* ONLY 2 WEEKS LEFT TO SAVE $70 ON REGISTRATION IF SENT IN BY FEB 15
* Guarantee your spot-Register Today!

* PERFORMANCES BY:
* Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers (Maine): The Legend of Banana Kid
* Teatro Tinglado (Mexico): Troka the Powerful
* Chinese Theatre Works (New York): Chinese Opera To Go
* Leonidas Kassapidas (Greece): The Metamorphosis of Karaghiosis
* Ulrike Quade (Netherlands): Me Too-A Sideshow
* Kahn, Novak & Provost (New York): Adventures of Charcoal Boy
* Over 30 Live Performances & 12 Films

* SPEAKERS & WORKSHOPS BY:
* Ronnie Burkett (Ontario): Keynote Speaker
* Joe Clokey (California): Conversation with Joe & Gumby
* Martin Robinson (Connecticut): Conversation with Sesame Street's Telly
* Luman Coad (British Columbia): Getting into Character
* Great Small Works (New York): Toy Theatre
* Paul Zaloom (California): Found Object Performance
* Over 70 Workshops, 4 Exhibits & The Puppetry Store

* This just in...Late night events will have alcohol available

Visit www.puppetrampage2007.org Right Now! All events subject to change

Permanent link to this entry.

GUILD SURVEY RESULTS- Find out what your fellow guild members think about a
variety of guild subjects! Check out the survey results below: (want to
take the survey? Form at bottom)*-

Results: The higher the number following the sentence or phrase, the more
the stated importance.

To promote youth or apprentice programs in puppetry * 31

To focus on programs that raise the skill levels of adult guild members,
focusing on workshops on manipulation, direction, puppet construction,
voice, movement, etc. * 29

To advocate at the community or state level for more puppetry arts support *
24

To help members develop professionally, through workshops on things like
marketing, pr, sales, website development, etc. * 28

To produce a monthly calendar of puppetry events, either through the
newsletter, website or both, to inform members and community of shows * 31

To serve as a social club for puppet enthusiasts in the Bay Area (with
meetings, parties, outings, newsletter, etc. * 14

To have the opportunity to see shows at guild meetings or perform a show and
get feedback * 30

To offer puppet workshops aimed at youth and education; example: programs
for educators, librarians and those working with children 27

ANALYSIS: The most important goals of the guild according to respondents are
to support young puppeteers and to maintain a regular calendar of events to
keep members informed.

Respondents also strongly favor workshops and shows at guild meetings,
especially workshops focused on working with children, and somewhat less,
workshops aimed at increasing professionalism in puppetry. Responses were
somewhat tepid on the idea of the guild as a political advocate for the art
form, and the social club of puppetry idea did not receive much support,
although the connotations of the words "social club" may have influences
respondents choices; perhaps a phrase like promoting fellowship with other
puppeteers would have been more positively received.

AND THAT'S NOT ALL YOU SAID. OTHER POINTS MEMBERS MADE WERE (in no
particular order):

Regarding Meetings:

"I always loved the Guild workshops and special events but this takes many
members who work! Not many of those."

"I work on Saturdays and have other interests. I like knowing what's going
on and want to attend."

"When I was an active puppeteer and just getting started I attended every
meeting and appreciated the variety of programs."

Pluses: meetings involving interaction with professional, working guild
members. Minuses: workshops too inconsistent…no meeting in December, no
voice training workshops.

Favorite kinds of meetings: "Ones that cover the business and allow folks
time to socialize…maybe some time to share ideas on topic of interest."

What do you like about the guild?

"That it is still around. I may be wrong but it seems that the wise,
experienced, retired mentors are no longer with us and many (others) are
busy with their own puppeteer to attend meetings."

"Best thing about Guild: members get info about puppet events. (What could
the guild) Improve: Perhaps find a central meeting place."

"I like having a calendar of shows available so I can attend if possible. I
like to support the guild because it helped me so much during the 10 years I
had a performing puppet company."

Favorite kind of meetings? "Any meeting that has workshop…2.5 hours seems
fine."

Scholarships for youth and aspiring puppeteers was mentioned as important by
several.

