Your March, 2006, newsletter is online and ready to download in pdf format at http://www.sfbapg.org/newsletter.htm
(scroll to the bottom of this email for a request from your newsletter editor)

This months highlights:

a.. Guild member receives financial help from Elvis from beyond the grave
b.. Plan your summer puppet activities
c.. Upcoming Guild meetings and calendar of puppetry events
d.. More story and photos on the Guild Hula-Day party
e.. Day of puppetry coming up in April
f.. Legendary Punch and Judy performer dies
g.. Puppetuzzle - test your Punch knowledge
h.. Bits and Pieces from all over
From your newsletter editor:
I have a request for information from my e-readers: It occurred to me that some of you may print out your newsletter and some may read it on your computer. If you read it on the computer, my 3 column format, which looks so nice when printed, may be a hassle since you would have to scoll up and down three times for each page (right?) What is the general opinion on this? Do you like the 3 column format? Would you all prefer it if there were no columns? Have you been quietly cursing me out and just too polite to say anything directly to me? Do any of you get other online newsletters that have the perfect format? If so, please share their ideas with me. I want to make a newsletter that works well as a mail-out piece and an on-line piece, and need your help to do so.
Thanks,
Michael

A message forwarded by fellow SFBAPG member, Herbert Lange:

Thu, 23 Feb 2006 10:18:56 -0800

Hello!

We are looking for a puppet show for a party. The party is to celebrate a non-profit garden we have in San Francisco at a playground in the panhandle of Golden Gate Park. We received a small grant from First 5 for the purposes of outreach and we are hosting a party to introduce more children to the garden and encourage kids to be more involved.
The party is on Sunday, April 30. at the Kevin Collins Garden. We are looking for a garden/planting theme. Does anyone do Jack and the Beanstalk? It could make for an easy theme for the party considering we will be doing planting as well. We were planning on an afternoon show.
The organization which sponsors this garden stems from a montessori preschool. There will also be a worm box, planting, food, composting, art, live music and other fun stuff going on. This event is a great way to meet some families. We had a large turnout last year and think this year it should be even more successful.
We are also wondering what you might charge to put on a show like this?
We would like to make a decision on this fairly soon, since it is getting closer to our party date. Please email me or feel free to call me on my mobile phone at 415-5O5-88O8.
Thank you for your interest.

Kristie Hansen (kja1111 earthlink dot net)
Kevin Collins Garden

Hi Presidents, Editors, Directors, Officers, and Members,

I thought all of you would like to see pictures taken at the Mid-year Board
Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, in January 2006. Along with the Trustees, Mabs
Buono and Marsha McGee (Finance), and Kurt Hunter (Future Festivals)
attended. I sent seven pictures to Paul Eide, asking if he would put them
on a website. He was the Webmaster for our 2005 National Puppetry Festival
at Concordia University in St. Paul, MN. He also is our Twin Cities
Puppeteers guild Webmaster. He's been busy with the latest Puppetry Journal
as Editor, but took the time to put up the site.

Thanks for the latest guild updates, and I'll be sending my Guilds and
Regions List, soon.

Sincerely, Karen Backes Pof A Vice President

Picture Site:
http://www.tcpuppet.org/Phoenixwebshow/index.html

Muslim Cartoon Rioting Affects Spanish Rituals
by Jerome Socolovsky

Morning Edition, February 15, 2006 ? After Muslim
rulers were expelled from Spain in the 13th century,
many small communities in the southeast region started
holding annual festivals to celebrate. Effigies of the
Prophet Muhammed were burned at these events. The
recent violent demonstrations over cartoons published
in a Danish newspaper have led these villages to
change their centuries-old traditions.
--NPR.org

Hear the story at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5206890

CELEBRATE THE NEW HOME OF COPA
The Conservatory of Puppetry Arts, a project of Community Partners

Sunday, February 26 from 2:00 until 4:00 pm OPEN HOUSE

SEE - Jim Gamble Marionettes "Ashanti Folk Tales" - 2 P.M.
*Using traditional African story-telling methods and puppet designs
based on authentic arts and fabrics.
*Tickets $5.00 or free with COPA membership or renewal.

VIEW - an Exhibit of Puppets and Posters

MEET - puppeteers and COPA members

PARTICIPATE - in a silent auction

ENJOY - refreshments

COPA is located on the grounds of St. Barnabas Church
1062 N. Fair Oaks Ave. Pasadena CA 91103

Parking behind church through alley.
For tickets to the show and more information about the Open House:
626-29six-1536 or 626-797-4two91

Do you know anyone who might want to support the art of puppetry in a
very tangible way by becoming a member-contributor to the
Conservatory of Puppetry Arts? JOIN NOW!

