Upcoming Zoom sessions with the Center for Puppetry Arts!

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July 22 @ 7pm

https://puppet.org/programs/life-legacy-of-richard-hunt/

Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Richard Hunt
Virtual Panel Discussion

Presented by Jessica Max Stein, author of Funny Boy: The Richard Hunt Biography, with Rob Mills (Junior Gorg from Fraggle Rock and Ludo from Labyrinth), Gord Robertson (Pa Gorg from Fraggle Rock and Falkor from The Neverending Story III), and Lawrence Mirkin (Producer, Fraggle Rock and The Jim Henson Hour)

Celebrate the life and legacy of Richard Hunt, the renowned Muppeteer known for performances as Scooter, Janice, Statler, Beaker, and many more. Join us for a virtual discussion honoring the joyful life and creative legacy of beloved puppeteer Richard Hunt. This special event will feature Jessica Max Stein, author of Funny Boy: The Richard Hunt Biography (Rutgers University Press, 2024), in conversation with Rob Mills and Gord Robertson, performers from Fraggle Rock, and Lawrence Mirkin, producer of the series.

Known for his friendly disposition and infectious humor, Hunt was a cherished member of the Henson team and a key contributor to the spirit of “Affectionate Anarchy” that defined the Muppets. The evening will include a reading of select excerpts from Stein’s biography, followed by a lively conversation reflecting on Hunt’s work, personality, and enduring impact.

 

July 27th @ 5pm

https://puppet.org/programs/bts-with-shadow-girls-cult/

Behind the Scenes with Shadow Girls Cult
Virtual Behind the Scenes
Presented by Shadow Girls Cult of Seattle, WA

Known for their surreal, hand-crafted visuals and experimental storytelling, performance troupe Shadow Girls Cult has developed a unique technique that fuses vintage overhead projectors, layered paper cutouts, live puppetry, and analog film effects to create haunting, dreamlike shadowscapes in real time.

This live-streamed event offers a rare demonstration of these signature techniques, providing participants with insight into how the collective blurs the line between live theater and animation. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions about the group’s creative process, artistic influences, and the making of UNRAVELING, as well as get a first look at their setup in advance of the performances from August 13 to 17.

CALL FOR SUBMISSION OF ARTICLES FOR THE MÓIN-MÓIN JOURNAL, Ed. 32: The Stage of Celebration - Puppet Theatre, Ritual, Festivity, and Community

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UNIMA Brazil invites you to share your research and reflections on the rich and multifaceted relationship between puppet theatre (in its various forms: puppet theatre, object theatre, mask theatre, and shadow theatre) and its profound connections with rituals, festivities, and community dynamics.

Your work may explore, but is not limited to:

  • The historical and anthropological roots of puppet theatre in ritual and festive contexts.

  • The presence and significance of puppets, objects, masks, and shadows in ceremonies, celebrations, and cultural traditions.

  • The role of puppet theatre as a tool for expressing community identity and strengthening social bonds.

  • Case studies investigating the function of puppet theatre in contemporary festivals and popular manifestations.

  • Analyses on the use of puppet theatre in educational, therapeutic, and social intervention projects within the community.

  • Theoretical and methodological perspectives for the analysis of the interaction between puppet theatre and ritual and community contexts.

  • Reflections on the evolution and new possibilities of puppet theatre in dialogue with the demands and expressions of contemporary communities.

  • The representations of ethnic-racial identities in puppet theatre in ritual and festive contexts.

  • The role of puppet theatre in the preservation, celebration, and transmission of cultures and knowledge.

  • Case studies investigating the function of puppet theatre in festivals, rituals, and celebrations.

  • Reflections on research methodologies and ethical approaches in the study of the relationships between puppet theatre, rituals, and festivities.

  • Puppet theatre as a ritual and community expression in the northeast and north of Brazil: popular tradition and cultural resistance.

We encourage the submission of original articles, translations, interviews, and unpublished reports that deepen the knowledge about this fascinating intersection between art, culture, and society.

We look forward to your contributions to illuminate the stage of celebration and its intrinsic links with puppet theatre and community life. The submission guidelines and our article template can be found on the "author guidelines" page.

Submission Guidelines: https://www.revistas.udesc.br/index.php/moin/about/submissions#authorGuidelines

Submission Deadline: September 30, 2025

Join Fishing Fresh online as part of the 24th UNIMA Congress!

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The 24th UNIMA Congress in Chuncheon South Korea has begun! Check out photos from the festivities on UNIMA and UNIMA-USA's social media pages all week! While registration for the congress has closed, you can still take part in the Youth Commission's online idea sharing session - Fishing Fresh on May 28th, 8am ET. See below for more information:

The Unima Youth Commission invites you to join us for the Fishing for Fresh Ideas online session on May 28th at 9pm Korean Time/2pm Central European Time/8am Eastern Standard Time. Please use your world clock to find your local time zone. This session offers the opportunity for UNIMA members to share new projects, artistic achievements and seek international collaborations. Come support the thriving of the global field of puppetry! 

Register before May 26th: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/skWpjczuTOG995dGIk882A 

 

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