Each year the Puppeteers of America select a city to host a biennial regional festival, and this year, Wilmington, NC has been selected to host the festival for the Southeast region.
Sponsored by the UNCW Office of Cultural Arts, the Port City Puppet Festival will attract artists from throughout the nation and feature a wide variety of puppet performances, including shadow puppetry, marionettes, stop-motion animation and more! Events include art exhibits, community workshops, films and live puppet performances for all ages!
TICKETS & INFORMATION
General Admission:
Adults $12 / Youth $8 (under 18) / UNCW Student Free (one ticket per valid ID)
For tickets and information contact the Kenan Auditorium box office Monday - Friday noon - 6 p.m. (910) 962-3500 or (800) 732-3643. View Seating Chart
PUBLIC PERFORMANCES AT KENAN AUDITOIRUM
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Friday, July 16 (7:00 pm) "Pinocchio" by Lee Bryan - That Puppet Guy Everyday household items such as kitchen utensils, baskets and tennis racquets are given new life in this fantastic, frenetic retelling based on Collodi’s classic text. This original one-man "tour de farce" combines authentic Italian music, Commedia-style mask work, and plenty of audience participation! Produced with a grant from the Jim Henson Foundation. (50 mins / recommended for all ages) Convenience fee applies to all online purchases.
Saturday, July 17 (3:00 pm) DOUBLE FEATURE! "How to Grow a Pickle" by Nana Projects & "How To Grow A Pickle" whimsically illustrates the process of creating a pickle from planting the seeds to pickling and jarring the cucumber. Both entertaining and educational, the performance demonstrates dramatically and humorously where our food comes from and the benefits of eating and growing locally. "The Reluctant Dragon" uses Japanese-style puppets to retell the classic 19th century story of a young boy and a sophisticated dragon that refuses to fight. (60 mins / recommended for all ages) Convenience fee applies to all online purchases.
Saturday, July 17 (7:00 pm) One Frame at a Time: The Stop-Motion Films of Michael Granberry See puppets come alive on film through the process of Stop-Motion Animation! Former Wilmington resident Michael Granberry returns to the Port City to talk about his work as a stop-motion animator and to show a selection of his short films. A Q&A with the artist follows the performance. (75 minutes / recommended for adults & ages 13+) Convenience fee applies to all online purchases. |
ADDITIONAL FESTIVAL EVENTS:
“PuppetArt” Exhibition & Opening Reception
Cameron Art Museum
Opening Reception: Thursday, July 15 (5:30 p.m. Family Opening / 6 p.m. Members Reception / 7 p.m. Public Opening)
Exhibition Dates: July 16, 2010 - January 9, 2011
PuppetArt is an exciting exhibition featuring large-scale puppets from the Bread and Puppet Theatre in Vermont alongside a selection of international puppets of various historical periods from the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, Georgia.
The opening reception on July 15 includes a gallery talk, live puppet theatre productions and improvisational theatre for children and adults, a new puppet-inspired dance performance by alban elved dance company and puppet film screenings. The night kicks off with a family opening at 5:30 p.m. featuring "The Amazing Mysto's Magic Show" by Peter Allen. The members only opening begins at 6:00 p.m. and the public opening begins at 7:00 p.m.Admission is $5 for the general public and free for CAM members and festival registrants. More information at www.cameronartmuseum.com
"The Emperor's New Clothes" by Grey Seal Puppets
Thursday, July 15 (9 a.m. & 11 a.m.)
SCHOOL PERFORMANCE
This beloved Hans Christian Andersen story takes on a different dimension as this classic tale is transformed into a fable featuring crafty foxes, a near-sighted camel, a befuddled old walrus and a vain pig as the king! (45 mins / students age 4-11)
School groups , daycares & summer camps only
Registration Required (download flyer & registration form)
Professional Development Workshop for Teaching Artists and Therapists
UNCW Watson School of Education
July 15, 2010 (8:30 am - 3:30 pm)
Lunch provided
Presented by the Puppeteers of America, this workshop is geared toward teaching artists and therapists interested in using the art of puppetry in educational and therapeutic settings. For registration information and to view a complete list of workshop presenters, visit www.portcitypuppet.org.
Additional community outreach events include “Puppet Parlour”, a juried art exhibit of puppetry in paintings, prints, sculptures, assemblage and photography at ACME Art Studios (Reception Saturday, July 10, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.); and “IBEX”, an exhibit of eclectic puppets from the collection of Heather Henson, daughter of the late Jim Henson, at Wabi Sabi Warehouse (Reception Friday, July 2, 7 – 10 p.m.
For a complete listing of community events and "registrant-only" performances, or to register for the Puppeteers of America Southeast Conference at UNCW visit www.portcitypuppet.org.
Port City Puppet Festival artwork and logo by Wendy Kowalski. Performance photos of courtesy of the artists.
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