Synopses & Reviews
Unlike other performing arts, puppetry is perhaps the only art form in which directing, acting, writing, designing, sculpture, and choreography are combined. In effect, the performer is creating an artistic entertainment that will appeal to audiences of all ages — in homes, in theaters, and in classrooms.
This lucid, easy-to-follow book was specifically conceived to teach beginners how to bring a hand puppet to life and how, with practice, to develop the skills needed to mount an amateur puppet show — complete with staging, costumes, and special effects. Award-winning puppeteers Larry Engler and Carol Fijan provide ingenious finger, wrist, and arm exercises that are crucial for creating a full working range of puppet motions and emotions. They also cover the elements of good puppet theatrical technique: speech, voice use, and synchronization; stage deportment and interactions; improvisation, dramatic conflict, role characterization, and more.
Every detail is clearly explained and beautifully illustrated with photographs, specific chapters being devoted to the use of props, puppet voices and movements, the construction of simple stages and lighting effects, and much more. A splendid addition to the literature on this subject, Making Puppets Come Alive is "the best book on hand puppetry we've seen." — The Whole Kids Catalog.
Synopsis
Lucid, easy-to-follow guide covers voice use and synchronization, stage deportment and interactions, improvisation, staging, lighting, much more.
Synopsis
"The best book on hand puppetry we've seen." — The Whole Kids Catalog. Lucid, easy-to-follow book teaches beginners how to create a full working range of puppet motions and emotions. Also covers elements of good puppet theatrical technique: voice use and synchronization, stage deportment and interactions, improvisation, simple staging, lighting effects, and more. All clearly explained and beautifully illustrated.
Synopsis
Lucid, easy-to-follow book teaches beginners how to create a full working range of puppet motions and emotions. Also covers elements of good puppet theatrical technique: voice use and synchronization, stage deportment and interactions, improvisation, simple staging, lighting effects, and more. All clearly explained and beautifully illustrated.
Synopsis
Lucid, easy-to-follow book teaches beginners how to create a full working range of puppet motions and emotions. Also covers elements of good puppet theatrical technique.
Table of Contents
IntroductionWhat Is Puppetry?What Is a Puppet?Hand PuppetsFinger MovementsWrist MovementsArm MovementsAn Exercise for Basic MovementsPantomimeThe Use of PropsPuppet VoicesHow Should a Puppet Move When Speaking?Improvisation and ConflictSuggested ImprovisationsMouth PuppetsCritiquePreparing an End-of-Term ProductionThe Construction of Felt PuppetsThe Construction of Simple Mouth PuppetsSimple StagesSimple LightingAppendix: An Outline for Lesson PlanBibliography of Recommended BooksList of Puppetry Organizations