Also to focus on regional and national festival.

One respondent suggested a marathon performance day of puppets for adult and
children's' shows, maybe having it once every year or two.

IDEAS FOR GUILD MEETINGS OR PROJECTS:

Host a puppetry slam (or more than one)

Develop a play as a group project after workshops in writing, directing and
manipulating and present it to the public

Invite artists from other fields (music, painting, etc.) for further
inspiration through lectures

WANT TO TAKE THE SURVEY? THERE ARE NO WRONG ANSWERS. THE QUESTIONS ARE
BELOW. SEND YOUR RESPONSES TO Michael Nelson, Box 2296, Yountville, CA 94599
OR EMAIL TO magicalmoonshine gmail dot com

Your Guild Board wishes to better serve your needs. Please take a moment and
let your wishes and thoughts be known. Please answer the questions below,
then fold and tape (or staple) this page into a mailer (or place in
envelope) add a stamp and drop in the mail. If you wish a board member to
contact you to discuss your ideas, be sure to include your name and phone
number. Thanks.

1. Approximately how often do you attend guild meetings in a year?

2. What are your favorite kinds of meetings? Suggestions about meeting
content, length, etc.?

3. What do you like about the guild? This can be your "ideal guild" (in
which case tell us what the ideal is) or the actual guild or both. Also, add
areas that could be improved.

4. Did you know that the guild has a library of puppetry books?

5. Have you ever used the guild library?

6. In the past the library has been kept by the "librarian" usually at their
house and books can be checked out by arrangement with the librarian. Do you
have any thoughts on how to make the library more accessible?

In terms of importance, how would you rate the following possible goals for
the guild. Please rate by writing a number between 1 and 5 beside each
sentence, with 5 signifying most important for the guild and 1 signifying
least important.

To promote youth or apprentice programs in puppetry

To focus on programs that raise the skill levels of adult guild members,
focusing on workshops on manipulation, direction, puppet construction,
voice, movement, etc.

To advocate at the community or state level for more puppetry arts support

To help members develop professionally, through workshops on things like
marketing, pr, sales, website development, etc.

To produce a monthly calendar of puppetry events, either through the
newsletter, website or both, to inform members and community of shows

To serve as a social club for puppet enthusiasts in the Bay Area (with
meetings, parties, outings, newsletter, etc.

To have the opportunity to see shows at guild meetings or perform a show and
get feedback

To offer puppet workshops aimed at youth and education; example: programs
for educators, librarians and those working with children

Other?

Permanent link to this entry.

Coming from Colorado Springs! Master puppeteer David Simpich and his
thirty hand-carved marionettes bring to life John Bunyan's timeless
tale of a fantastic dream -- The Pilgrim's Progress.

*Friday, January 26 at 7:30 PM
*Saturday , January 27 at 7:30 PM
*Sunday, January 28 at 4:30 PM

First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto
1140 Cowper Street (at Lincoln)

Tickets available at the door. $15 adult; $12 youth & child (Not
recommended for children under age eight. Aimed at adults and older
children.)

This elaborate two-hour production portrays the classic visions found
in the New World's first best-seller: the Slough of Despond; Vanity
Fair; the River of Death; battles with demons and dragons;
imprisonment by a giant; and colorful discourse with an array of wise
men and fools. David Simpich has won four Citations of Excellence
from l'Union de la Marionnette and The President's Award from the
Puppeteers of America -- the highest honor in American puppetry.

For more info: 650-361-1723 or http://www.puppetshowcase.org

Permanent link to this entry.

Puppets for sale! Debbie (aka. Odessey the Clown), is selling her
stash of puppets. If you are interested in purchasing or want to see photos or have questions, please contact her directly at odessey iclown dot com.

Debbie says: "I have treated my puppets very well so they are in really good condition. I have also tried to price them very reasonably.... I will have to add a shipping fee to the prices."

