This tech project category is for students who are interested in building and/or presenting puppet theatre. Students must be prepared to demonstrate the use of the puppet or puppet theatre element to the adjudicator.
Any puppet character may be created from the List of Plays as well as from the following sources: standard fairytales for classical stories, an unknown fairytale, a folk tale from a documented book of young people’s literature or from an actual school production. If the student’s entry does not come from the List of Plays, the source (children’s book, fairy tale story, script, etc.) must be included with the student’s display.
The Project Book must accompany each entry. It should include
1. a typed synopsis of the story or play
2. a typed explanation of the student designer’s concept
3. a typed list of materials used to create the project
4. a typed methodology explaining how the project was created
5. photos showing the student making the project
6. copies of research articles and/or photos used
There are 4 separate sub-categories for puppets.
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Hand Puppets: Hand puppets are puppets that are manipulated by the hands. (for example: Kermit the Frog) This category must have a minimum of two (2) characters constructed that are from the same puppet play. The student may construct more characters if they so desire, but a minimum of two characters (2) is required for competition. Types of hand puppets include: hand puppet with moveable mouth or arms, rod, shadow, and stick puppet. The character may be animal, human, fantasy, or even abstract in concept.
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Marionettes: Marionettes are dolls that are suspended from a control bar by the use of strings. (For example: Pinocchio) This category must have a minimum of one puppet displayed. String puppets should use black fish-lines for weight line in stringing, if possible. The best type of control bar is the airplane control.
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Experimental Puppets: Experimental puppets are constructs that use the entire body of the puppeteer to manipulate the puppet for performance. (For example: Big Bird) Because some Experimental Puppets can get quite large, it is strongly recommended that students and directors contact the Area or State Festival host to ascertain available space. Experimental puppets include large body puppets, banraku, etc.
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Puppet Theatre Element: Puppet stages, scenery, script, and other puppet theatre elements or projects will be fitted into this puppet category if they are submitted. An excellent example of a puppet theatre element is Oscar the Grouch’s trash can from Sesame Street. If the project is large, it is strongly recommended that students and directors contact the Area and/or State Festival Host(s) to ascertain available space.
Actual School Production AMMENDMENT
If a puppet design project is from an actual school production, the Project Book must include the following:
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Production photos of the puppet actually being used in the show must be included in the Project Book.
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A program of the play that lists the student’s name as the puppet designer.
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The entire script the puppet appeared in.
A paper telling how the puppet was used in the play and how it furthered the story of the play.
