SFBAPG friends-

Last call for December's performance calendar. Anything
you're doing or know of that's happening related to puppetry.

Note: If it's for the calendar, please send it to me.
I'll format it to make it simpler for Talib
to put in the newsletter, and I'll also put it on the website
calendar. If you just send it to Talib, it'll double the work and it
won't get on the calendar. A short paragraph description works fine
for the calendar; any longer articles you should send directly to
Talib.

Also: If you know your January calendar, please send that as well.

Cheers-
Conrad
Calendar Czar

SFBAPG members Conrad Bishop and Elizabeth Fuller, directors of The
Independent Eye ensemble, will present a reading to celebrate
publication of their dramatic anthology, MYTHIC PLAYS: INANNA TO
FRANKENSTEIN, on Sunday, November 23rd, 4:00 p.m. at Coffee Catz,
6761 Sebastopol Ave. (Hwy. 12), Sebastopol. Admission is free, and
books will be on sale.

MYTHIC PLAYS, published by WordWorkers Press, is a collection of four
plays created and performed by The Independent Eye in collaboration
with leading American theatre ensembles, including Touchstone
Theatre, Berkeley's Shotgun Players, and CSC Repertory, over a span
of 25 years. Bishop & Fuller will read selections from the plays,
which include Medea/Sacrament, Frankenstein, Ragnarok: Doom of the
Gods, and Descent of the Goddess Inanna, and will talk about the uses
of myth in the theatre.

Bishop and Fuller are twice recipients of writing fellowships from
the National Endowment for the Arts and have written more than 50
produced plays, staged by their own ensemble as well as such theatres
as Mark Taper Forum, Denver Center Theatre, Actors Theatre of
Louisville's Humana Festival, Circle Repertory, and many others.

Guild Holiday Meeting, January 10, 2009

Saturday, Jan 10

Late afternoon/evening

Location: TBD

Mark your calendars for this Guild traditional celebration of the Holidays and New Year, featuring

The Frog Prince by Fratello Marionettes

&

Coulter and Star Ventriloquists

Holiday Potluck Supper

Gift Exchange

and More!

PERFORMANCES

The Frog Prince by Fratello Marionettes

This classic Fairytale is the story of the spoiled Princess Ofelia on the day of her birthday celebration. The Court Jesters have come to entertain us with their acrobatic feats. We soon discover that the wicked witch has transformed a handsome Prince into a frog and he is destined to live out his life in the wishing well. While playing in the meadow, the Princess Ofelia accidentally drops her new golden ball into the well. The Princess promises to grant the frog three wishes before he will retrieve her ball. Will the princess follow through with her promises, and will the frog indeed turn back into the handsome Prince?

Kevin Menegus: Founder of Fratello Marionettes, Performer, Builder

Kevin Menegus developed his unique style of puppetry while performing throughout the world. Kevin has studied with puppeteers Tony Urbano, Bob Baker, Randall Metz and Lewis Mahlmann. Kevin received his Bachelor of Music Degree in Percussion Performance at the University Of The Pacific Conservatory Of Music. Kevin has traveled throughout the United States performing classical, jazz and new music. More info at http://www.fratellom.com/ptroupe.htm

Coulter and Star Ventriloquists

Comedy vignettes by Ron Coulter and his partner Sid.

As Ron says, "Ever since Sid Star and I were the same age, we have worked together. Sid still looks the same - he loves to say that."

I say, "Time is the great healer."
Sid says, "Yeah, but it's a lousy beautician."

Ron Coulter has toured nationally and toured Asia for the U.S. State Department and the U.S.O. He was one of fourteen world playwrights invited to the United Nations and one of two invited back. Comedy is his passion. For a decade each, Ron & Sid taught college theater, founded and operated Oakland's Myth and Magic Factory, served in ministry, benefited from corporate work and now, enjoy a provocative retirement. More info at http://www.CoulterandStar.com

POTLUCK SUPPER

Please your favorite dish to share with others. Microwave available. Dinnerware will be provided.

GIFT EXCHANGE

If you wish to participate in the exchange, bring a puppet related, wrapped gift to add to the pile (in the past, $10.00 approximate value has been suggested.) All who bring a gift will get to receive one.

