![]() ![]() The fest’s managing director, Claire Geall Sutton, was the director of theatre for the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs for 18 years, and both Sutton and Thomas were integral to coordinating programming for a 2001 Chicago puppet fest called Puppetropolis. ![]() The 12-day festival was the result of a drive from the theatrical community and support from local foundations. She based the name on logic that someone who drives a mule was a muleteer hence, one who “drives” a puppet should be a puppeteer. In the early 20 th century, someone who operated puppets would have been called a “showman,” but the word was limiting to Ellen Van Volkenburg, a stage director who came up with the term “puppeteer” in 1912. ![]() It was Chicago, Thomas points out, where the term “puppeteer” was coined. “Once audiences are exposed to what’s going on in the contemporary puppetry movement, they will come to want higher-quality puppetry.” “My goal is to create a festival that redefines what puppetry is for the audiences of Chicago,” Thomas said. Chicago puppet theatre aficionado Blair Thomas conceived the event, which concluded on Sunday, as a way to both solidify the city as a puppet theatre hub and as a way to spark conversation over the nature of puppetry. The London-based company was one of a dozen international companies that presented shows to puppet fanatics and the puppet-curious alike at Chicago’s inaugural International Puppet Theater Festival. The moment emphasizes one of the show’s key messages: Puppetry is less about the puppet and more about the puppeteer. Performances will take place in our lovely downtown park, Ron-de-Voo Park.CHICAGO: In Blind Summit’s The Table-an homage to Moses as crotchety prophet-there’s a remarkable, somewhat shocking moment where the show’s lone puppet is disposed of, leaving the performers to create life from just their hands and empty space. The festival also offers food, beverages, a Mexican market, a tiny train, a performance by a local mariachi band, and a host of children's games and activities. This year’s street performers include Absolute Science with Big Bang Bubbles giant puppets by Brant Bollman from Oskaloosa Kalimbaman and the Yahoo Drummers, musicians face painter, Linda Kelty and Living Creations, balloon twisters.įacebook users may remember Chicago puppeteer Matthew Owens for the shows he did out of his second-story window in Chicago during the pandemic. Louis Matthew Owens from Chicago Fever River Puppets from Wisconsin and of course Eulenspiegel Puppets. This year’s festival will include a puppetry mini-festival, featuring performances by Corcoran Puppets from Wisconsin (see photo!) Blaqueberry Puppets from St. and Calhoun St, with a schedule chock full of performances, crafts, and activities! Following the Children’s Festival, Latinos Unidos takes over Third Street with Fiesta Latina, featuring lively music from 3:00-10:00 PM! The twenty-sixth annual festival will take place Saturday, September 16, from 10:00 A.M. The West Liberty Children's Festival, sponsored by Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre, is just around the corner!
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