Did you know that many believe the word "puppeteer," which describes a person who works with puppets, originated in Chicago? Get ready for lots of puppeteers to visit our city this week for the first ever Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival! The festival runs from January 14-25, with more than 50 performances happening at 13 venues throughout the city.
Puppetry is the art of bringing objects to life, but it can take many forms, including marionettes, shadow puppets and tiny toy puppets! I love puppetry because it combines art and design with performance. When I was a child, I made sock puppets out of household items and then lip-synced to songs with them. I also enjoy watching Vietnamese water puppetry, a style that is hundreds of years old. I love the way the puppets tell stories on water with music.
Anyone can be a puppeteer! Try making your own puppets at home. I love Puppet Mania! because it offers great suggestions for bringing puppets to life, addressing your audience and other aspects of performing. It also has fun puppet projects like a "Picture Puppet" and a "Sock Puppy" if you're feeling crafty. For even more puppet projects, check out Puppets.
Ashley's Bryan's Puppets combines puppetry with the magic that happens when you create puppets out of everyday found objects.
What do puppets do when there's no one around to bring them to life? Find out When the Library Lights Go Out and three-story time puppets have an adventure!
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