In this class series, students will learn how to build several different kinds of puppets within two of the traditional forms of puppetry over a six week period. These classes will begin with very basic skills and will build upon one another as we move forward through the classes. The first puppets will be a very basic foam and rod puppet with our main focus on characterization and how we develop that in puppetry. Students will also begin to get familiar with the dynamic properties of using foam in puppetry. We will then move up to a very basic hand puppet by making what I call a deluxe sock puppet. These are not your run of the mill sock puppets, they will have a mouth plate and a foam “skull” to give it some dimensional shape and better expression as well as greater control over the head. The third and fourth puppets that the students will create are two different types of mechanism puppets. A mechanism puppet is one in which you use a device to create the movement in your puppet. The first of these two will be learning how to make a flat puppet move, and the second one will be creating a mouth mechanism in a foam and rod puppet. For the fifth class, students will bring a stuffed animal to life by turning it into a hand puppet. Students will apply what they learned in the sock puppet class but this time will have to pattern out a mouth for their puppet to fit the unique animal. Our last class will be the most challenging as students will learn how to carve foam into a foam rod puppet using scissors, and then how to manipulate it. This last class will truly give a perspective on just how dynamic a foam puppet can be. I hope that you folks will join me for this unique puppetry experience.

Minimum Enrollment: 3 / Maximum Enrollment: 12

Deadline to sign up for class: In MA (10 days); Outside of MA in the US (14 days); Outside of US (not until after the pandemic when we can better assess timeframes for shipping)

6 weeks / 1.5 hrs a week - Fridays, January 8 - February 12, 5-6:30p

Member Cost $225 ($90 for kit + $135 for class) / Non-Member Cost: $270 ($90 for kit + 180 for class)

The Kit will include 1. (1) Low temp glue gun; 2. (1) Pair of scissors; 3. (1) Pack of pastels; 4. (1) 2.5” Styrofoam ball; 5. (4) 1” Styrofoam balls; 6. (1) Bag of general craft supplies; 7. Several different sizes and shapes of polyfoam; 8. (20) Skewers; 9. (2) pieces of fabric; 10. (1) length of Gaffers tape; 11. (1) a strip of Duvetine tape; 12. Several Duvetine tape pupils; 13. Patterns; 14. (1) Ruler; 15. (10) Strips of Topstick tape; 16. (2) Sheets of peel and stick felt; 17. (1) A sheet of thick white craft foam; 18. (2) Sheets of thick black craft foam; 19. Several sheets of thin colored craft foam; 20. (2) Fuzzy microfiber socks; 21. (1) Strip hard plastic for mouth plate; 22. Scraps of dyed foam pieces; 23. (3) Craft foam tongue circles; 24. (3) Small sections of Marabou feather boas; 25. (3) strips of different sized elastic; 26. (1) Wooden handle; 27. (2) Popsicle sticks; 28. (1) Dowel with wooden top plate; 29. (1) Cardboard mouth plate; 30. (4) Clipped plastic spoons; 31. Several felt strips; 32. (1) Black Sharpie; 33. (1) Disappearing ink fabric pen; 34. (1) Emery board; 35. Kite string; 36. (20) Glue sticks

Optional Supplies: 1. Electric carving knife (the kind you use for carving a turkey); 2. Extra fabric; 3. Set of sharpies; 4. Leather punch set (and hammer or mallet) which includes (3/8”, ½“, and 5/8”); 5. Fabric Scissors; 6. Teflon, titanium, or non-stick scissors

Additional Supplies Required: One Stuffed animal (which we will be cutting open) medium to large in size with a pronounced mouth and stuffed with soft fill, not styrofoam pellets or hard material. Your hand will have to fit easily inside. It is not needed until the fourth class and I intend to give good examples in the first class of what to get that will work well.

Individual classes will be: "Best Supported Actor" (Foam & Rod Puppets); “Deluxe Sock Puppets”; “Steamrolled puppets”; "What's Under the Hood?" (Simple Mechanism Puppets); "It's Alive!": (Stuffed Animal Puppets); Foam Sculpted Puppets

Once purchased, the kits are non-refundable. Students will receive a supporting document about individual class descriptions, delivered to the email provided for the ticket.

FAQs (theworcshop.com/faqs)

What if my class doesn't make min enrollment? If the class does not reach minimum enrollment, by the date specified in listing (normally 3-7 days prior to the event) it will be canceled. Students will have the option of transferring their ticket to another class or receiving a refund. (Members can pay an additional 50% of the ticket price to take class privately, Non-Members can purchase a second ticket.) Please provide us with BOTH a contact number & email to ensure you are properly notified of course changes.

What's the refund policy? Please provide us with BOTH a contact number & email to ensure you are properly notified of course changes. If you cannot make it to class and request a refund no later than 14 days prior, you will be refunded for the class, minus $90 for the kit. If you request a refund, 3 - 13 days prior to class & your seat is filled by another student you will be refunded 90% of your ticket price. If the seat remains vacant you will only be refunded 50% of your ticket price. If you request a refund less than 3 days prior to the event The WorcShop reserves the right to retain the ticket price in full. If you do not attend, for any reason, The WorcShop retains the ticket price in full. You may take the class at a later scheduled date for 50% off the ticket price (this fee goes entirely to our instructors, to compensate them in full for their time.)

How do I access the class? We will email you with a supporting document about contact cement from your instructor and a link to participate in the 6-week zoom class.