Ultimately, it is up to you. Up to you to decide: do I or do I not really, truly want to work towards that nagging dream, whatever it is. Learning something new, reaching a physical goal, creating something, organizing, sharing, bringing people together, or risking all for an adventure.

I’ve come to call it jumping off cliffs. I have jumped off a lot of cliffs: as a very shy person, making a living on a stage as a puppeteer, presenting in foreign languages, working and making connections in very far away places and totally unknown cultures, not to mention parenting. These are all decisions made to jump into the unknown, trusting that you will figure out what you need to know on the fly, and will land more or less intact, and that the next jump will be a little less scary.

Make a 5 minute Selfie Puppet for Back to School activities!

Simple shadow puppet instructions using simple. easily available materials for fun, visual storytelling!

Shadow puppets have a history over 2,000 years old, now with many modern variations. And, the magic of this art form can be created with simple materials by all ages. Here’s how.

A versatile, classroom developed, template-based project for students in second grade and up, to create a story framework as starting point for puppet theater, collaborative writing project, and more.

I have been made acutely aware of the stressful conditions so many teachers work under, and the heroic dedication they maintain in support of their students. However, there is one comment I have heard teachers make too many times.

The two best questions I have ever been asked after a performance show how crucial access for children to live theater, particularly puppet theater, is for nurturing imaginations.

…because puppetry is a theatrical art form, although there are layers of learning in the story formation and puppet building experience, there is always the performance, no matter how informal, as the motivating end goal that can be assessed.

I encourage anyone who cares to share their work as an artist in any media, to do so now. Start with just one simple lesson: something only you can teach because of your unique skills and experience. We artists, workers with our hands, imaginative observers of the world, playful users of words, bearers of culture - need to make our unique vision available to children.

So, I had had a good tour booked for the month of June and part of July for Summer Reading Programs in libraries across the state as well as a few camps. Some libraries outright canceled, others went to virtual presentations.

Welcome BACKSTAGE! To the paper moon, the cardboard sky, the safety pinned costume, nerves and hard work, tears, jealousy, and joy - the secrets behind the magic!