May16

Upcoming Puppet Workshop & Shows

Upcoming puppet workshops and shows

Cayla Raymaker will voice Pearl, a Bunraku puppet

What: CWU performance of “Pearl and the Five Headed Dragon”

When: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Where: Hertz Hall Room 100

Cost: Free

What: Children’s Puppet Workshop (build puppets, learn storytelling skills, mini puppet show)

Recommended ages: 6- 10 years

Where: Gallery One, 408 N. Pearl St.

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, 1-3:30 p.m. Sunday

Cost: $20 (The Charlotte Y. Martin Foundation is covering most of the cost).

By ALISA WEIS

eburgmoms.com

For the Daily Record

 

Central Washington University senior theater major Ashlen Hodge became intrigued with puppets as a little girl, and the fascination never left her. She couldn’t be happier with an internship at Gallery One which allows her to share her interest of puppetry with children and produce a show with the assistance of her peers and mentors.

A children’s puppet workshop planned Saturday and Sunday at Gallery One still has room available. At the workshop, Hodge will give children the chance to build their own puppets from socks, felt, and many other materials. Meanwhile, they will learn the storytelling skills needed to perform their own five-minute puppet show at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Though the workshops and shows are Hodge’s senior project, she is blessed to have 13 individuals helping her with what she’s named The Adbhuta Puppetry Project, or TAPP. The term “adbhuta” means “extraordinary” or “astonishing” among other things, she said.

The nonprofit company produces original puppet shows and provides workshops for adults and children to explore the wonders of puppetry, the world, and themselves, she said.

Inspiration

After graduation, Hodge will keep striving to share her love of puppetry with the public.

Hodge draws inspiration from puppeteers, artists, and actors who are graciously lending a hand to her first effort as production manager. One of her greatest teachers thus far is professional puppeteer Brian Kooser, who began the craft under retired professor Jim Hawkins at CWU. Though living and working predominantly in Seattle, Kooser helped teach CWU theater students more about Bunraku, an ancient Japanese form of puppetry. The puppets, which are not cartoonish like the Muppets, are “a lot more lifelike,” Hodge says. “Their bodies are made out of foam, so they can twist.”

Kooser, who attends the rehearsals, knows the technical ends and outs of puppetry. Though the final result looks fluid, it takes considerable effort for the actors to learn how to manipulate the puppets in a lifelike manner. It takes five actors to operate Pearl and Daniel, the two Bunraku-style puppets in an upcoming performance. Theater major Kylie Rose will simultaneously control the left arm of Pearl and the left arm of Daniel. It takes four students to bring the five-headed dragon to life.

“I have great regard for what she’s doing,” Hodge says.

Often professional puppeteers spend 10 years learning to operate even one section of the puppet’s body, such as the feet, the arms, or the head.

Show on Friday

People can see Pearl and Daniel close up during a free performance of “Pearl and the Five Headed Dragon” at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Hertz Hall. The production includes the talents of theater students Katelyn Schiller, who helped design the puppets, writer and director Sarah Andrews and art student Tyson Ward, who helped create the papier mache dragon. Pearl is voiced by theater major Cayla Raymaker, and Daniel is voiced by theater major Thomas Fowler.

In searching for a story line, Andrews sought fairytale material and drew from a few aspects of Rapunzel. “Pearl and the Five Headed Dragon” is about a baby who floats down from the sky, is found by a dragon who decides to raise her, but is afraid of magic, and tries to make Pearl think she’s deformed. Though the dragon tries to prevent Pearl from believing that anything exists beyond the island, Daniel enters the story as a shipwrecked survivor. Daniel helps Pearl discover lessons of independence, friendship, and love.

“We want to share the message with kids that they are fine the way they are,” Hodge says of the plot she and her team will present.

CWU puppeteers look forward to performing their show locally and also taking to the road for two performances at the Strawberry Festival in Sunnyside.

“This has been a learning process for all of us,” Hodge says. “I’m thankful for all the help I’ve gotten for a volunteer project and am amazed that so many were willing to do this with without credits or pay. I want to share this grassroots concept of self expression through puppetry after graduation and hope it’s something CWU will continue to do in the years to come.”

