From: Robert Smythe <robertsmythe-AT-mumpuppet.org>
Subject: Re: PUPT: RE: Puppetry awards
Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2004 00:33:48 -0500


On Feb 2, 2004, at 3:23 PM, Will Stackman wrote:

> There's a hidden suggestion in this discussion which
> might be a way to get the "professional" theatre to
> pay more attention to "real" puppeteers.  The PofA or
> even a regional guild should establish an annual award
> for "the best use of puppetry on the legitimate
> stage."


If the "professional" stage doesn't recognize "real" puppetry now, why 
would it recognize some award given out by its practitioners? That 
doesn't make a lot of sense.

However, I would suggest that it is possible to take the old "if you 
can't beat 'em, join 'em" approach. Mum Puppettheatre, as a member of 
the Theater Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, participates in the 
annual Barrymore Awards for Outstanding Theater program, which 
evaluates the work of over 60 member theaters and 100 productions each 
year.  To date, Mum has won 13 Barrymore awards, including a sweep of 5 
for Equus in 2002 (for Outstanding Play, Director, Ensemble, 
Choreography and Supporting Actor). And let's not forget that Ronnie 
Burkett, a puppeteer, has won Toronto's major acting awards.

And I've noticed, in the past five years or so that we've had more of a 
presence in Philadelphia theater: there are so many puppets on stages 
now that it is barely remarked upon.

I think it is possible to moan about not being noticed or stand up and 
get noticed. Just do the latter in the right place.

Robert



--- StripMime Warning --  MIME attachments removed --- 
This message may have contained attachments which were removed.

Sorry, we do not allow attachments on this list.

--- StripMime Report -- processed MIME parts --- 
multipart/alternative
  text/plain (text body -- kept)
  text/enriched
---


  --- Personal replies to: Robert Smythe <robertsmythe-AT-mumpuppet.org>
  --- List replies to:     puptcrit-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
  --- Admin commands to:   majordomo-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
  --- Archives at:         http://lists.village.virginia.edu/~spoons