Mesner Puppet Theater

THE ORGANIZATIONS MISSION IS TO INSPIRE PLAY AND CULTIVATE CONNECTIONS THROUGH PUPPETRY.

PUPPETS IN EDUCATION SUPPORTS THE SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF PRESCHOOL-2ND GRADE STUDENTS THROUGH ARTS INTEGRATED RESIDENCIES. STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM DEEPLY EXPLORING THEIR EMOTIONS THROUGH THESE ACTIVE, THEATER AND PUPPETRY BASED SESSIONS, BUT THESE RESIDENCIES ARE ULTIMATELY FOR THE CLASSROOM TEACHER'S PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. WHILE STUDENTS ARE MOVING THEIR BODIES TO MUSIC OR EXPLORING THEIR EMOTIONS THROUGH STORYTELLING, THE CLASSROOM TEACHER IS BEING GIVEN A REAL-TIME MODELING OF ACTIVITIES AND STRATEGIES THEY CAN THEN BEGIN TO WEAVE THROUGH THEIR DAILY CLASSROOM LIFE. FOLLOW UP MENTORSHIP MEETINGS BETWEEN OUR STAFF AND THE CLASSROOM TEACHER ALLOWS FOR TIME TO REFLECT ON THE SESSIONS, FOR OUR TEAM TO PROVIDE CREATIVE SUPPORT FOR THEIR LESSON PLANS, AND INSPIRE CLASSROOM EDUCATORS TO TAKE BOLD AND CREATIVE RISKS THROUGH THE ARTS. TO ROUND OUT THIS EXPERIENCE, SCHOOL PARTNERS ARE ALSO GIVEN ACCESS TO OUR SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DIGITAL SERIES "IN THE WORKSHOP", PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PERFORMANCES FOR PARTNER FAMILIES. PUPPETS IN EDUCATION SERVED 2,500 YOUNG PEOPLE WITH 27 HOURS OF ARTS AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING THROUGH PUPPETRY. IN 2021, WE SUCCESSFULLY PIVOTED THE COMPANY TO WORK IN DEEP PARTNERSHIP WITH LIBERTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, EARLYSTART (FORMERLY UNITED INNER CITY SERVICES), SMITHVILLE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER,AND JCCC-HIERSTEINER CENTER TO OFFER OUR PUPPETS IN EDUCATION AND PUPPETS ON TOUR PROGRAMS TO 60 CLASSROOMS.

PUPPETS ON TOUR IS COMPRISED OF FULL LENGTH SHOWS (45-60 MINUTES) FOR ASSEMBLIES OR PUBLIC PERFORMANCES AT LIBRARIES, FESTIVALS, AND ART CENTERS. THEY ALSO PERFORM CLASSROOM "POP-UP" PRODUCTIONS (20 MINUTES). ALL PRODUCTIONS ARE GEARED TOWARDS 0-8 YEAR OLD CHILDREN. ALL SHOWS ARE AVAILABLE LIVE OR DIGITALLY. PUPPETS ON TOUR PERFORMS FOR MORE THAN 9,000 YOUNG PEOPLE EACH YEAR. THE ORGANIZATION HOLDS THE DISTINCTION OF RECEIVING THREE UNION INTERNATIONALE DE LA MARIONETTE (UNIMA-USA) CITATIONS OF EXCELLENCE. THE UNIMA-USA AWARD WAS CREATED BY JIM HENSON TO PROMOTE HIGH QUALITY PUPPETRY IN THE UNITED STATES AND IS CONSIDERED THE 'ACADEMY AWARD" OF PUPPETRY. THE COMPANY IS ALSO AN 8 TIME RECIPIENT OF THE JIM HENSON FAMILY FOUNDATION GRANT TO SUPPORT NEW WORK DEVELOPMENT, MOST RECENTLY RECEIVING AN AWARD FOR OUR 2021 ORIGINAL PRODUCTION "HOW TO SNAG A SEA MONSTER".

MESNER PUPPET THEATER CREATES PUPPETS, PRODUCTIONS, AND DIGITAL CONTENT FOR BUSINESSES, ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, AND ENTERTAINMENT COMPANIES ON COMMISSION.

PUPPETS IN PROGRESS IS A PILOT PROGRAM THAT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2021 AS A NEW WORK AND ARTIST CULTIVATION LABORATORY. A NEW PUPPETRY PIECE TAKES MANY MONTHS AND SOMETIMES YEARS TO CREATE. PROTOTYPES ARE BUILT, SCRIPTS ARE WRITTEN AND REWRITTEN, AND DESIGN ELEMENTS ARE EXPLORED. PUPPETRY PIECES IN PROGRESS ARE WORKSHOPPED IN FRONT OF TEACHERS, PARENTS, AND YOUTH WHO PROVIDE FEEDBACK THAT MOVE THE PROJECTS FORWARD UNTIL THEY ARE READY TO BE MADE PART OF OUR ONGOING OFFERINGS. IN ORDER TO CREATE THIS NEW WORK OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY, A DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF ARTIST MUST BE CULTIVATED AND ACCESS TO ON-GOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MUST BE MADE. TO THIS END, "PUPPETS IN PROGRESS" INCLUDES ARTIST MEET UP EVENTS, TECHNICAL WORKSHOPS, INTERNSHIPS, AND APPRENTICESHIPS FOR ASPIRING PUPPETEERS AND TEACHING ARTISTS. PUPPETS IN PROGRESS ENGAGES WITH MORE THAN 15 LOCAL ARTISTS EACH YEAR AS THEY BUILD THEIR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS IN PUPPETRY.