Where: Children’s Creativity Museum, 221 4th St., S.F.

When: April 18^th 10 am-4 pm

Folkmanis Puppets, an iconic Bay Area puppet company, has long supported Puppeteers of America, UNIMA-USA, and the San Francisco Bay Area Puppet Guild. Now the Guild is excited to celebrate this beloved local business with a special event at the innovative Children’s Creativity Museum (CCM) in San Francisco.

April 18—World Creativity Day—is a fitting moment to gather at CCM, whose mission is “Imagine, Create, Share,” for the opening of the Folkmanis Puppet exhibit. Folkmanis’ Art Director, Allison Sieber will be welcoming the Guild. She explains, “For our 50th anniversary, the Folkmanis family is offering an unprecedented backstage pass into the history and artistry of industry legend Folkmanis Puppets with an interactive installation stretching the entire length of the Children’s Creativity Museum’s elegant Spiral Gallery!”

For those new to Folkmanis https://www.folkmanis.com the company began when Judy Folkmanis started sewing charming, remarkably realistic animal puppets for her two young sons, later selling them near the UC Berkeley campus. In 1976, her husband, Atis, left his biochemistry career to join her in building Folkmanis Puppets into a family enterprise. Judy’s imagination, artistry, and love of nature—along with a growing design and sewing team—led to an ever-expanding menagerie of distinctive animal and character puppets released year after year. 

(Judy Folkmanis selling puppets on Telegraph Ave., Berkeley)

Folkmanis carved out a unique niche in the toy world: as detailed and lifelike as the finest plush animals, yet fully functional as soft performance puppets. Equally at home on stage, in a librarian’s hands at story time, in a therapist’s office, or cuddled during bedtime, these puppets quickly found audiences across the country and around the world.

Today, Folkmanis remains a family-run business headquartered in Emeryville, California, led by Judy and Atis’s adult sons. Operating from a historic building filled with working designers and five decades of archived puppets, patterns, catalogs, photos, and keepsakes, the company continues to be the premier manufacturer of realistic plush animal puppets worldwide. You will see much of this at the April meeting. As Allison shares, “Explore the innovative design and intricate craftsmanship of Folkmanis Puppets with rarely-shared historical items and images reaching as far back as 1976, when Judy Folkmanis first began making puppets to sell at a Telegraph Avenue sidewalk stand near UC Berkeley.”

CCM has generously offered Guild members free museum admission and use of a meeting room for an afternoon Guild gathering, where Folkmanis will share more of their work, and we can celebrate their 50^th Anniversary. In return, we’re seeking Guild volunteers from 10:00 am–2:00 pm to help with “Make a Puppet” tables and serve as walkaround greeters using Folkmanis puppets—similar to our activities at Oakland’s Fairyland. A signup link will be posted soon, with additional program details in the April newsletter.Join us on Apr. 18^th in commemorating a treasured Bay Area institution and the creativity that continues to inspire generations.

Wed., Nov 12 at 6 pm
301 VAN NESS AVENUE, SF
SFOPERA.COM

The SF Opera has offered our Guild 8 free tickets to the dress rehearsal for The Monkey King. Show starts at 6 pm and will be about 2 1/2 hours. They will welcome guests in the main lobby from 5:00-5:45; but ask that all guests to do their best to arrive by 5:30. If you haven’t arrived by 5:45, your seat will be given to someone on their standby list. Guild members will be escorted to seating, and we presume the Guild will sit as a group.

To make this fair for all, 8 lucky people will be randomly selected from all who sign up no later than Thurs 11/6 at 5 pm. To enter the drawing, you must be a current Guild member.

Enter your name & email address. Phone is optional

# of tickets: You can request up to 2 tickets, but you must enter both names and email addresses.

The random selection will happen on Thurs after 5 pm, and you will receive a Guild confirmation email on Thurs nite or Fri am.

November in the Bay Area starts with many Day of the Dead celebrations. The above photo of puppet life force illustrates an element of passing to another realm and is from Mary Nagler’s review of Paper Moon Theatre included in this newsletter. More photos and full text below, along with lots of other great newsletter submissions. Thanks to our November contributors!

• From the President
• Programming Meeting in Oct.
• Your Guild Library
• Fairyland’s 75th: A Festival of Puppets
• Upcoming Events (lots of them!)
• Tickets on Sale for October Run of the Wylding Woods
• Sfpuppetslam Oct 5th
• Larry Schmidt’s Driveway Follies
• “Puppet Building & Performance” & “TV Puppetry” by Images in Motion
• TV Puppetry
• Rumpelstilzchen’s Fairy Gold
• The Monkey King
• Manual Cinema’s “The 4th Witch”
• From Our Members
• Puppeteer Needed
• Puppet Stage Looking for a Home
• Under the Puppet
• Big changes coming to the National Festival!
• Rediscovering A National Puppetry Treasure: The Puppets of Perry Dilley

• Letter from the President
• Guild Notices
• UPCOMING EVENTS
• Tabletop Intensive in Oakland with Fred Riley lll
  • Paul Dresher Ensemble Studio Open House
• Community Diorama EXTRAVAGANZA
• Members’ News
• Puppets in Prague workshop recap
• Puppets In The House
• Samson Y Hiss’ Carnival of Psychos

