Puppet Show Repairs

Fix the Set to the "Puppet Show"

A main piece that holds together the top of the backstage has torn. To replace the part and make it stronger I got a piece of cardboard (hard as matte board) and cut put the shapes that hold together the back of the stage.

Also there needs to be a thick piece of foam with Velcro to hold the front facial board cover. But where is the extra annoying piece of foam core when you need it?

In the photo above, (not a great picture) there were two wooden support beams added, to make the "frame around the stage" stronger. Unfortunately the side "Puppet Panels" did not close as well after they were added and actually caused them to disconnect with the center piece. New tape or Velcro needs to be added.

Some one had the simple idea of hanging the bats on strings from above. There is a hidden wooden rod that could support something like that or a hanging spider. Wonderful ideas after the fact.

Halloween Puppet Show

Today's Puppet Show was great. My Mother and I had planned days ahead to work out each section of the Halloween Show. It felt to be the most organized and focused show yet.

We had the Witch introduce different Halloween acts and with a slight delay on my mother's voice, she was the perfect Witch.

The Set of Songs and Characters are as follows:

1) Oriental Japanese Puppet ("Haunted Mansion Japan")

2) The Ghost Puppet ("Grim Grinning Ghosts")

3) Three Different Skeleton Songs

4) "The Five Pumpkins" (Raffi)

5) Dance to 1930's Scary Orchestral Music

6) "The Monster Mash" ("Suspended Snake")

7) "Ghostbusters" Ending

Afterwards we let kids try other monster puppets and we had gotten a kick out of seeing them Improv to "This Is Halloween" from "The Nightmare Before Christmas" (1993).

Live "Improv" Halloween Puppet Show (10-28-2011)

First time with "LIVE Accordion" and "Puppet Show" today! I get there just before 5 and we went through the Disney Set. Having forgotten the radio, I was forced to play live.

The first 15 minutes were a little rough as everyone was staring and I was playing "Once Upon A Dream". One kid helped with the skeleton and snake. Later I told everyone they could come get an instrument if they wanted to play along.

I few kids did not understand they were suppose to hide with the puppets and heads and arms were coming through. That spoiled it a bit, but not as much as the woman who took her 2o minute phone call during my performance.

A singer came by and sang a few children's songs which made it special. She knew all words and hand motions to "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "Open and Close your Fingers".

Puppet Show

Today the Puppet Show went event even smoother. More people came and seemed to enjoy themselves with the handmade puppets and music. My job has turned from puppeteer to puppet repair. I don't really mind because I really enjoy making things.

I did perform the 30 second "5 Pumpkin skit". The puppets sit up there on their own and I can operate each one as the words are spoken. Really pretty simple. The "Hovering Snake" works great for the song previous.

I had the list what to do sitting next to me but it turned into a Free-For-All. Clearly the "Monster Mash" works best with "The Witch" and "Skeleton". Need to invite more people and make it an event.

Halloween Puppet Show Progress

Tested the new puppet show at the park, had several kids who tried helping but worked better one on one with each child ... "The Snake" left over from the Japanese Puppets worked out great! Could not see the sticks so it looked like it was "hovering" or "floating".

Ran out of "Thick Rubber Bands" that are needed to hold together the mouth gear on new Pumpkins Puppets. I should be able to fix that at home. "The Skeleton" looked great too, but too bad we could not have floating parts with him, or can we?

Getting two people together and having them perform a song by "lip-syncing" and "dancing" with the puppet is the most you can really ask for out of anyone. Reading from a prepared skit is another option I still need to explore. . .

Pumpkin Puppets

Today I sat down after three days of hunting in shops and made Pumpkin Puppets. They were made like the the Egg Heads but with these plastic candy holders I finally found at the 1 dollar store. It would have taken too much time to make them by hand.

Puppets