Go to www.COPA-puppets.org

The March Newsletter deadline is approaching!
Round up the usual suspects* and email them to your newsletter editor at mail magicalmoonshine dot org

* (Calendar items, articles, reviews, classifieds, horror stories, puppet construction tips, puppetuzzle suggestions, letters to the editor, etc.)

A message from Sha Sha Higby. She is performing in Davis.

WHAT: Black Twig in the Hot Sea, evocative sculptural costume &
puppetry, dance, in timeless motion by legendary international
sculptural costume and performance artist Sha Sha Higby, for a
transformative evening of light and shadow.

"A tempest of color and form"; "apparitions slither across the stage
in a passionate ritual" SF Weekly

SHOWTIMES:
Saturday, February 25, 2006 8:30 p.m

WHERE:
The Davis Art Center
1919 "F" Street; Davis, CA 95616

TICKETS
$16-25 sliding scale,students $12
(415)868-2409 & Ticketweb
see photos on
http://www.shashahigby.com
www.ticketweb.com

also at The Wardrobe 206 E Street, Downtown Davis, 530-756-1128. In
honor of the Mardi Gras Spirit, a portion of this event's proceeds
will go to the Katrina Relief Fund

WORKSHOP
Dancing Masks, with Sha Sha Higby
Sunday February 26th, 12-5 p.m at the Davis Art Center
$65 each, includes most materials
415-868-2409 to reserve by Visa/MC
or visit the Wardrobe

International performance/sculptural artist, Sha Sha Higby is known
for her evocative and haunting performances using the exquisite and
ephemeral body sculpture she meticulously creates and moves within.
Elements of Asian and Western traditions influence this "theater of
slow passion"(Ornament Magazine) unique for their "metaphorically
hyper-functional outfits ...combining elements of sculpture, puppetry
and wind chimes". (Independent, Colorado) Sculptural costume, dance,
and puppetry explore the atmospheric world within the magical borders
between death and life. Sha Sha Higby world premieres her latest
work, Black Twig in the Hot Sea. For the last two decades, she has
performed & taught extensively throughout the United States, Asia,
Australia, and Europe. She creates a fantastical world where her rich
costumes, meticulously formed from wood, paper, silk, Japanese
lacquer, ceramics and gold leaf, come to life unexpectedly.

Sha Sha's appearance in Davis is a rare opportunity to experience one
of Northern California's most cutting-edge artists. The Wardrobe and
the Davis Art Center are proud sponsors of Sha Sha's weekend of
events. Currently, "The Tin Twin", a sculptural costume by Sha Sha,
is on display at The Wardrobe. Sha Sha also has two masks on
display at the UC Davis Design Museum through March 10th, as part of
its "Face the Nation" juried mask exhibition. For details on the UC
Davis Design Museum and this event, please contact Tim McNeil,
Director, at 530-752-615O or tjmcneil ucdavis dot edu.

March-Puppetry performance in Bolivia

May 31 McCallum Theater,Palm Desert,California

June 14,-Pt Reyes Dance Palace

July-Colorado Collage,Colorado Springs,workshops & performances

November-Noh Space,San Francisco

Performances come up unexpectedly so continue to check shashahigby.com

--
Sha Sha Higby
P.O. Box 152
Bolinas,CA 94924
phone/fax 415-868-24O9
http://www.shashahigby.com
shasha shashahigby dot com

A message from Debbie Allen about the PuppetFest MidWest:

Just a note to let you know that the website for this year's
PuppetFest MidWest is up and running and I think it looks wonderful.
I can say this in all modesty because I don't do the website. It is
due to the artistic and technical wizardry of Nick and Rose Sage
Barone. Please check it out at http://puppetfestival.org/. I
especially like the Past Festivals section. I think it really captures
the excitement of our unique puppetry event with excellent
descriptions of the event by instructors and participants and
lots of terrific photographs.

I would like to emphasize some important points. As of last
year, we lowered the minimum age for attendees to 16 years old. We
have been getting a lot of requests from high school students and we
really want to include them. Also, we want to remind everyone that we
offer up to four scholarships every year to PuppetFest MidWest. The
deadline for applying for a scholarship is Monday, May 1st, 2006. You
can find that information on the website as well.

