy decision  to devote ourselves 
entirely to the childrens/family market. Although I  have no regret, totally 
loving the young audience, in the back of my head the  politics kept nagging at 
me, particularly a few years ago when cheney shot the  lawyer.  I was walking 
near dupont circle on a beautiful spring day  and there was no doubt in my 
mind  how much fun a street show would  be. 
 
Anyway, for the last 15 years we've done an adult/older child  horror  show 
in our backyard for halloween. It's our one chance of the year to be  
completely politically (as in school boards) incorrect. With the election just 4  days 
after halloween it seemed a natural to do some sort of political  bloodbath.  
Luckily I wasn't the only one who thrives on new material. Don  Becker is a 
terrific local puppet builder and part time puppeteer who agreed to  make the 
one night show puppets of the candidates. They are between 12 and  20" and are 
feather light. We had a volunteer dream cast including another  local 
builder/puppeteer/NPR producer Barry Gordemer,  local voice  over 
artist/puppeteer/comedian Jan Johns and Don's daughter Maddie rounding  out the performers. 
 
The resulting show, performed 10 times that night for a neighborhood crowd  
of 400 lined up in the driveway, was amateur videoed and we put it up on you  
tube to share with interested folks. Please feel free to pass it on to anyone  
who might be interested. We're a little curious to see if it can get viral but 
 really only did it for the fun. 
 
check out don's website at _www.dbpuppet.com_ (http://www.dbpuppet.com)   for 
some unusual  and artistic creations and 
barry's at _www.handemonium.com_ (http://www.handemonium.com)  he  has some 
really great looking politicos being used in Las Vegas there as well!  

hope you enjoy! 
_http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh-nGJHjmDU_ 
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh-nGJHjmDU) 
 
michael cotter
director 
blue sky puppet theatre
_www.blueskypuppets.com_ (http://www.blueskypuppets.com) 
_drama711-AT-aol.com_ (mailto:drama711-AT-aol.com)   love to hear  what you thought 
about the show
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