Puppet Descriptions Puppet Types Price

Rabbit Ballerina, Grover, Moose
Finger walking/dancing
Lot $5.00

Little lamb, Worm in apple, Penguin
Finger
Lot $5.00

Zebra, Grover, Rabbit
Finger
Lot $5.00

Wrinkle Dog, Grover, Lamb
Finger
Lot $5.00

Lady bug, White Bunny, Turtle
Finger
Lot $5.00

Cow, Elephant, Lamb
Finger
Lot $5.00

Brown furry creature, Boy
Full Body and Hand
Lot $5.00

Boy baby in blanket with puppy
Hand and Finger
Lot $5.00

Girl baby in blanket with bunny
Hand and Finger
Lot $5.00

Baby in blanket with reindeer
Hand and Finger
Lot $5.00

Four Alligator Brothers
Full Body Hand
Lot $5.00

Pink Pig with Rolling eyes
Full Body Hand
Lot $5.00

Anteater with long tongue
Full Body Hand
Lot $5.00

Anteater with long tongue
Full Body Hand
$5.00

Mother Quail with Baby Quail
Full Body Hand, Finger
Lot $5.00

Little Kitten, Mouse
Hand
Lot $5.00

Baby Dinosaur in Egg
Hand
$5.00

Armadillo, Baby Quail
Full Body Hand Finger
Lot $5.00

Small Orange Hair Clown
Full Body Hand
$5.00

Reindeer, Penguin, Fish
Glove
Lot $5.00

Ugly Black Spider & Red Nose Monkey
Glove Hand
Lot $5.00

5 Little Ducks & Little Sproutman
Glove Hand
Lot $5.00

White Mommy Lamb & Baby Lamb
Glove Finger
Lot $5.00

Tiger & Baby Elephant
Hand Glove
Lot $5.00

Dog, Raccoon, Rabbit
Glove
Lot $5.00

Butterfly, Frog, Fly
Glove
Lot $5.00

Ladybug, Fly, Dragon Fly
Glove
Lot $5.00

Elephant, Bird, Reindeer
Glove
Lot $5.00

Bee, Grasshopper, Butterfly
Glove
Lot $5.00

Frog, Purple Bug, Spider
Glove
Lot $5.00

Triceratops Dinosaur
Mouth
$5.00

Furry Monkey
Full Body Mouth
$5.00

Black Crow with squeaker, Frog
Mouth
Glove
Lot $5.00

Pink bird with squeaker, Spider
Mouth
Glove
Lot $5.00

Pink bird with squeaker, Lizard
Mouth Glove
Lot $5.00

Yellow Bird with squeaker, multi-color Bug
Mouth Glove
Lot $5.00

White Lamb
Mouth
$5.00

Furry Blue Monster & furry brown thing
Full body Mouth Glove
Lot $5.00

Black Raven
Mouth
$5.00

Rudd Beaver & 2 little Beavers
Mouth Hand
Lot $5.00

Indian & Wood Chuck
Mouth Hand
Lot $5.00

Alligator with squeaker
Mouth
$5.00

Moose & Baby Monkey
Hand Glove
Lot $5.00

Chef & 2 Baby Pigs
Mouth Glove
Lot $5.00

Red Walker
Marionette
$5.00

Yellow Walker
Marionette
$5.00

Blue Walker
Marionette
$5.00

Blue Walker
Marionette
$5.00

Frog & Turtle
Pop-up, Glove
$5.00

Pirate & Small girl
Pop-up
$5.00

Black Ant (Folkmanis)
Black Spider
Glove
$5.00

Butterfly, Bird, Fish
Glove
Lot $5.00

Whale, Frog (Folkmanis)
Mouth
Lot $5.00

Black Bird, Purple Bird
Mouth
$5.00

Green Apron with pockets, 2 finger puppet making kits
Finger
$5.00

Little boy,
5 Little puppies
Hand Glove
Lot $5.00

White Blue eye Walker
Marionette
$5.00

Wolf, 3 Little Pigs
Mouth Glove
Lot $6.00

Large Yellow Lion
Full body Mouth
$6.00

Pink Dragon
Full body Mouth
$6.00

Little Bunny in Carrot Bag (stage)
Hand
$5.00

Puppet Set
(Doctor, chef, man, farmer, girl, boy, jester)
Hand
Lot $8.00

Children's Puppet Set (King, queen, princess, pirate, jester, grandma,
grandpa, witch, devil, girl, alligator, wood cutter)
Hand
Lot $15.00

