Upcoming Events at the Ballard Institute & Museum of Puppetry
December 2 at 11AM: A Slice of Crazy Pie by Madison J. Cripps
Ballard Institute Theater
Adults: $12 | Members/Seniors: $10 | Students: $8 | Kids 12 and under: $6
Tickets at bimp.ticketleap.com
Step into the enchantment of A Slice of Crazy Pie, a mesmerizing cabaret-style marionette puppet show meticulously crafted by Madison J Cripps. Since 2006, this captivating production weaves interests, viewpoints, and eccentricities into a spellbinding journey. Characters like Pinkey the Mayor and Ratty Ratkinson engage with audiences, while diverse settings from the moon to the street provide intrigue. With themes spanning ecology to well-being, the show’s fluid duration accommodates any space. Beneath the puppetry lies a world of creativity and interaction, where harmonica melodies and singing add depth. Blurring imagination and reality, the show thrives on creative engagement. As the curtains rise, all ages are invited into a captivating realm, a profound exploration of the human spirit, and a shared adventure of fascination. The show runtime is approximately 50 minutes.
December 6 at 7PM: Tony Sarg: Genius at Play Puppet Forum
Ballard Institute Theater
FREE
In conjunction with the Norman Rockwell Museum’s recent exhibition Tony Sarg: Genius at Play, which closed on Nov. 5, Ballard Institute Director John Bell will speak with exhibition curator Stephanie Plunkett about the first-ever comprehensive exhibition exploring the life, art, and adventures of Tony Sarg (1880-1942). Sarg, a charismatic illustrator, animator, puppeteer, designer, entrepreneur, and showman, is often celebrated as the father of modern puppetry in North America and the originator of the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade balloons, floats, and animated store windows. The Genius at Play exhibition included puppets from Ballard Institute collections by Sarg and Sarg puppeteers Rufus and Margo Rose, and the exhibition’s catalog includes an Introduction by Dr. Bell.
December 8 at 6:30PM: Pocket Vinyl Performance/Reading/Q&A/Singing
Ballard Institute Theater
FREE
Come see Pocket Vinyl perform their fantastic piano/painting show, followed by a reading from their book and discussion on how they did their world record tour, followed by a Q&A and signing. Elizabeth Jancewicz and Eric Stevenson are Pocket Vinyl, a duo consisting of piano slamming (Eric) and live painting (Elizabeth). A new painting is made on stage during each show, and auctioned off afterwards to the audience. They’ve played over 1000 shows, released over a hundred songs, made the documentary film Drive. Play. Sleep., and created the popular webcomic “The Touring Test”. In their new graphic novel “How To Completely Lose Your Mind”, they detail a 2019 tour where they attempted to break the world record for “Fastest to Play a Concert in Each of the 50 States.” It’s an amazing adventure that portrays the highs and lows of touring as an unknown indie band, and gives insightful advice on how to start an indie band and destroy your own mental health as well.
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