When young Victor’s pet dog Sparky (who stars in Victor’s home-made monster movies) is hit by a car, Victor decides to bring him back to life the only way he knows how. But when the bolt-necked “monster” wreaks havoc and terror in the hearts of Victor’s neighbors, he has to convince them (and his parents) that despite his appearance, Sparky’s still the good loyal friend he’s always been.
For Geppetto’s Junkyard, a puppetry troupe based in Haines, Alaska, near the Canadian border, few topics are off limits. The puppeteers find that they can say anything they want with a puppet
Independent Eye uses puppets to bring life to Shakespeare’s “King Lear.” The Independent Eye is a professional theatre founded by Conrad Bishop and Elizabeth Fuller in 1974, now based in Sebastopol, CA
The puppeteer in this clip is Don Sahlin (June 19, 1928 in Stratford, Connecticut – February 19, 1978 in New York City) was a Muppet designer and builder who worked for Jim Henson from 1962 to 1977. His first creation for Jim Henson was Rowlf the Dog, which he built in 1962 for a series of Purina Dog Chow commercials. Don would go on to design and build most of the Muppet characters, including Bert and Ernie, Grover, and Cookie Monster among others. His character designs are often recognizable for their spheroid heads partially bisected to create large mouths. Although always based on sketches by Jim Henson, the Muppet founder regularly stated that it was Don who should be credited with creating the actual Muppet “look”, and Henson later had a bench in London dedicated to his memory. The series finale of Fraggle Rock is also dedicated to him. After all the regular credits have been shown, a special credit appears which reads “This show is for Don Sahlin”.
Behind the scenes of the Lion King
Ko’olau – Tom Lee
Alonzo’s Lullaby – Nana Projects
Petrushka – Basil Twist
Jollyship the Whizbang – Nick Jones
Tiger Tales – Chinese Theater Works
Bokan, the Bad Hearted – Loco7
White Elephant – Lake SImons & John Dyer
Viva Pincho! – Teatro SEA
Fortune Teller – Phantom Limb
The Golden Legend – Christopher Williams
Tin Lightning – Chris Green
Fabrik: The Legend of M. Rabinowitz – Wakka Wakka Productions
Disfarmer – Dan Hurlin
Beethoven in Camera – Roman Paska
Thirst: Memory of Water – Jane Catherine Shaw
Helen Queen of Sparta – Theodora Skipitares
Ricky Syers is an off-beat 50 year old street performer who found his calling as a puppeteer after a lifetime of manual labor. While performing in New York City’s Washington Square Park, he met Doris Diether, an 86 year old community activist. They became friends and he made a marionette that looks just like her. Now she’s joined his act and the two of them can often be seen performing together.