Large Horse
(Folkmanis)
Full body Mouth
$15.00

Large Realistic Brown Swan
Full body Rod
$8.00

Large Bear
Full body Mouth
$8.00

Large Gray Dog
Full body Mouth
$8.00

Large Cool Dog
Full body Mouth
$10.00

Large Sheep Dog
Full body Mouth
$10.00

Boy & Girl
Green Dragons
Full body Mouth
Lot $20.00

Adult Male Puppet Production Brand
Approximate height 13" with rod
Professional Mouth
$35.00

Blond Hair Girl Puppet Production brand
Approximate height 13' with rod
Professional Mouth
$35.00

Brown Hair Boy Puppet Production Brand
Approximate height with rod
Professional Mouth
$35.00

Mouse in Tux Puppet Production Brand
Approximate height 16" with rod
Professional Mouth
$50.00

Frog Puppet Productions Brand
Approximate height 16" with rod
Professional Mouth
$50.00

Boy Puppet Production Brand
Approx. 16" tall Blue Body with brown hair with rod
Professional Mouth
$45.00

Boy Puppet Production Brand
Approx. 16" tall Orange Body with black hair with rod
Professional Mouth $45.00

Santa Claus Full Body mouth With human arms
$45.00

Permanent link to this entry.

*Guild members have ranked the top ten things they like about being a guild
member!*
In addition to having great meetings with guest performers from out of the
area (like the meeting this weekend...don't miss it), the newsletter ranked
high. Guild members like reading about upcoming events as well as articles,
puppet photos and other related articles, classifieds etc.

*Where does all this great news and these calendar listings come from? Why
from you, the members, of course!*

*Send in your newsletter items by January 25, then watch for them in the
next newsletter.*

*It's easy to become a published writer, and your work will live on forever
on the guild website. Don't delay. Send today.*

*Email stuff to: mail magicalmoonshine dot org -

Permanent link to this entry.

The SFBAPG's ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY is tomorrow! Bring your holiday
spirit and your favorite potluck dish to share -- and, if you are
inspired, bring a gift for the GIFT EXCHANGE.

NEWS FLASH! Becky Schubert (Lettie Schubert's daughter) has given the Guild a lot of Lettie's craft supplies. Everyone who attends the party will be given a bag of fun stuff from Lettie, and we can all celebrate that Lettie will be at the party in spirit!

When: Saturday, January 20, 2007 ** 5:30 PM. to 9:30 PM

Where: San Leandro Community Center - 15301 Wicks Blvd - 510-577-6081
(Classroom C for potluck dinner and Thunderbolt Room for performance)

Festivities will include "The Christmas Travelers" -- a wonderful
Christmas performance by Kamala and Don Kruszka. Kamala and Don are
driving all the way from Bakersfield to share their unusual story
with us -- a blend of cars, planes and trains, and The Three Wisemen!

Kamala Kruszka is our hard-working Regional Director for the Pacific
Southwest Region of The Puppeteers of America and her husband, Don,
is running for election to the PofA Board of Trustees.

This is a POTLUCK, so please your favorite dish to share with the
party guests. Microwave and sink will be provided.

The GIFT EXCHANGE will be orchestrated by none other than Saint Nick
himself. Keep the price of your gift around or under $10.00.

*******

Driving directions:
Northbound 880: exit Marina Blvd West. After exiting, go over the
over pass and get into far left lane.

Southbound 880: exit Marina Blvd West. Get into far left lane immediately.

Turn left onto Merced, the first stop light. Continue on Merced and bear
right on to Wicks (Merced turns into Wicks). Continue past Manor Blvd. The
community center is on the right side, across from the park.

Permanent link to this entry.

Greetings Guild!

