I just got accepted into the MA Puppetry program at
Central School of Speech & Drama in London. So
exciting!!!! A huge quantum leap for my life over
the next few years, my creative self will take center
stage, in a way that I have never allowed it. For 10
years, I've puppeteered for Folkmanis puppets, and
performed with Gitty Duncan's Puppets & Pie, and
designed some shadow puppets for a Bose project
directed by my dear friend Wendy Morton, but have
never really set aside time to develop my own stories
for the stage. It's beautiful, thrilling, and
overwhelming all the same time - my whole life will
change. And, *Penny Francis* is teaching the program
in London, so you know I'll be in good hands -
yay!!! :)

So, to try to fund my dreams, I'm holding a Coffee
House Night and Art Auction event on Sunday June 24th
from 5 to 8pm in Berkeley, California. It's at a
private home, so let me know if you're interested and
I can send directions. All the proceeds from this
event would go towards helping me raise money to go to
puppet school in London! If you want to bring some
puppets, or if you play a musical instrument - feel
free!! There will be tons of other creative people
there who will want to play with you.

If you can't make it, or don't live in the Bay Area,
you can still pitch in. I don't have family, so I'm
kind of on my own with this project. If you can spare
a little bit to help me build my dreams and get my
puppets on stage in London, please pitch in! Every
little bit helps - $10 could pay for a puppetry
textbook, $25 could pay for some puppet making
supplies, $100 would really help towards getting me a
plane ticket. ($800 might pay for a month's rent in a
shared flat, ha ha - London's a little pricey.)

There's a "ChipIn" feature here
http://www.myspace.com/ravenkaliana that makes it easy
to donate with a credit card through PayPal - plus you
can see pictures of my puppets.

But if that gives you any trouble, this version might
be easier:
http://cedartreestudios.com/

And of course there's the old fashioned method of just
mailing me a check, if you feel inspired...

Raven Kaliana
PO Box 8791
Emeryville CA 94662 USA

Thank you in advance for your support! I will keep
you posted on my progress. I've already gotten a
little puppet-making gig in the UK, though I'm still
right now living in California. I'm
constructing a pair of marionettes for a cabaret act
in London!

Warmly,
Raven