This message comes from Greg Ballora, a puppeteer in the L.A. area:

With all the fires in Southern California right now, prevention and
loss is sort of a theme. Sadly, one of the houses that was lost day
before yesterday in the Sylmar fire was that of Ed Chiodo of Chiodo
Brothers. They are multi-talented designer/director/producers,
responsible for many film and TV projects with puppets and animation,
as well as actors. Killer Klowns from outerspace to Team America,
they have been very good to puppeteers and puppets, and I hope we get
the chance to help them in return. Ed's Family is fine, but the house
is a total loss....

Hello everyone,
Hopefully you received the notice about our Holiday Party on January 10th.
This is always one of the best attended events of our year, and it is great
fun.
It's a pot luck (like you didn't know already?), with lots of good food,
tremendous
performances - one by the Fratello Marionettes and one by Coulter & Star
Ventriloquists.
There will also be a raffle, with proceeds going to our scholarship fund -
so bring anything you'd like to "donate" for this worthwhile event. We also
have
items from Karen Prell for this better than ever raffle.
OK, everything is in place for a great party........... EXCEPT... (you knew
this was
coming, didn't you)
We need a place to have this.

Do you know of any place that would be suitable for the party:
It needs to have a kitchen with a microwave
Good parking, reasonably priced, centrally located
A place for performing - and the audience.

San Leandro Community Center is not available
Fort Mason is too expensive
Vallejo Music Center - is available and reasonable priced - for a back up.

Do you know of another place that would meet the above qualifications?
We are willing to pay a reasonable amount.
For some people Vallejo isn't centrally located, so we are looking for other
possibilities.
Please let Lee know, or me (Sharon Clay) or respond back to the Yahoo
groups and we'll check out your suggestion.

Sharon Clay

Dear Friends,

The November newsletter is now on online. You can download it here:

http://www.sfbapg.org/newsletter/archives/Nov_SFBAPG_Newsletter.pdf

If you have any problems with this link, please let me know. I am
also starting on the December newsletter now, so, if you have any
submissions, send them on. If you send calendar items, go ahead and
include January dates as well.

Talib

Dear Friends,

Yes, the newsletter is on its way. It should be online and in the
mail this Saturday. I apologize for the lateness this month -- a
confluence of factors that I don't need to go into delayed me
devoting the time it needed.

Talib

Hi Guild members,
Sorry for the short notice, I just saw the poster at the library. This
is especially for all of you folk music lovers who have never seen
limberjacks performed!

STORYTELLING, MUSIC, AND OLD-TIME ENTERTAINMENTS

with Joe and Paula McHugh

Joe's storytelling draws from a rich treasure trove of American oral
tradition including folktales, tall tales, humor, and ghost stories. In
addition Joe and Paula play the fiddle, banjo, and "courting" dulcimer.
They demonstrate a variety of unique limberjack dolls and "fiddle
sticks."
"One of the best storytellers in North America." U.
Utah Phillips

SHAKIN' DOWN THE ACORNS Monday Nov. 17 McKinley School - 110 Ellis
Street,
Petaluma
6:30-8pm

Sorry I can't be there. Enjoy, Elisheva

--
Michael & Valerie Nelson

Dear SFBAPG fellow members,

For the 80th birthday of her mother, the photographer of my FISHERMAN project would like to hire someone who makes music on a Chinese instrument.

Please contact me if you can recommend anybody.
I will then put her in touch with you respectiveley the person you recommended (via email).

Thanks and all the best

Herbert

Hi all,

My new puppet theater production of THE FISHERMAN AND HIS WIFE (based on the original by the Brothers Grimm, for everybody age 5+) has just premiered in Mill Valley and will come to San Francisco soon - as part of the Holiday Season traditions.

Dates:
December 12 at 7 p.m., in English,
December 13 at 2 p.m., in German
Location: Goethe Institute on 530 Bush Street.
length of program: 40 minutes

Meanwhile, I'm looking for an affordable, flexible, experienced, humorous and talented/professional photographer who can take digital pictures of the show for its promotion. If you can help out or know of somebody who could, please let me know respectively give me a call.

All the best and lots of thanks!

:-)

Herbert

HELLO GUILD MEMBERS! Just a quick reminder for those planning to come to
our don't-miss guild workshop and meeting Sunday, Nov. 2 that there is a
time change on Sunday morning (Remember? Spring forward, Fall back?)