Cast:

Jordan-Michael Whidbey- Musician

Aaron Johnson- Sound Effects

Tyson Ward- The Skeptic Dragon Head

Drew Gibbs- The Fearful Dragon Head

Viliami Pahulu- The Leading Dragon Head, and the Hungry Dragon Head

Ryan Clements- The Logical Dragon Head

Cayla Raymaker- Voice of Pearl

James Clark- Pearl’s Feet

Kylie Rose- Daniel and Pearl’s arms

Thomas Fowler- Voice of Daniel

Cole Ziegler- Daniel’s Feet

Artistic Director- Brian Kooser

Director- Sarah Andrews

Stage Manager- Riannon Kintz

Production Manager- Ashlen Hodge

Puppet Designer- Katelyn Schiller

Puppet Builder- Tyson White

Set Designer- Cole Ziegler

 

 

 

 

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May11

Children’s Day

What: Children’s Day downtown When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday Where: Rotary Pavilion For the DAILY RECORD The ninth annual Children’s Day Downtown is 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in Ellensburg. The free event includes informational tables about upcoming summer youth programs, activities at businesses downtown and children’s performances at Rotary Pavilion. It is sponsored by the Ellensburg Public Library and the Ellensburg Downtown Association. Performances are scheduled throughout the morning. Mount Stuart Elementary School Chorus takes the stage from 10 to 10:30 a.m., Lincoln Elementary Music Club performs from 10:30-11 a.m., Valley View Elementary School choir sings from 11 to 11:30 a.m., and Kittitas Valley Children’s Choir finishes the program from 11:30 a.m. to noon. Local businesses will host activity stations for children throughout downtown. Some highlights include worms in dirt snack at the Ellensburg Pet Center, a scavenger hunt and drawing for a gift at Kittitas County Historical Museum, and a treasure chest at Fitterer’s Furniture. Ellensburg Children’s and Young Adult Librarian Josephine Camarillo said it’s not too late for other groups to sign up. Contact her at camarillo@cityofellensburg.org to secure a table and two chairs to showcase summer offerings. After the event, she will have a binder filled with summer activity information at her desk at the library. “We are hoping that more agencies will participate and be a part of this so Children’s Day can grow into an even bigger venue in the future,” Camarillo said.

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Apr05

Easter Egg Hunts

Friday:
• Dog Easter biscuit hunt, 6-7 p.m., Lions/Mountain View Park. A handler 16 years or older must accompany all dogs, and pets must remain on a leash at all times. Sponsored by city of Ellensburg Parks and Recreation Department.
• Flashlight Easter egg hunt, 8 p.m, Lions/Mountain View Park. Participants age 3-12 should bring their own flashlight and Easter basket. The hunt will be split up by age group. Sponsored by city of Ellensburg Parks and Recreation Department.
Saturday:
• Ellensburg Moose Lodge Easter egg hunt, 9:30 a.m., Mountain View Park. This hunt was held in previous years at Olmstead Place State Park.
• Easter egg hunt, 10 a.m., at Mercer Creek Church. Includes Easter stories and singing. For kids age 2 through second-grade.
• Cle Elum Volunteer Fire Department annual Easter egg hunt, 11 a.m., Grant Street behind the baseball fields. Free prizes, raffle and more.
• Kittitas community Easter egg hunt, 11 a.m., Kittitas Elementary School back ballfields. Age groups will be ages 0-3, 4-7 and 8-11. Face painting, crafts, barbecue and field games are planned after the hunt. Sponsored by New Life Assembly and New Hope Baptist in Kittitas.
• Flashlight Easter egg hunt, registration at 7 p.m. with the hunt starting at 7:45 p.m., Cle Elum-Roslyn Elementary and Walter Strom Middle School. The event will benefit the Restore the Library group in Cle Elum. Tickets cost $10 for adults and $5 for children. Participants should bring flashlights and bags. A separate hunt for children is planned with age-appropriate prizes.
Sunday:
• Easter egg hunt, 1 p.m., Ellensburg Foursquare Church, 901 E. Mountain View Ave.
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