We hope to see you at this year's PuppetFest MidWest. Please
let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks, Debbie

PUPPETFEST MIDWEST
Every year, for one week in July, a group of puppeteers get
together to share their expertise and their passion for live puppet
theatre. PuppetFest MidWest (July 11 - 16, 2006 in Trenton, Missouri)
is an independent annual puppetry festival that is presented,
organized and financially supported by puppeteers as a gift to other
puppeteers in the hope that it will inspire, strengthen and renew our
commitment to Puppet Theatre. Wouldn't you like to join us? We have
workshops every day and performances every night. Everyone spends a
total of twenty hours (during the week) studying one aspect of live
puppet theatre. At the end of the week, we have a "show and tell"
recital where everyone performs or displays what they have created
during these intensive sessions.
PERFORMANCES AND WORKSHOPS
The performers/workshop leaders include:
* Drew Allison of Grey Seal Puppets, North Carolina
* Nick Barone of Nick Barone Puppets, California
* Luman Coad of Coad Canada Puppets, BC, Canada
* Pam Corcoran, Wisconsin
* Phillip Huber & The Huber Marionettes, Tennessee
* Lynne Jennings of the Puppetry Center of San Diego , California
* Jim Napolitano of Nappy's Puppets, Connecticut
* Paul Mesner of Mesner Puppets, Missouri
Contact Information:

PuppetFest MidWest
Festival Directors,
Peter Allen & Debbie Lutzky Allen
P.O. Box 14
Jamesport MO 64648
Phone: (660) 684-6825
email: dlpallen grm dot net
puppetfestival.org

Hear ye! Hear ye! Banners are waving, drums are beating, and cymbals are clanging for “MUCH ADO ABOUT PUPPETS.
I ask thee, Puppeteer, what could be more appropriate for our medieval puppet festival than Coad Canada’s latest production, “Harlequin’s Cloak”? It’s on the performance list! Plus, we’ve just confirmed that Mallory Lewis, Sheri Lewis’s daughter, will be performing with Lamb Chop and bringing an exhibit of Sheri’s original puppets. And the artistic directors report that current negotiations for other shows appear to be every bit as promising.
Furthermore, the guild’s master craftsmen will be sharing their talents in a diversity of workshops focusing on, among other topics: marionette construction, masks, ventriloquism, creation of a one-person musical revue, and the puppetry of “Team America” by participants of same.
Through the PUPPET RAFFLE, registrants will have a chance to win, among other treasures, a walk-around stage, a Bev London Collectable bear, and other goodies.
Surely thou can’st not resist sending in thy registration soon?

Check on the web site www.muchadoaboutpuppets.org for further developments, registration forms, etc.
For the Pacific NW/Pacific SW Regional Festival, Aug 4 – 7 2006

We need some extra puppeteers for our children's television pilot to be shot this summer in Cupertino.
Please call or e-mail for details. Thanks.

Margie Rex
PuppArtry Productions
408-296-5OO6
C-scapes msn dot com

Hi there!

My name is Andrew and I'm from Edmonton, AB. A While back I designed a puppet along with Konja Chen (of Chensational Puppets) in Toronto in honor of Avenue Q.

Recently Avenue Q had a contest. You send in a pic of your puppet and bio and they choose the top 10. Those 10 puppets go onto the website (www.avenueq.com) and the public can vote on their favorite puppets. The top three puppets win a trip to New York to see Avenue Q and meet the cast!

Needless to say, MY PUPPET WON!!

Now. most importantly, there's more!

Of those three winning puppets, people can go back to the Avenue Q website (at www.avenueq.com/onenightstandcontest.php ) and vote for who of the three should appear ONSTAGE IN THE SHOW!!! There are videos of all three.

I was wondering if you might post about this on your blog(s). I am partial to my puppet (Maurice Tipo), but I really want the most people possible to vote on who they think is the BEST suited to the show.

Please feel free to pass this along to anyone who would be willing to help a puppet make their BROADWAY DEBUT, too!

I apologize if I have hindered you life in any way with this email.

Cheers,

Hi Guild Presidents, Editors, Directors, and Treasurers,

This message has come in from Wayne Krefting, a Trustee on the Pof A Board. Please send the website out to your guild members, both Pof A and non-Pof A members and encourage them to take the survey.

Sincerely, Karen Backes Pof A Vice President backespuppets qwest dot net
__________________________________________________________

Wayne's message:

The Puppeteers of America is conducting a major online survey of the North American puppetry community in an effort to better meet their needs. Whether or not you are a member of Puppeteers of America, we invite you to participate.

The survey will only take a few minutes of your time, is completely anonymous, and will provide valuable information to help our organization change and grow to meet the needs of the puppetry community. The more information gathered, the better the Puppeteers of America can serve.

You may participate by going to:

http://www.puppeteers.org/survey.htm

Thank you.

Wayne Krefting, Trustee
for the Board of Trustees, "Puppeteers of America"