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| The official publication of the Garden State Puppetry Guild, chartered by Puppeteers of America. |
| PUPPETS GATHERING: Guild News |
| A Letter from the President
Most of my friends and family think it�s ironic that I spend so much time behind the wheel of a car. Not only do I drive to my puppet jobs, but my part-time job requires me to be on the road too. I use driving directions with maps I get from the internet. The problem is I have to keep looking at the printed directions and search for street signs while trying to watch the road. Then I purchased a global positioning system (GPS) to use in the car. Now a computer voice tells me when to turn and shows me a map at all times on a small screen. It even tells me when I will arrive at my destination. These tools help me to get where I�m going with much less trouble and stress. Too bad life doesn�t offer maps or GPS. It would be so much easier if a little voice could tell me which way to turn and what direction I should go to get me to my destination. That way I could try to focus on what is happening in the present instead of trying to think a few steps ahead. That would be especially helpful for the Guild. Then I�d know what projects to put the most effort into and which ones could be put on hold for a while. So many members have great ideas for the guild and it would be fantastic to do everything, but every project takes time and manpower. The Guild needs to choose the projects that will give our organization the best return for effort put forth. I�m confident that GSPG will be working on some exciting projects in the near future that will yield success for individuals and for the Guild as a whole. OK, maybe having a map or GPS for life wouldn�t be so great after all. I might miss out on some excitement by always knowing the �right� thing to do. Sometimes doing the �wrong� thing can turn out better than expected and often times a lot more fun. Have a great summer everyone! Penny J. Rapicano, President |
| Minutes of the Most Recent Meeting The May 19th, 2007 meeting of Garden State Puppetry Guild was called to order by the President Penny Rapicano. The first item discussed was National Day of Puppetry (NDOP) and Penny mentioned that some of the promises made to our Guild were not kept by the Freehold 4-H liaison. For that reason, Betty Somerville will be checking with the Somerset County 4-H to see if we could hold NDOP at their facility next year in April. Steve Hollow suggested a web-cast be set up if we have the NDOP in Somerset next year. NDOP could then be broadcast from a cable company and shouldn't cost the Guild any money. Lois Corwin suggested that guild members create a piece from the lyric workshop scenario and songs and perform that piece at the Penny Pretzel Playhouse. Steve said that he might be able to offer $250 for the expenses of making such a show from the Playhouse funds. Penny enumerated the upcoming festivals. It was noted that some members traveled over 50 miles to Atlantic Highlands to the meeting. Lois requested that next year some meeting or meetings be held in or around Teaneck in northern NJ. Steve reported that he sent out letters to every person that had ever joined the GSPG. Penny suggested that we all try the philosophy of "Each one, reach one" to build our dwindling membership. Everyone in attendance, however, paid their dues and the performers of The Paper Moon were given complementary memberships for inviting us to their lovely performance of Mozart's The Magic Flute. Other ideas presented for building membership and advertising the Guild were: advertise at colleges, give a show to recruit new members, and/or create a 30 second promo video for YouTube or Facebook. Lois volunteered her rendition of The History of Puppetry to use in advertising or as a demo or promo. Lois volunteered to have a summer picnic for the board and officers of GSPG and also to contact Marshall Katzman about showing the membership some video techniques for puppeteers. Respectfully submitted, Lois Corwin, Vice President |
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| Garden State Puppetry Guild Needs YOU!
When the summer is over and GSPG meets again in September we will have the election of new officers. Please think about how you can contribute to the Guild by becoming involved as an officer. The current officers will be working over the summer months to secure meeting dates and programs for next year so that the new group of elected officials can focus on other projects. If you are interested in becoming a candidate for any office, please contact Penny at [email protected] or call her at (973) 586-8412. |
| This year�s National Day of Puppetry event was another great success. We moved the event to the beautiful facilities of the Monmouth County 4-H in Freehold, New Jersey. The program consisted of two hours of puppetry performances and instruction by guild members and young 4-H members.
