April 23, 2020
Much to our disappointment, we have decided to listen to the projections of our best scientists and pull the plug on The Great Plains Puppet Train, originally scheduled for September 10-13, 2020. So far we are still planning to hold the 24th annual West Liberty Children’s Festival on Sept.13 and, if all goes well, a workshop day and an evening puppet slam on Friday, Sept.12. Since no registration is required for this event and since planning can be shorter term, we’ll wait till mid-summer to make a final call on its viability. If you planned to attend the festival, please still consider joining us for the Children’s Festival, should it happen, with its series of five puppet shows in our charming downtown pocket park.
Whether or not it’s safe to gather in September, we hope to host a virtual Puppeteers’ Check-In, a live stream event in which we meet with each other, show everyone what we’re doing, and share ideas, plans, and optimism.
Onward and Upward!
Monica Leo, Festival Director
Pamela Corcoran, Artistic Director
Dan (Digger) Romano, Workshop Director
July 25, 2020: Show July 26, 2:00 PM
Kate Shelley’s Train Rescue tells the story of the Iowa teenager who, in 1881, saved the train from plunging to a watery death. Created and performed by Stephanie Vallez, this exciting tale unfolds in the pages of two giant pop-up books peopled with paper puppets, masks, and rod marionettes and fun, low-tech special effects. It’s enhanced with Stephanie’s lovely singing voice. The story follows Kate’s life from her family’s ocean journey from Ireland through the train rescue to her adulthood. Attendance, both live and online, is free of charge, but Eulenspiegel welcomes donations! The live stream can be found on Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre’s Facebook page.
If you want to attend in person in Ron-de-Voo Park, call Owl Glass Puppetry Center at 319-627-2487 or 319-855-0602 or email <monica@puppetspuppets.com> for further information or to reserve your spot! You must wear a mask and maintain physical distancing.If you want to watch the live stream on Zoom, click this link and send us a "hello" or a "like" so we know you're there!:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85473412420?pwd=Yy91RGkyRzlZV2hjSEp4MkN1QTJuUT09
Eulenspiegel Puppets performs a brand new story about Johnny Appleseed's true adventures and his relationships with the settlers, the Native Americans, and the animals and plants around him.
Who will win the big election for Leader of the Beasts? Will it be Benny P. (for Progress) Beaver or Terry E.
Listen to Prokofief's beloved music as you watch Peter outsmart the wolf! Eulenspiegel Puppets use beautifully crafted large tabletop puppets and rod puppets to tell this classic tale of a young boy, his grandfather, his pets, and the creatures that live in the meadow and the forest.
Freedom Star: Gertie's Journey on the Underground Railroad uses near lifesize handheld puppets, rod puppets, shadow puppets, and hand-dyed scenery to tell a dramatic and moving story, based on local history, of a young girl who escapes from a farm in Missouri and makes her way through Iowa on her way to freedom.