This just in on our holiday party guest performers from Southern California
(this Saturday...don't miss it!):*

Omnipresent Puppet Theater
Founded in 2003 by puppeteers Don and Kamala Kruszka, Omnipresent Puppet
Theater strives to create puppetry events for adult and children, and is
currently located in Bakersfield, California. Don has worked as a puppeteer
for various companies including The Great Arizona Puppet Theatre, Das
Puppenspiel, Hands Down Puppet Theatre and Middle Earth
Studios. Omnipresent is his second solo company. In addition to puppetry,
Don performs regularly as a professional actor and was most recently
featured in the Kern Shakespeare Festival's productions of "Much Ado About
Nothing" and "The Tempest."
Kamala holds her MFA in Theatre for Young Audiences from Arizona State
University and currently serves as the Young Audiences specialist for the
Department of Theatre at California State University, Bakersfield. She has
also worked as a professional voice over artist and created the voices for
several Fisher-Price Toys, namely "Kasey the Kinderbot." They are both
active members in the Puppeteers of America, Kamala as the Pacific Southwest
Regional Director, and Don is currently seeking a spot on the national board
of trustees.

For a photo from the show, see the January Newsletter (link below).

ALSO: If you can *RSVP* to magicalmoonshine@gmail.com as to if you are
coming and how many guests *(yes, we want you to bring guests! Introduce
your friends and family to the wonderful world of puppetry!) *that would
help us know how many plates, napkins, drinks, glasses, etc. to provide for
the POTLUCK gourmet extravaganza provided by you and your fellow guild
members. If you can't RSVP, *we still want you to come*, but if you can it
would help your party planners and could save the guild money.

For those lucky enough to be attending Luman Coad's workshop earlier that
day, you should be able to easily make it from the workshop to the Guild
party on time! And there still may be space in the workshop (see the
January Guild Newsletter for details on the workshop AND the guild party:
http://www.sfbapg.org/newsletter.htm -

Permanent link to this entry.

Dear SFBAPG members,

Roger Mara (Snapdragon Puppets) was a member of the SFBAPG for many
years and a generous contributor of his time and talents.
This email brings very sad news: On December 11, he was diagnosed
with stomach cancer, and on Monday, January 15, he died at the age of
53. Roger's passing is a great loss to the world of puppetry.

Roger spent many years living and performing in California and then
moved to the Seattle area about five or so years ago. Over the years,
he performed at several festivals for the Pacific Southwest and
Pacific Northwest regions, including the 2002 fest at Asilomar, CA
and the recent 2006 festival in Tacoma, WA.

One of the most painful aspects of Roger's passing is that there is
very little film or video footage of his wonderful puppet
performances. If you have any video or film footage, please contact
Elizabeth Luce.
Cards to Roger's family
may be sent to his home.

-Mary Decker

Permanent link to this entry.

The trick with a scrim is to find a fabric that you can see out of but that the audience can not see into. I have found them by going to fabric stores and holding up fabrics and looking through them. if you have light coming in and illuminating your face, it will tend to show up more through the scrim, so the ideal is you are in the dark (which might mean a top on your stage as well) and strong light from the front. If the light hits the scrim that is better as well, although if the scrim is too thick the light hitting it can block your vision as well. Double knit or knit fabics hang very well and don't get so wrinkled when packed. I usually buy a piece (or several) of possible fabrics and take them home to try them in actually performance type conditions. This way you can get a sense of what works best for you.
I hope this has been helpful.
Michael

Permanent link to this entry.

Next weekend one of North America's most renouned
puppeteers is giving a workshop for teachers in(or anyone who works
with puppets or children!) Sonoma, and I just
have heard that there may still some spaces available for sign up. He
is Luman Coad and I highly recommend his shows and workshop. He has
been performing in schools in his home country of Canada for 35 years
as well as around the world. This is a rare opportunity for Bay Area
teachers to learn from him.
If teachers can't make Luman's workshop, another great puppet person,
Lynn Jennings will also be teaching a workshop for teachers in
February. All of these great events (and shows) are part of the
Sonoma Community Center Winter Puppetry Festival. The link below
takes you to their website. Please help spread the word.

