Center for Puppetry Arts

The Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, Georgia was founded in 1978 by Vincent Anthony. It is the nation’s largest organization dedicated to the art form of and focuses on three areas: performance, education and museum.

Performances

Each year the Center for Puppetry Arts presents the Family Series, a collection of adapted classic and new works performed in a variety of puppetry styles by the Center company. Past shows have included an adaptation of [http://puppet.org/perform/shoemaker.shtml The Shoemaker & The Elves] set in 1940s Manhattan, Jon Ludwig's [http://puppet.org/perform/dinosaurs.shtml Dinosaurs] , and [http://www.puppet.org/perform/ghastly.shtml The Ghastly Dreadfuls' Compendium of Graveyard Tales and Other Curiosities] , a Halloween-themed variety show. National traveling puppetry troupes set up shop at the Center during SummerFest and perform a variety of works for families, while teen and adult-oriented shows by Atlanta artists and visiting companies comprise the annual New Directions Series.

Education

In addition to presenting productions, the Center offers a variety of classes and workshops for adults and children alike. Create-A-Puppet Workshops, offered in conjunction with Family Series performances, encourage children to build a puppet of their own that is related to the show. Adults can learn more about different aspects of puppetry in the Adult Education Series. And the Distance Learning program reaches students across the U.S. with a field trip experience.

Museum

The Center’s museum and special exhibits present puppets from various time periods and countries around the world. Exhibitions of puppets are considered essential to enhance understanding and appreciation of performances. Puppets: The Power of Wonder is an interactive museum, which provides hands-on educational fun with over 350 puppets from around the world. Puppets in the collection include Wayland Flowers' Madame, Skeksis from the film "The Dark Crystal", two of the mask prototypes created by Julie Taymor for the Broadway smash-hit, "The Lion King", and Jim Henson's Muppets Rowlf the Dog, Ernie, Swedish Chef, "Pigs In Space", and Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem.

History

The Center for Puppetry Arts opened to the public on September 23 1978, when Kermit the Frog and his creator Jim Henson cut the ribbon.

A young puppeteer from Florida, Vincent Anthony, began touring with Nicolo Marionettes under the tutelage of Nicholas Coppola based out of New York. By 1966, he was ready for a smaller community where he could be an active partner and make a difference. His vision was to create a center that would promote puppetry and become a vital part of the community. He decided to call Atlanta home and created Vagabond Marionettes with Mitchell Edmonds.

The Vagabond Marionettes traveled around the southeast and presented several seasons at Atlanta's Woodruff Arts Center. In 1978, Anthony found a permanent home in the former Spring Street Elementary School and the Center was born. That first season, the Center mounted an of puppets, presented shows for adults and families, and hosted community-based workshops and activities that continue to this day.

Since its inception, the Center has worked to serve the diverse populations of Atlanta, the state of Georgia, and the country at large. The Center reaches the community through its focus on core programming: performance, museum and education.

On July 25 2007 the Center announced the opening of a new Jim Henson Wing, which will house anywhere from 500 to 700 retired Muppets, including those from Fraggle Rock and Sesame Street. The new wing will also include films, sketches, and other materials from the Jim Henson Company archives. The wing, which will be a part of the Center's new building, is slated to open in 2010.

Awards

The Ford Foundation recently selected the Center as one of only 28 national organizations to be recognized for success in management and innovative programs. The Kresge Foundation awarded the Center three different grants to support its capital campaigns. The Center was also the only theater group chosen by the 1996 Olympics to participate in all four years of its arts festival program, garnering recognition from "Newsweek" as "one of the most exciting companies in American theater."

External links

* [http://www.puppet.org Official website]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/25/theater/newsandfeatures/25pupp.html Puppet Show With Dark Tale to Tell: Anne Frank's - New York Times]
* [http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/cinderella_della_circus_high_wire_act/Content?oid=463784 Cinderella Della Circus: High wire act - Creative Loafing]