puppetry programs
Young Audiences of Houston offers diverse arts-in-education performance programming for PK-12 participants in an assembly setting. These innovative and culturally diverse programs introduce participants to the arts through a balance of demonstration and participant interaction through the highest quality artistry. Each performance program is aligned with the Texas state curricula and offers curriculum ties, classroom activities and discussion ideas, extension activities, program goals, objectives, vocabulary words, and teacher resources. All performances are 45 minutes.
Below you'll find information about:
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Performances: For an assembly, performances introduce participants to an art form or culture through a balance of demonstration and interaction.
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Workshops: Hands-on workshops bring together individual artists to encourage participants to actively discover their own artistic potential. Ideal for after-school, library, or community center programs. Most workshops are product based.
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Residencies: Offer experiences implemented by a specialized teaching artist. Residencies are multiple, participatory workshops and require a minimum of 3 sequential sessions per participant group, and can be expanded into semester-long projects. Residencies take place in partnership with the classroom teacher and either focus on arts-integration or the artistic process.
For more information please call 713.520.9264 or email us at scheduling@yahouston.org.
Aladdin, Rumpelstiltskin or Sleeping Beauty
PERFORMANCE
Jean Kuecher
Choose your favorite classic fairy tale to dazzle all ages, in a performance with marionettes in sparkling costumes on an elaborate stage with lighting, scenery, and curtains. Following the performance, master puppeteer Jean Kuecher reveals the special effects and backstage secrets. In every story, participants identify with the main character and discover solutions to the problem. They also learn reading components as they identify main character, setting, plot, problem, and solution.
Available December 3 - 22, 2022 only
Single Performance
$600
Back to Back Performance
$750
Participant Limit
200
Grade Levels
PK-8
Favorite Stories Puppet Show
PERFORMANCE
Jean Kuecher
With hand puppets and audience participation, Jean Kuecher turns her favorite stories into puppet shows. “Little Red Riding Hood,” “The Three Little Pigs,” “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” “Five Little Ducks,” “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” and “The Old Lady who Swallowed the Fly” will inspire children and teachers to make their own puppets and to perform their own favorite stories. Learn the story components of main character, goal, problem, and solution.
Available December 3 - 22, 2022 only
Single Performance
$600
Back to Back Performance
$750
Participant Limit
150
Grade Levels
PK-1
Twas The Night Before Christmas
PERFORMANCE
Jean Kuecher
"Twas The Night Before Christmas” combines puppetry, poetry, dialogue, and music to create a Christmas fantasy. The show opens in Santa’s North Pole workshop where we meet Santa, Mrs. Claus, the elves, and Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer. The sleigh travels to a snowy forest for scene two, where Rudolph’s nose has become frozen in the snowstorm. The lovely Snow Queen comes to help Santa with a wonderful way to warm Rudolph’s nose. Then the sleigh continues to a family home where Santa leaves gifts under the Christmas tree.
Available December 3 - 22, 2022 only
Single Performance
$600
Back to Back Performance
$750
Participant Limit
200
Grade Levels
PK-8
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Punch and Judy Show!
PERFORMANCE
Professor Nickels
Welcome to Professor Nickels Punch and Judy Show! Featuring a colorful cast of characters, Punch and Judy showcases the shenanigans of Mr. Punch, his wife Judy, a hungry crocodile, Joey the clown, and many more zaney characters as they fumble, bumble, and stumble their way through a comedy show that will show you where The Looney Toons got their inspiration. In fact, Punch and Judy is in many ways considered the grandfather of comedy and theater as we know it. After all, there wouldn't be a "punchline" without Mr. Punch. A great way to educate your audience on an iconic and important part of Theatre history, Professor Nickels will have children of all ages shouting with laughter just like they did all the way back in 1662 when Punch and Judy first got its start in Europe.
Single Performance
$350
Back to Back Performance
$600
Participant Limit
200
Grade Levels
PK-12
Rhyme, Reason and Shadow Puppetry
PERFORMANCE
Puppet Pizzazz
Mother Goose and other familiar favorites are illustrated with exciting giant shadow puppet action. The enthusiasm of the puppeteer, Mr. Greg, is contagious as he encourages the audience to recite classic rhymes, sing, move creatively, and act out famous storybook characters. This highly participatory performance promotes literacy and enhances verbal communication skills while developing a passion for reading and an appreciation for poetry.
Single Performance
$450
Back to Back Performance
$675
Participant Limit
300
Grade Levels
PK-2
Sharing the Secrets of Puppetry
PERFORMANCE
Puppet Pizzazz
Professional puppeteer Greg Ruhe enthusiastically shares the ancient art of puppetry by demonstrating a variety of styles of puppets in a highly theatrical performance. Mr. Greg shares the secrets of making and manipulating many of his unique characters. It is guaranteed that the audience will walk away filled with an appreciation and enthusiasm for the art of puppetry. The audience will learn how to turn trash into treasure as Mr. Greg shares ideas on making puppets from recycled materials. This Puppet Extravaganza includes storytelling along with hand puppets, shadow puppets, recycled material puppets, and marionettes. Puppet Pizzazz is best known for its giant puppet creations. The show is not over until an eight-foot tall surprise character takes center stage.
Single Performance
$450
Back to Back Performance
$675
Participant Limit
300
Grade Levels
PK-12
Shadow Puppetry Workshop
WORKSHOP AND RESIDENCY
Puppet Pizzazz
Included in this hands-on workshop, Puppeteer Mr. Greg, shares the origin of
shadow puppetry by demonstrating with puppets, he has created and collected
from around the world. The participants will learn to make and perform their own puppets constructed with easy-to-gather school supplies. Teachers and participants will be encouraged to further explore the world of shadow puppetry for classroom projects, the stage, or fun at home.
Per-Session Fee
$115 per 45-min. session; $125 per 60-min. session
2+ Sessions, Same Day
$95 per 45-min. session; $115 per 60-min. session
Participant Limit
30
Grade Levels
K-12