--
Michael & Valerie Nelson
Magical Moonshine Theatre
www.magicalmoonshine.org

Winter Puppet Festival at the Sonoma Community Center!
(Finally, a puppetry festival in the Bay Area!) 276 East Napa Street,
Sonoma, CA

January 20-21 * February 17-18 * March 10, 11, 25 2007

WORKSHOPS AND PERFORMANCES
(NOTE THAT "MEMBER" PRICES MEANS MEMBER OF THE SONOMA COMMUNITY
CENTER, NOT THE SFBAPG)
Saturday, January 20 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Soft-Sculpture Hand Puppets, a 6-hour workshop*
Luman Coad, Instructor
$65 member, $72 non-member (includes materials)

Sunday, January 21 2:00 p.m.
There's a Dinosaur in the Closet & The Box, performed by Luman Coad
$10 member, $12 non-member

Saturday, February 17 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Puppetry 101 for Teachers, a 5-hour workshop*
Lynne Jennings, Instructor
$65 member, $72 non-member (includes materials)

Sunday, February 18 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Family Day Interactive Performance: Try Your Hand at Puppetry
Lynne Jennings, Instructor
$20 member, $22 non-member (includes materials)

--
Michael & Valerie Nelson
Magical Moonshine Theatre
www.magicalmoonshine.org

Permanent link to this entry.

Okay, I'm a just a beginner and I barely know what I'm
doing, but I am making progress. Ronna Leon very
kindly gave me a portable puppet theater that she no
longer wanted. (I've been planning to build one for
the last year, but as single mom, well, you know ...)
The theater is great, but it needs a Scrimm (?) I get
the general idea. From behind the curtain, you want to
be able to see out, but you don't want your audience
to be able to see you. I can sew, but I don't know
kind of material I should get? Any suggestions? Does
anyone have any extra material that would be suitable?
The main curtain is a gold drapery material. If I can
get my act together, I'll take a picture and bring it
to the guild party on Saturday.

Any advicewill be appreciated. Thanks.

- Padmini Sokkappa

Permanent link to this entry.

My son's school (Livermore Valley Charter School) is
having a recycling contest to raise money for teaching
supplies. If anyone has a collection of plastic
grocery bags, empty aluminum cans or plastic bottles
(e.g. water bottles, 2-liter soda bottles) and is
looking for a good cause, bring them to the SFBPAG
holiday party next Saturday. Ravi will be delighted to
receive any contributions to his recycling campaign.
Thanks.

- Padmini Sokkappa

Permanent link to this entry.

Hello Guild Members,

You should have received your guild rosters in the mail within the
last few days (if you have paid your dues!) Organizing the rosters
with membership cards for the right people in the right envelopes is a
bigger job than you might think and big thanks go our to our
treasurer, Valerie Nelson, for this task.

Included in the mailing was a questionnaire about the guild. Thanks
also to those who have already filled out and sent in their copy.
Those who haven't yet, please take a moment to do so. It is quick and
easy. One respondent to the questionnaire said it would be easier to
complete if he/she knew the stated purpose of the guild, so I am
including that below in the copy of the email that I sent out
previously (only two people responded to that email, so if you were
not one of them, you still have a chance now!)

Thanks.
See you at the guild holiday bash and the Sonoma Puppetry Festival
(and if you don't know about these great January events, read your
newsletter!)
Michael Nelson
President, SFBAPG

PREVIOUS EMAIL WITH GUILD PURPOSE AS STATED IN THE BYLAWS:

In order to help your board better serve the membership of SFBAPG I
would like to use this email list as a forum, as I think that
currently this is the best way to reach the most guild members. I
hope you will help me by responding either by replying to this list
(so that your response is readable by all of the email list
subscribers) or by responding to me personally if you do not wish all
list subscribers to read your response (at mail magicalmoonshine dot org -
I will take your responses into account but respect your wishes as to
how to use or share the response.)

The following is from the Constitution and Bylaws:
SECTION 2. PURPOSE - The purpose of this organization is to encourage
and promote puppetry as a means of communication, as a performing art;
to enhance the proficiency of the art of puppetry, both professional
and amateur, by publications, workshops, conventions, meetings,
lectures, advisory services, and any and all other means and methods.

