Puppetry is a great tool for improv, and improv can add a level of freshness to puppetry. Like peanut butter and jelly, or chocolate and more chocolate, these things just fit together.
Seattle Puppetry Improv Festival 
Workshops and Classes
As most of you might be aware by now, we have the very first of its kind, Seattle Puppetry Improv Festival, happening at Unexpected Productions from No.v 13th-19th.

This week features hysterical improvised performances by puppets as well as a variety of workshops and classes on improv skills, building and operating puppets and incorporating the two skills. 

We have invited some teachers who have amazing puppetry experience. However, they are premiere improv teachers. I hope you have a chance to take one of the workshops. I promise that your improv skills will expand in magical ways.
I hope to see you soon.

Elizabeth Westermann,
Festival Director
Two Person Improv with Felt with Shaun Laundry
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Class Description: Great things come in pairs. Two Person Improv With Felt is for two person ensembles, improvisers and puppeteers wishing to explore using the art of puppetry in a two-person improv setting. This workshop explores the skills that are need to create spontaneous scenes on the fly that are hilarious, quick-witted and performed with puppets.
Skills offered in class: Two Person Improv with Felt and Shaun will teach that you can make the felt on your hand the extension of your improvisation.
Inventive Puppet Building with Puppet Master Annett Mateo
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Annett Mateo is a a master puppet builder that works at Seattle Childrens theater. She built the puppets that were used for hands on stuff at the EMP Henson exhibit several years ago. The lady knows her stuff. We will be building two simple puppets, a scarf marionette and a glorified sock puppet. These are builds that you can replicate pretty easily afterwards and it's a fantastic place to start building. Participants will create and take home their very own sock puppet and scarf marionette.


Improvisation and Play: Puppets and Humans Telling Stories with Yann Van den Branden
Thursday and Friday, November 17-18 (2 day class)
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Yann Van den Branden will be here from Belgium to teach a two day workshop on improv and puppetry using a hidden puppeteer. Many of you know Yann from the Up festivals. He is the artistic director at Quicksilver Productions and has taught many many puppetry classes. Yann will teach you how to retrain your improviser brain to work with a puppet, Human to puppet interactions, and working with a puppet screen. If you want to go in depth, take this class. It will be amazing. There will be plenty of stage time and direct feedback.
Skills offered in class: Retraining your improviser brain to work with a puppet, Human to puppet interactions, working with a puppet screen (hidden puppeteer).

Advanced (Muppet Style) Manipulation and on Camera Puppetry with Josh Cohen
Saturday, November 19, 2016
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Class Description: Learn professional puppetry with Henson-trained master puppeteer and veteran long form improviser Josh Cohen. Puppetry is a freeing and amazing new way to approach improv. Improv puppetry has been sweeping the nation. The Josh and Tamra Show is one of the leaders in the growing field of improv puppetry. Students will expand and deepen their skills as improvisers while they learn to free the mind/body by using puppetry in performance. Each student receives their own J&T puppet. Awesome!

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