Eugene O'Neill Theater Center to Host 25th Annual National Puppetry Conference in June

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center has announced the 25th Annual National Puppetry Conference, with the application process now underway for participants. The Conference begins June 6, 2015 and culminates with public performances June 12 & 13. Pre-Conference intensive workshops run June 3 - 5.

During both the pre-conference and the main conference, participants collaborate with nationally and internationally renowned puppet artists, and each other, to produce innovative plays and productions that push the boundaries of puppetry's definitions and dare participants to challenge themselves and their audience. The conference is open to puppeteers, musicians, artists, actors, playwrights, and students as an ideal venue to experiment and develop new work.

This year's guest artists include Teatro Hugo and Ines, Ronnie Burkett, Jim Kroupa, Alice Therese Gotschalk, Tim Lagasse, and Martin P. Robinson.

Renowned for transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary, Peruvian puppeteers Hugo and Ines are beloved the world over for the collection of wordless whimsical vignettes. They will offer a workshop, sharing elements of mime, puppetry, and how they developed the philosophy of their work, along with showing how to build figures with the hands and other parts of the body.

Participants in Jim Kroupa's The Howdy-Do Show will create a puppet variety show inspired by 1940's cowboy music. The focus of the workshop will be on performance and the structure of the piece will allow each participant to take a lead role.

Ronnie Burkett will lead Text Creation and Interpretation. Participants will work with Ronnie on the interpretation and acting of artist-created work, exploring the development of the piece into a well-performed theatrical event.

The Conference will also feature returning marionette masters Phillip Huber and Jim Rose, who will lead the marionette building and performing strands of the conference. Additional opportunities for participants include the Emerging Artist strand for previous participants, Writing for the Puppet Theater, Music for Puppet Theater, and Resident Company.

Pre-Conference intensive workshops will feature Alice Therese Gottschalk: Movement for Puppetry, Jim Kroupa: Everything You Want to Know about Mechs and Then Some!, Ronnie Burkett: Writing for the Puppet Theater, and Tim Lagasse and Martin P. Robinson: Video Anarchy! A special workshop starting on May 31, 2015.

Applications will be accepted until March 6th at 11:59pm PST. There is a $35.00 USD application fee. To apply online and for information on financial assistance and scholarships, please visit www.theoneill.org.

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