• Next Guild Event Fairyland 75th
• Shari & Lambchop a Film
• Tabletop Puppetry workshop recap
• Guild Programming
• July 4 with Giant Puppets in Vallejo
• Napa Valley Puppetry Festival, 2025

Volunteer! For decades, the SFBAPG has helped at Puppet Fair. Because this is their anniversary celebration, we are participating on both Sat & Sun, with a Make-a-Puppet booth, walkaround puppet greeters and a Guild Puppet Info booth. Please help by signing up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0A44ACAE2AA7F49-57426169-volunteers. We hope all Guild members will volunteer a bit of time.  

Membership: Admission to Fairyland is free to Guild members. The membership list is given to Fairyland for admission. If your membership has lapsed, please renew before 08/20 at https://sfbapg.org/membership/.

Entry Info: There are 2 entrance times. 10:30 & 12:30. Our host, Maria Rodriguez of Fairyland will meet us at the front entrance by the Big Shoe. Please arrive at least 5 minutes beforehand. Maria will check your name off her list, so we can enter on time. If you miss the 10:30 or 12:30 guild entrance, your name will be on a list at the box office for entry. If you have any trouble, ask the park attendant at the entrance to call Maria, who will come get you.

If you are bringing guests, they should buy tickets in advance and then tickets will be scanned at the gate.

Contact: If you have problems or questions, especially at Puppet Fair, contact Lee Armstrong (Guild Secretary) by phone or text 707 738-5906.

Guild Meeting & After Party: There will be a short guild meeting on Sat., after the 4pm show in the Cinderella area right next to the puppet theater. Come hear the latest puppet news and gather as a group.

If you can stay a bit longer, the Puppet Fair After Party called Puppet People Potluck starts at 4:45pm in the Merry Meadow located right next to the puppet theater. It’s a chance for past and present Fairyland puppeteers, Puppet Fair performers, Guild & Driveway Follies friends to gather together for an evening of snacks and conversation. Please bring something to share.

Join us for one magical weekend of puppet fun!
More info transportation, parking, etc. at https://fairyland.org/visit/#hours-admission
More info on Puppet Fair shows at https://fairyland.org/event-calendar/puppet-fair-weekend/

Full Schedule of Shows: please note that Elizabeth Luce with “Splashy Sea Saga” is NOT going to be able to make it to the Puppet Fair this year. Replacement TBA.

Saturday, August 23:

11:00 –  “What Makes a King” by Children’s Fairyland (Maya legend-Puppets and script by Randal Metz)
11:20 –  Puppet Playdate hosted by Quercus in the Merry Meadow
12:00 –  Vaudeville Follies Fratello Marionettes
1:00 –   “Little Red Riding Hood” by Puppet Art Theater Co.
2:00 –   TBA
2:30 –  Puppet Playdate hosted by Quercus in the Merry Meadow
3:00 –  Bob Baker Marionette Theater
4:00 – “What Makes a King” by Children’s Fairyland  

Sunday, August 24:

11:00 –  “What Makes a King”
11:20 – Puppet Playdate hosted by Quercus in the Merry Meadow
12:00 – “Puppet Lady”
1:00 –   “Three Little Pigs”  by Magical Moonshine Theatre
2:00 –   TBA
2:30 –  Puppet Playdate hosted by Quercus in the Merry Meadow
3:00 –  Bob Baker Marionette Theater
4:00 –  “What Makes a King” by Children’s Fairyland

The Puppet Fair is made possible in part by a grant from the Cook/Marks Fund.

• Letter from the President
• Guild meeting in Sacramento!
• Vallejo Giant Puppet Project July 4th
• Fred C. Riley III’s Tabletop Workshop
• Menlo Park Summer Puppetry Festival 2025
• Other June Events at the Festival
• Puppets at Mill Valley Music Festival
• Napa Valley Puppetry Festival Looking for Performers/Puppeteers
• Shadowlight’s performances of Arjuna’s Meditation
• Member News: Ilene Kennedy
• Member News: Dalrymple MacAlpin
• Guild Library Book Review

July 19-20, 2025

Step into the world of tabletop puppetry with acclaimed puppeteer, Fred C. Riley III in an immersive and dynamic workshop designed for performers of all levels.

This class offers a unique opportunity to learn the foundational techniques that bring puppets to life through the artistry of gravity, focus, and breath.

Whether you’re a curious beginner or a seasoned puppeteer looking to refine your skills, this workshop will cover:

• The  Basics of Tabletop Puppetry: Understand how gravity informs natural movement, how focus tells a story, and how breath brings subtle realism to performance.
• Solo and Ensemble Techniques: Learn how to animate a single figure with one, two, or even three puppeteers in harmony.
• Hands-On Training: Participants will gain practical experience manipulating tabletop puppets under Fred’s expert guidance.

Fred C. Riley III brings years of performance, directing, and puppetry expertise to this exciting class. His passion for collaborative storytelling and precision movement makes this a must-attend event for artists, educators, and theater enthusiasts alike.

