Puppet Guild News
Greater
Founded 1938, Chartered by Puppeteers of
Celebrating our 70th year!
Editor: Steve Abrams
Website www.phillypuppets.org
Contents OCT 2008
1. Oct 20th Meeting
2. Nov 16th Meeting- 70th Anniversary of Guild Celebration
3. Fall Schedule
4. Robert Lenton
5. Guild Meeting Wed June 11th at the Tuckers
6.
7. Editor's Note
Oct 20th Meeting
Monday October 20
Chadds Ford PA 19317
610 459-1038
join us next week for our first meeting
2008 Festival Report
Share your memories, photos, videos, and current projects.
Puppet Rampage (national fest 2007) DVD preview (if there is time)
Peek at the Guild library books. Refreshments!
This summer our guild library lost its home at Mum Puppettheate
Thanks to bookmovers-Bill Scott, Mike Mancuso, Pam
Nelson, George and Ann Neff, Steve Abrams, Morgan Andrews all the books
were moved to Bill Scotts Church. Thanks to the work of Bill Scott,
His secretary Susie,Pam Nelson, and the Neffs there will finally be
an inventory of the guild library. Count so far
over 250 books filling 8 boxes
at least 8 more boxes of Puppetry Journals, Puppetry
International, programs, articles and brochures
--------------------------------------------------------
Nov 16th Guild's 70th Anniversary Celebration
Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers earned a thunderous standing
ovation for "Everybody Loves Pirates" their first festival show in
2004. They instantly became festival favorites appearing at the 2005, and 2007
Puppeteers of America national festivals and winning
2 UNIMA Citations for Excellence. Their third show "The Legend
of Sleepy Hollow" was a highlight of the regional festival in
These 3 young puppeteers from
Frogtown will perform to celebrate the 70th anniversary of
the Greater Philadelphia Area Puppetry Guild.
The Phila Puppet Guild has a long tradition of
encouraging young puppeteers.
To celebrate the guild's 25th anniversary in 1963, Jim Henson (age
27) was the featured performer.
The tradition continues.
Join us for a highly entertaining show
Sunday November 16 3 or
70th Anniversary Celebration of the
610 688-3553
present "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"
Family, friends and the public are welcome. (Donation)
Refreshments and Exhibit on Guild History
----------------------------------------------
Fall Schedule
Monday October 20 1:30 PM (see above)
Brandywine Baptist Church, US Rte #1
Chadds Ford PA 19317
610 459-1038
Sunday November 16 3 or 3:30 PM (SAVE THE
DATE)
Wayne Art Center
70th Anniversary Celebration of the Philadelphia Guild!
413 Maplewood Avenue
Wayne PA 19087
610 688-3553
Frogtown Mountain Puppets
present "The Headless Horseman"
Family, friends and the public are welcome. (Donation)
Refreshments and Exhibit on Guild History
Saturday December 6 8 PM
4014 Walnut Street The Rotunda
Philadelphia PA 19104
215 909-2633 http://puppetuprising.org/
Puppet Uprising "Year End Cabaret"
A Cavalcade of Short Puppet Shows
Live Music (Donation)
Saturday January 3 10:30 AM
Liberty Bell Museum
622 W. Hamilton Street
Allentown, PA 18101
610 435 4232 http://www.libertybellmuseum.org/
"Behind the Scenes with Pip the Mouse"
Backstage view, performance and visit with the
Allentown puppeteers.
(we will bring or buy lunch)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert Lenton 1928-2008
Puppeteer, artist, musician Robert Lenton passed away at
the age of 80.
During the Bi-Centenial Year 1976 Bob Lenton and
his sons Andrew and Greg
performed shows right in the shadow of Independence Hall.
Bob had a dream of performing Spanish language puppet plays.
Around 1980 he settled in Spain and received funding from the Province of
Grenada, and also performed at the National Theatre in Madrid. Bob returned
from Spain around 1988 and retired from puppetry.
Bob was born in Chester and grew up in Prospect Park (Delaware Co)
After graduating high school in 1946 Bob first pursued a musical
career. He played classical clarinet and also saxaphone.
From 1964-1969 he was the proprietor of the The Circle
Gallery 2014 Sansom St. His landlord was puppeteer Hal Taylor who
introducing Bob to puppetry.
From 1968-1973 the Lentons also ran Sea Chest
Craft Gallery in
From 1975-1978 the Lenton Puppets performed
for Phila, Parks and Recreation Dept. Four of
Bob Lenton's puppets are in the collection of the Center for Puppetry
Arts in
A memorial service and celebration of
Robert Lenton's life will be held at
22nd and
Sat Oct 18 at
the family welcomes Phila area puppeteers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Previous gatherings
Guild Meeting Wed June 11th at the Tuckers
Marianne and Tom Tucker-hosts, George and Ann Neff, Steve
Abrams, Mark Segal, Dave Fiebert,
Morgan FitzPatrick Andrews, Bill Scott, Liz Evans,
Bruce Brachman, Ish Klein, Joe Cashore, Joe Dunfee,
Elaine Woodall
There was a brief business meeting. The current board of directors
for the guild was re-elected
Fine cover dish food at the the Tuckers. More and more puppets
appeared as the evening moved along. Joe Cashore,
Mark Segal, Ish Klein ( a first time visitor to the guild) all
shared puppets and stages.
Here are 2 comments
"Last night had I the privilege due to the kind hosting by
the Tucker's to finally attend a guild meeting.
I really liked being there and being a part of this
very eceltic (okay weird - come on admit it!) group of people who
have one thing in common a love of puppetry.
There were all kinds there, from the puppet groupie who has been a
major support (because of his love of the art) to an internationally known
marionette ARTIST (who does embody that term).
There were professionals who do this as their living, retired
professionals, educators, hobbyists, a film maker and on and on. A lot of
capacity and experience packed into 15 people.
All with one thing in common. A willingness (and desire) to share
information and themselves.During the round of introductions Liz Evans talked
about her her first puppet festival. She said that as a newbie (awhile back) of
how much it meant to be in a conversation with Jane Henson. The inclusiveness
of it.
If you are interested in puppetry come on in to this (disjointed)
family you are sure to be welcomed.
We can all still be awed and we all have something to learn and
appreciate from one another.
It was like a blast of sanity. This is our world! We are all
willing to help one another.It is interesting that nobody was in a hurry to
leave.
Thank you - all of you that keep our guild alive and functioning
just so that once in a while I can have the pleasure of being with and a
part of this group of people."
Mark Segal
"I
thought it was an exciting night full of surprises and some fab bonding..I have
not had that kind of puppetry exchange very often and it was so welcoming
...the energy overflow will lead me into the summer..I felt younger"
Dave Fiebert
-------------------------------------------------------------
Festival
About 20 area puppeteers attended the regional festival.
Bill Scott (festival registrar), Marianne and Tom Tucker (festival
workshops), George and Ann Neff, Mark Segal, Dave Fiebert, Steve
Abrams, Liz Evans, Pam Nelson, Mary Benson, Alisa Kleckner, Mack Emmert,
Kathleen Jacobs, Mark Keeler, Henry Garrison, Ralph Aymin, John Van
Horn, Pauline Boyce,, Catherine Marchand
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Editor's Note
I know it has been a long time between newsletters. The last one
was 4 months ago announcing the meeting at the Tuckers. Sorry to be out of
touch for so long.
I am cutting back on my activities with the guild. Last year I
vowed not to collect dues again. Dues are due. You will soon be hearing from
the new treasurer and I hope you will give generously to the guild.
Steve