Willy Somerville donned a giant puppet named Big Girl who had a friendly face and a head that looked like the sun. Big Girl greeted everyone as they entered the building for the event. Steven Hollow and one of his puppet creations served as Master of Ceremonies for the day. Steven and his friend entertained the audience between performances and made sure that the event kept rolling along without a hitch. Monmouth County Freeholder, Barbara Mc Morrow, presented a proclamation to the GSPG and Ellen Williams of the Monmouth County 4-H, naming April 28, 2007 as National Day of Puppetry in Monmouth County. After the presentation we got right into the performances. First up was Metamorphosis, a performance using large puppets by the Pretty Cool 4-H Puppeteers of Somerset County. Guild member Betty Somerville is the director of this group of young, enthusiastic puppeteers. Then Paul Fantini performed a funny and engaging hand puppet show, The Princess & the Huge, Gigantic, Enormous Boulder. Willy Somerville was back in action next when he and Penny Rapicano demonstrated puppets and gave members of the audience an opportunity to try a hand puppet or marionette. After a short intermission Lois Corwin performed an African folk tale with hand puppets and was joined by a very lively dancing giant. Monmouth County 4-H�er Nicklas Waladkewics did a charming presentation on his favorite puppeteer Shari Lewis. Rounding out the day was Penny Rapicano with a marionette performance. Special thanks everyone who took part in National Day of Puppetry 2007. It was a great day in Freehold. The audience loved seeing the variety of puppets and performances. Who knows, maybe some of the young audience members will become puppeteers of the future. |
| National Day of Puppetry April 28th, 2007 |
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| Pictures from NDOP |
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| LINKS IN THE CHAIN: Member News |
| San D. Hasselman, Promoting Puppetry Education
Garden State Puppetry Guild member San D Hasselman is passing her love for puppets onto her students at Arthur L. Johnson High School. Her puppetry class is in the second year, and has also spawned a very successful puppetry club, affectionately called �The Squirrelly Boys.� The one semester class covers modified sock puppets, foam puppets, big mouth puppets, shadow puppets and marionettes. Students not only learn how to build puppets, but write scripts and perform, using head mics, behind a puppet stage. For the second year in a row, the puppetry club has performed at the local Teen Arts Festival, receiving high marks and moving on to the state level. This year�s production of a truncated Wizard of Oz received top marks from Susie Speidel, Education Director at Papermill Playhouse and judge at the Union County Teen Arts Festival. The show combined modified sock puppets, big mouth puppets, and shadow puppets. The puppet club also performs at the annual Key Club Holiday Show and the town of Clark�s tree trimming festivities. They also go to elementary schools to perform and do workshops. This year the students worked with Mrs. Novy and her elementary students at Lincoln School in Garwood. San D Hasselman and one of her head puppeteers plan to attend the Puppetry Rampage festival in Minneapolis this summer. They look forward to returning with many new ideas to share with the classes and the puppetry club. |
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| Paul Fantini at the 4-H Fair
Good news from Storybook Puppet Theater! Guild member Paul Fantini, creative director and primary puppeteer at Storybook, has been engaged by the Somerset County 4-H Association to perform at their annual fair on Thursday, August 16th at 11:00 am. The performance will take place in the "Prep Tent" at the Somerset County 4-H Fairgrounds just north of the Ted Blum Somerset County 4-H Center at 310 Milltown Road, Bridgewater, NJ 08870. If your schedule allows, please take a moment to enjoy some of Paul�s recent work. He would b e happy to hear what you thought...good, bad, or indifferent. If you are a member he has not met, be sure to introduce yourself after the show. It is always good to put a face to a name. If you want some more information about the fair or 4-H visit http://somerset.rce.rutgers.edu/4hfair/ or call (908) 526-6644. If you would like more information about Paul Fantini, or the Storybook Puppet Theater visit them at http://www.storybookpuppettheater.com or give Paul a call at (908) 206-0449. |
| Call for Member News
Want to share your story, tell us what's going on in your life right now, or just get some free advertising for your shows? Send your news to The Phoenix (with the word "Newsletter" somewhere in the subject line) and we'll publish it in this member news section. We are always excited to hear what our fellow guild members are doing! |
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| GATHERINGS AND GET- TOGETHERS: Puppetry Events |
| Puppet Rampage!
There is still time to sign up for the Puppeteers of America National Festival, Puppet Rampage. It is being held July 17th -22nd in St. Paul, Minnesota. Check out the website at http://www.puppetrampage2007.org/ (Please note the email address is www.puppetrampage2007.org, not the previously posted www.puppetfestival07.org.) The festival includes formal meetings for guild presidents and vice presidents as well as informal discussions with members of the Puppeteers of America Board of Directors. If you have concerns or suggestions you would like passed along to the board, now is the time. Please contact Penny at [email protected] or call her at (973) 586-8412 or you can contact Lois Corwin at [email protected]. We will both be attending the festival and will relate your concerns and suggestions to the appropriate board members. |
| Henson-Themed Workshop
"Muppets, Music & Magic: Jim Henson's Legacy" is a major component of "Puppets on the Sound," a series of summer puppet events in Huntington, New York. A schedule of events (many of which are FREE) with photographs can be found on the Cinema Arts Centre web site: http://www.cinemaartscentre.org/may07/muppets.html |
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| KEEP THE TIES STRONG: Contribute to The Phoenix |
| Article Submissions
The next issue of the Phoenix will be coming out in the fall. This will give you extra time to prepare submissions. An actual deadline will be mailed to you via e-mail along with the name and email address of The Phoenix�s editor. Please have all articles, ads, photos and information to the editor by the deadline. Let us know what puppet related projects you have planned, what you are working on and anything else you would like to share. Got Any Tips? Guild member Jim Jones has volunteered to write a small piece for The Phoenix on tips for puppeteers if everyone would submit some of their ideas. To date, he has had no response. Please get him you puppetry tricks as soon as possible so we can all take advantage of this great opportunity. Performance Announcements Remember any guild member can announce a public performance in The Phoenix free of charge. |
| E-Mail Mailing List
If the guild does not have your email you are really missing out on some great stuff. Updates are sent to members with puppetry information and listings of shows you may want to see. The guild receives requests for birthday party entertainers and posts other job opportunities using email. Remember, you don't have to own a computer to have a free email account. You can always check personal email at your local library or even at a friend�s house. It is a great way to find about shows and jobs and to stay connected with the community. Please let us know your email address today at [email protected] Guild Officers and How to Reach Them President: Penny Rapicano, [email protected] Vice President: Lois Corwin, [email protected] Membership/Treasury: Steven Hollow, [email protected] Communications Officer: Bridget Burke-Weiss, [email protected] Newsletter Editor: Helen Horn-Mitchem, [email protected] |
| LINES OF COMMUNICATION: Contact Information |
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