Happy April Fools’ Day

The fool has been a common puppet subject for centuries. Our own guild logo features a jester/fool puppet image. An early April fools jest took place in 1698 when people were tricked into going to the Tower of London to see the lions washed.

• Next Guild Event (for real, not a joke) Join us Friday, April 4th, 6-7 pm PST
• Call for Nominations for Guild Board of Directors, April 5 deadline
• A Magical Puppetry Experience Unfolds: Meet Matthew Purdon
• “Neverland” by DLUX Puppets Sun., Apr. 6 at 3 pm, Bankhead Theater, 2400 1st Street, Livermore
• Woander Presents: Puppet Workshop with Donavan Zimmerman April 7 – 11th, 9am – 4pm
• Woander Presents: Donovan Zimmerman & the Puppetry and Art of Paperhand Wed. April 9th, 7pm at O’Hanlon Center for the Arts in Mill Valley
• Grand Opening of Woander Store in Marin April 19, Noon- 5 pm
• Middleof Event by The Puppetry Institute May 3rd, 4 pm, 1855 41st Ave D-06 , Capitola
• Paly Theatre presents Spongebob the musical
• SHTERNA & THE LOST VOICE – A NEW YIDDISH FOLKTALE Wed., May 28, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
• Remebering Adam Kreutinger
  

• President’s Message
• GUILD MARCH MEETING
• SFBAPG Newsletter Scoop: Guild Members Honored with Highest North American Puppetry Award
• Call for Nominations for Guild Board of Directors, April 5 deadline
• Your Guild Library News
• Letters to the Editor
• Puppet Master Workshop Offered in Marin

When: Sun., 3/16, 1-4:30 pm
Where: Marin Theatre Company (MTC)
397 Miller Avenue, Mill Valley,
https://www.marintheatre.org/

Agenda

2:00 Guild Social Meet & Greet PLUS Brief SF Bay Area Puppeteers Guild Meeting. 
2 Workshops – (you can sign up for either, or both)
1-1:45  Pre-Meeting “Intro to Puppetry” with Lee Armstrong 
2:30-4:00  “Eye Mechanisms for Puppets” Demo and “hands-on” workshop with Lisa Zagone

Workshop Details

2:30 – 4:30  “Eye Mechanisms for Puppets” with Lisa Zagone
This is a combination demo and “hands-on” workshop. The demo explores a variety of mechanisms for adding expressiveness to puppets, such as eyelids, moving eyes, eyebrows, nose ear and whisker wiggles. It will feature mechanisms for moving mouth puppets as well as wooden puppets (rod puppets and marionettes) and suggest examples for retrofitting existing puppets. The hands-on portion will allow participants to make their own mech. All materials provided.

Ages: Adult.   Limit 30 participants

Lisa Zagone, https://lisazagone.com/puppets, is a professional theater designer of over 20 years, and a university lecturer in technical theatre for 12 years. Her area of specialty is in set, props and costume design. In addition, she has a Masters in Fine Art, and is enrolled at UConn Puppetry Arts graduate school.

1-1:45 “Intro to Puppetry” (pre-meeting workshop) with Lee Armstrong 

Invite your friends! Do they ever wonder what the art of puppetry is all about? This 45-minute workshop, led by award-winning puppeteer Lee Armstrong, combines a demo with hands-on practice to answer the key question: “What do you do once you have a puppet on your hand?” You’ll explore the basics of bringing puppets to life using hand puppets and moving-mouth “Muppet-style” puppets. Puppets provided by Folkmanis Puppets, or bring your own.

Ages: 12 and up, & adults. Limit 30 participants. Skill Level: Perfect for beginners; but all experience levels welcome. 

Lee Armstrong is the co-owner of Sonoma-based Images in Motion which specializes in TV puppetry. A regional Emmy winner, Lee has taught puppetry to thousands of children and adults and has served as Lecturer at UC Santa Cruz for “Jim Henson and the Art of the Muppets.” Her credits include the original Fraggle Rock, Being John Malkovich, PBS shows, commercials and more. 

Reserve your seat now for either, or both workshops at SFBAPG Puppet Workshops Mar. 16

FYI, this will be advertised on the MTC website next week, so spaces may go quickly. If you want to come, sign up NOW! 

Questions? Please email [email protected]All SFBAPG meetings are free and open to the public, https://sfbapg.org/.

Join us for a Zoom meeting on Tuesday, February 6th at 7:00 PM to discuss the pros and cons. We’ll explain the benefits, responsibilities, and what this means for the guild’s future. Bring your questions and thoughts!

Zoom meeting link in newsletter.

Join us Friday, February 28th via zoom at 6pm pacific for another Guild Show-and-Tell!  There are 15 slots available for presenters. Each gets 3 minutes to share their project at any stage of completion. No project to share?  No problem!  Sign up to support your fellow guild members, ask questions and cheer as an audience member. There will be 10 minutes after all presenters for Q&A as well as a live chat available throughout.

Looking forward to seeing what you’re working on!