QUESTION: Do you feel that this description is still relevant to
SFBAPG (is this an accurate description of what the guild should be
doing?) Does it need to be revised, updated (if so, how?
Suggestions?) Would you add anything? Remove anything? Where do you
think the guild should be focusing its attentions, efforts? Are we
serving puppetry and our members as best we can?

RELATED QUESTION: Why did you join the guild? Is the guild what you
wanted it to be or what you think it should be? Is it doing what you
think it should be doing? Areas of improvement? How can we bring the
guild into the new millennium, make it relevant to now?

Permanent link to this entry.

Hello, SFBAPG!

I'm a puppeteer from Ohio (no palm trees, no flute music, just
frost!)—I wanted to let you know that my "teeny tiny puppet opus,"
FIFTEEN MINUTES: Of Mice and Mops, will be making its west coast
premiere at the International Family Film Festival in Hollywood
February 1st and 3rd. FIFTEEN MINUTES is the first puppet production
from Amalgamated Puppetworks, a group of puppeteers who started
working with me in an after school enrichment program in 1993 and
refused to stop coming to rehearsal for the next fourteen years. As
the puppeteers' lives expanded and their schedules became more
complex, we decided to move from live performance to film and video.
We still feature fresh, funny shows that are fit for the whole family,
with irresistible puppets and snappy writing that appeals to adults as
well as children.

FIFTEEN MINUTES made its premiere at the Sidewalk Moving Picture
Festival in 2006, where we were, without question, the only
independent filmmakers with a big purple bunny puppet handling our Q &
A session… come to think of it, we were the only independent
filmmakers handing out purple bunny finger puppets, too. Our
screening at Raleigh Studios will be our first time in Hollywood, and
we are in need of puppet friends to clap and cheer. I realize
California is a large and mighty state, and it's a long way from San
Francisco, but if you have puppet cronies in the southern end of the
state, please help us spread the word—the puppets are coming to
Hollywood in February! If you'd like more information about FIFTEEN
MINUTES, please visit our website at www.amalgamatedpuppetworks.com,
or email me at nlacher amalgamatedpuppetworks dot com.

Many thanks!

Nancy Lacher

Permanent link to this entry.

Happy New Year, Guild Members!
Your first Newsletter of the year is online and ready to download.
You can jump right to the link at
http://www.sfbapg.org/newsletter/archives/000760.html or get to it in
the newsletter section of the guild website.
Check it out right away, as the January calendar is filled with some
of the best puppetry opportunities the Bay Area has seen in a while,
starting with the GUILD HOLIDAY PARTY with guest performers traveling
up from Southern California, and a visit by Father Christmas, and the
brand new SONOMA COMMUNITY CENTER PUPPETRY FESTIVAL (featuring an
international array of great puppeteers performing and doing
workshops).
And don't forget to respond to your guild president's request for your input.
All the best to you all,
Michael Nelson
SFBAPG President and acting newsletter editor

SEE YOU AT THE GUILD HOLIDAY BASH!!!

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Coming from Colorado Springs! The David Simpich Marionettes are
returning to Palo Alto!

Master puppeteer David Simpich and his thirty hand-carved marionettes
bring to life John Bunyan's timeless tale of a fantastic dream -- The
Pilgrim's Progress. This elaborate two-hour production portrays the
classic visions found in the New World's first best-seller: the
Slough of Despond; Vanity Fair; the River of Death; battles with
demons and dragons; imprisonment by a giant; and colorful discourse
with an array of wise men and fools.

Friday, January 26 7:30 PM * Saturday, January 27 7:30 PM *
Sunday, January 28 4:30 PM

First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto
1140 Cowper Street (at Lincoln) in Palo Alto

Tickets available at the door.
$15 adults, $12 children & youth
For advance reservations or more information, call Mary Decker at 650-361-1723.

Due to its length (2 hours) and content, NOT recommended for children
under 8 years. Aimed at adults and older children.

David Simpich has won four Citations of Excellence from the American
Center of l'Union Internationale de la Marionnette, and The
President's Award from the Puppeteers of America -- the highest honor
in North American puppetry.

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