From: Stephen Kaplin <skactw-AT-tiac.net>
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Date: Mon, 5 Apr 2010 23:52:38 -0400
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] whose work got you going?


Dear Steve,

  Lucky You!  You found some good mentors.

I ran the lights for Bruce when he can to UCONN in the late 70's.  
Watching the shows from the board backs stage, I got to watch him from  
high up and over his right shoulder. I was so fascinated with his  
extraordinary technique that I was late on several cues. Needless to  
say, he did not ask me to tour with him.

I think one thing that marks the field of puppetry is the need for a  
good solid  master/apprenticeship relationship with a mentor. At least  
for those of us not fortunate enough to be born sons and daughters of  
professional puppeteers.


Stephen

Kuang-Yu Fong
Executive Director
Chinese Theatre Works
(718) 457-1627
chinesetheatreworks-AT-gmail.com








On Apr 5, 2010, at 6:24 PM, Steven Barr wrote:

> I can claim I'm an american puppeteer between 50 and 55, who was not
> influenced in my early days by either Henson or Bread and Puppet.  My
> transformation from elementary school teacher in spokane, WA to mime
> student in Paris was an abrupt shock in every way imaginable, I had no
> TV for many years and I couldn't afford to see Bread and Puppet in
> Paris  because they always played in expensive theatres. It was a 9
> month stint with Tears of Joy near Portland that got me initiated with
> puppetry-- but i still didn't ever want to 'be' a puppeteer-- too much
> work not enough art. Back in France, ironically, I was ask to tour
> with Bruce Schwartz's Euro tour (me and him). So, I got to set up,
> then run the shows (lights and sound) about 52 times in a 3 month
> period in 3 countries. I'm certain it was this experience that got me
> hooked into the kind of artistic statements with puppets I had not
> thought possible ( I don't think I have ever been so moved by puppets
> since). But it was with Jean Loup Temporal that I found my mentor.
> This guy was the type of guy I wanted to be as a person-- open and
> generous, kind and instructive to everyone,  funny as hell (I don't
> claim I have achieved it yet). He as a person was more than himself as
> puppeteer. He was an artist, and he gave me my space and motivated me
> to create my own 'voice' with puppets. Later, Philipe Genty was a big
> mentor, and then Mr. Henson himself, both of whom I met in charleville
> in workshops and spent many weeks learning things from.
>
> -Steven Ritz-Barr
> Visiting Professor, Animation, UCLA School of Theater, Film and  
> Television
> Owner, Classics in Miniature, Inc. <www.classicsinminiature.com>
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