From RPGs to Puppetry, Creating Characters that Last
Summary:
Let seasoned improviser and puppeteer Aaron Beasley lead you to creating believable characters with strong viewpoints and personalities that can carry you through scene-work or your RPG life!
Would you like to get a start making puppets or other crafty things, but don't quite have a grasp on sewing by hand? Good news! This sewing for beginners workshop is perfect for you!
Description:
You'll learn lots of different hand-stitches, & of course you'll get to practice them. You'll leave with a collection of labeled stitches in a book (that you make) & instructions on how to achieve them at home. We'll get through as many stitches as we can in our 2 hours. You'll even learn a couple of tricks for threading needles & tying knots. The instructor, Stacey Gordon, has been sewing by hand since she was much shorter than she currently stands, & she stopped growing a long, long, long time ago.
Victor Yerrid, Master Puppeteer & founding member of Jim Henson’s Puppet Up! leads this puppet improv extravaganza. Participants will perform in a series of games & exercises. Big fun, limited spots!
Description:
Improvisation is the ultimate tool to free up your acting. Nearly every puppet show ever created has benefitted from some form of improv, and the more facile your skillset, the more in-demand you will be as a performer. Good improv will help you develop characters, audition stronger, and ultimately become a better actor. PLUS, it’s waaaaay easier than learning a bunch of lines. Just ask Matin Sheen of West Wing fame. He was once quoted as saying “Man, I wish I was a puppeteer who could improvise. That would be a much better job than having to memorize all of this stupid political jargon. I’m Martin Sheen.” So, if you like puppets and don’t want to get stuck working on dialogue heavy scenes with Bradley Whitford and Allison Janney, then come learn how to improvise with puppets. It could be the best life decision you will ever make!
Make a moving-mouth sandwich puppet with puppeteer, Stacey Gordon. Seriously, this will be the greatest, no-calorie sandwich you will ever make. Gluten free.
Description:
Puppeteer, Stacey Gordon will guide you through making a moving-mouth sandwich puppet. You'll learn skills that can take you into puppet building beyond sandwiches, but why not begin (or continue) your puppet building journey with a delightful lunchtime treat. Sandwiches are inedible & not sentient and are guaranteed to not murder or your money back. Glue gun skills required (use at own risk). No sewing required. All sandwich fixin's included in workshop price!
Making Connections Through Puppetry: Puppetry for Parents & Educators
Summary:
Learn how puppets can be an effective learning tool and bridge for communication and motivation with neurotypical and neurodiverse populations. Puppet included!
Description:
Making Connections Through Puppetry is a professional development workshop series that teaches educators, therapists, counselors and parents how to use puppets when working with neurodiverse and neurotypical children. Puppetry can be used as an effective learning tool and bridge for communication and motivation. Applied skills with puppetry include: joint attention, pretend play, social/emotional learning, de-escalation, impulse control, emotional regulation & more. Professional puppeteer Lindsey “Z.” Briggs will teach participants the basics of puppetry performance and technique as well as discuss ways to utilize puppets to make connections with children, especially those who can be hard to reach, and build bridges of trust, kindness and joy. Each participant will receive a unique customized puppet to use throughout the workshop and in their work going forward.
This hands-on puppeteering workshop is perfect for beginning & early-intermediate puppeteers, librarians, teachers, or anyone who just wants a refresher on their puppetry skills.
Description:
Learn what makes puppetry such a magical experience & why puppeteer Stacey Gordon is passionate about teaching others to be effective storytellers, communicators, counselors, & educators through puppetry. In this workshop you will be led through skills such as focus, breathing, posture, movement, lip sync, listening, & emotion to help make your characters come alive & your audiences more receptive.
Learn how to make an amazing finger puppet using needle felting with wool. Participants will receive a needle felting kit to keep.
Description:
Have you heard about needle felting and always wanted to try it? Have you done some need felting but want to bring your skills up to the next level? Join Z. Briggs of WonderSpark Puppets as she leads you step-by-step through the process of making your very own finger puppet. Each participant will receive a needle felting kit that includes a felting pad and needles, as well as access to lots of colored wool for your project.
Let Steve Troop help you transform your ideas into a fully-realized sketch of your puppet/character design. Participants will observe the design process and get tips on how to design better characters
Description:
This event is for anyone needing personalized assistance with character designs whether it be for puppetry or illustrations. Come with an idea, concept, or even a sketch, and professional designer/illustrator, Steve Troop will help you refine your idea into something fantastic! Designs may be provided on paper, or will be emailed to you after the workshop.
Play around with other puppeteers on-camera & get in some practice doing improv & camera work in a group-setting. Come to play or just to watch the fun, it's up to you! Bring a puppet!
Description:
Extra time goofing around with an audience & watching seasoned pros perform is one of the best learning opportunities--but even if you're not interested in learning, it's great fun to watch puppeteers improvise with puppets on camera. Whether you choose to watch from the audience, or get up on stage alongside seasoned professionals, you won't regret spending your evening at Monitor playtime! Bring your own puppets or use ours. Bring a puppet!
Learn to draw expressive characters from basic shapes to make dynamic and fun drawings! Draw along with Steve Troop & learn to bring this skill into puppetry design, cartoon illustration, or comics.
Description:
Professional cartoonist, Steve Troop, will lead you through drawing basic shapes and transforming them into dynamic characters for illustration, puppetry, and beyond! Draw along with Steve for your Saturday Morning Cartoons!