Muppets and other Puppets at the Orlando History Centre

If you live in Central Florida or plan to visit sometime in the next few months, be sure to pay a visit to the Orlando History Centre, which is hosting a bunch of fantastic puppetry between now and then end of April. It all kicks off next week with the grand opening of Jim Henson’s Fantastic World with Heather Henson next Thursday, followed by Look Both Ways, a special behind-the-scenes presentation by Jane Henson exploring the creation of the Muppets (this, alas, is already sold out).

There's lots more planned for the coming months, including:

• Muppets, Music & Magic: Jim Henson’s Legacy - A remounting of the original program that ran at the Brooklyn Academy of Music several years ago
• The Dark Crystal Redux: Klakk smaithh Skwee Kreh - A exhibit of 12 works by photographer John Lawrence Jones that attempt to capture the world of the Dark Crystal (March 14 - May 10).
• Muppets 101 - Heather Henson hosts a special screening of rare Muppet material that includes early TV appearances, commercials, and guest spots on The Dick Cavett Show.
  
• Puppetry in Central Florida - An exhibit that explores the history of puppetry in Central Florida (March 14 - May 10).
  
• Family puppetry workshops (selected weekends, February - April)

Many of these events require advanced registration and are likely to sell out. Visit www.thehistorycenter.org for more information and reservations.

Lili at the Santa Monica Puppetry Festival

Leslie Caron with puppets Renaldo the Fox and Carrot Top in the 1953 MGM musical Lili.

The inaugural Santa Monica Puppetry Festival kicked off today in Santa Monica, California and runs through Sunday. The festival is paying tribute to actress Leslie Caron and 1953 MGM puppet-themed musical Lili (better known as Carnival - the title of the film's stage adaptation) with a special screening of the movie followed by a discussion with Ms. Caron moderated by film historian Leonard Maltin.

Leslie Caron will also be leading an audience sing-along of the Academy Award-winning song "Hi Lili, Hi Lo" from Lili as part of the festival's Celebration of Puppetry. Also appearing on the bill is Mallory Lewis (who has taken over the role of Lambchop from her late mother Shari) and three legendary marionette puppeteers - Bob Baker, Tony Urbano and Rene Zendejas.

A Celebration of Puppetry Takes Place Saturday night 7:30 p.m.; the special screening of Lili is Sunday evening at the same time. Both events take place at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica. Visit www.santamonicapuppetryfestival.com for more details.

Update: Check out this classic interview with the puppets from Lili with a young Alan Cook on YouTube. In it Alan briefly explains some of the history behind the Lili puppets and their original puppeteers.

The Sure Sheep

John Kennedy (top centre) and puppeteers on the set of The Sure Sheep.

John Kennedy has teamed up with Heather Henson's company IBEX on a new project for kids called The Sure Sheep, an original short film for Handmade Puppet Dreams for Kids. John's developed a couple of really innovative-sounding techniques for the film; a method for computer animating a puppet's legs and what he describes as "a new puppet skin technique which enables foam sculptors to paint and detail a flexible latex skin directly on a finished foam puppet head."

A really talented crew that consisted of some of the best puppeteers in Florida worked on this, including John himself (who also served as director), Jamie and James Donmoyer, Scott and James Silson, Scotty Shoemaker, Tracie Mick-Shoemaker, Rob Lott, Tony Whitten and several others. You can read more about The Sure Sheep at the link above and also check out the film's storyboards.

The Sure Sheep will be screened at the Smithsonian’s Discovery Theater next weekend on October 3rd and 4th as part of Heather Henson's Handmade Puppet Dreams For Kids. After the October 4th screening John will be giving a special puppet workshop teaching how to make the "Sweatshirt Sheep" seen in the film. Plus, it's also the final weekend of the Jim Henson’s Fantastic World exhibit that's currently on display at the Smithsonian so if you're in or near Washington D.C. next weekend (especially with kids) don't miss it.

Midnight Marionettes in Toronto

Peter Jackson's cult classic Meet The Feebles screens as part of the Midnight Marionettes series this weekend in Toronto.

The Fox Theatre in Toronto is reviving its Midnight Movies at the Fox series by screening a couple great puppet movies this weekend in an event they call "Midnight Marionettes". Gerry Anderson's Thunderbirds Are Go is being shown Saturday night, followed by Peter Jackson's Meet The Feebles on Sunday. Both films start at 11:30 p.m. and prizes from The Watcher Comics and Hammer Skateboard will be given out a both screenings.

Rare Puppet Films Tomorrow Night in L.A.

The Los Angeles Guild of Puppetry is presenting their Sixth Annual Evening of Rare 16mm Puppet Films from the Collection of Mark Bryan Wilson tomorrow night (Saturday, January 26th) at 7:00 p.m. The screening is taking place at the beautiful Bob Baker Marionette Theater, which is located at 1345 West 1st Street in Los Angeles, below the 2nd Street overpass. Admission is free for LAGOP members; non-members are asked to make a $5.00 donation to the guild.

If you're in or near L.A. this is a great opportunity to see some rare puppet films and meet the great puppeteers who make up the LAGOP so don't miss it!

Puppet Films at the Orlando Puppet Festival

Handmade Puppet Dreams Volume 3 is coming to the Orlando Puppet Festival next week.

If you are in or near Orlando, Florida next weekend you catch Handmade Puppet Dreams - Heather Henson's ongoing, traveling mini-festival of puppet films and videos - at the 3rd Annual Orlando Puppet Festival. You can also check out a variety of puppetry performances and performances from a wide range of puppetry artists including The Cashore Marionettes, Sandglass Theatre, John Kennedy and more! See the festival schedule for full details.

Dante's Inferno Screening in Venice, CA

The Toy Theatre film Dante's Inferno will screened this weekend in Venice, CA.

If you live in or near Venice, CA and you've been wanting to see the toy theatre film adaptation of Dante's Inferno (see previous post) a special screening is being held at the Quiksilver Mission this Saturday, July 28th, at 8 p.m. Click here for more information and to RSVP.

Handmade Puppet Dreams 3 Now Accpeting Submissions

Heather Henson's Handmade Puppet Dreams III is now accepting submissions.

Handmade Puppet Dreams - Heather Henson's touring "mini-fest" of independent puppet film and video - is now accepting submissions for its third edition, which debuts on April 21st at the Newport Beach Film Festival. If you have a live action puppet film or video that you would like to be considered, download an entry form (link goes directly to a .pdf file) and submit it ASAP.

Handmade Puppet Dreams in Chicago

Handmade Puppet Dreams returns to Chicago this weekend.

The first edition of Heather Henson's Handmade Puppet Dreams actually screened in Chicago last weekend, but if you live in or near the Windy City and missed it don't fret because Handmade Puppet Dreams II is being shown this weekend. The first screening is tonight at 8 p.m. at Links Hall with additional screenings tomorrow night at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m. Click here for more information.