Three state tour

Johnny was a big hit this holiday season. He performed in Ohio (my living room), three shows in Indiana (Wendy's family), and Kentucky (Dad's living room).

The velcro for grabbing the apple has about a 20% success rate. Looks like I'll need to adjust that. Maybe glue all the other apples together so that they don't move. The apple sunk into the others when I tried to grab it with Johnny.

The fabric water, tree stump, and fence read well. Now, to flush out the rest of the script. Thanks to all for your feed back.

The finished product

The finished Johnny Appleseed

Johnny with his hat

Johnny waiting for his rods

close up of his face

It's been a fun process developing his look.  Johnny is now complete.  It's now play time to see where he'll take me.  It's been a chore to get into his head and out of mine.  John Chapman was a brilliant, although eccentric, environmentalist with an amazing level of endurance.  Where to go with him?  So many possibilities for so many different audiences.  I guess I'd better make sure I know my audience.

Johnny Appleseed

I moved to the Chicago area this summer and wanted to get back into puppetry.  I have a Master of Arts from UConn in puppetry, but haven't done much more than a little freelance work in years.  I found Von Orthal Puppets online and signed up for their Rod Puppet class.  I've always wanted to do a show about Johnny Appleseed.  What better time than now to start?

The puppet is made of stuffed muslin and a paper mache head.  It was exciting to get back into building for myself rather than someone else.  Cynthia is very supportive and creates a fantastic atmosphere for creativity.  Johnny is complete now...

...the script isn't.  I have about 2-1/2 weeks to put together a five minute piece to perform.  We are required to perform the puppets for the final class, a practice I fully support.  A puppet isn't a puppet until it performs. Writting a script has always been my nemesis.  Actions, words, intent...from brain and concept to puppet and audience.  Still researching.

More to follow...