Getting support from HNI, many generous donors, and the Teri Jean Breitbach Memorial Fund, one of two puppet shows will be coming to local neighborhoods this summer! Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre of West Liberty is scheduling a “Neighborhood Tour,” including the show along with optional make-and-take workshops.
The show and workshop package is available at minimal or no cost to groups in low income neighborhoods and a small fee to middle income neighborhoods, with the goal of building community and developing creativity. Area residents can make these shows and workshops part of a block party, mealsite or neighborhood center activities according to Monical Leo, director of the theatre.
The Eulenspiegel theatre team will be touring this summer with two “delightful” shows including the main offering of “Kate Shelley’s Train Rescue,” which tells the breathtaking story of the Iowa teenager who, in 1881, saved the train from plunging to a watery death.
Created and performed by puppeteer Stephanie Vallez of West Liberty, the exciting tale unfolds in the pages of two giant pop-up books, peopled with paper puppets, masks, rod marionettes and fun, low-tech special effects.
In case two neighborhoods request the same date, one venue will get “Magical Fish and Mermaids,” another fun show featuring two stories and a song according to Leo. The “Fisherman and his Wife” is the ancient Grimm’s Fairy Tale of the magical fish who grants wishes until the beneficiaries become too greedy and too hungry for power. “The Mermaid of the Magdalenes,” a Canadian folk tale, is much newer and features an ocean full of fish, a canning factory, and a little girl named Madeleine who wishes she could live in the ocean. Both stories are performed by puppeteer Monica Leo with whimsical Bohemian style rod marionettes.
Leo said the shows will likely be part of the September Children’s Festival annually held in West Liberty, but requests for local performances are coming in from communities throughout central and eastern Iowa.
Anyone wishing to book a show in their neighborhood should contact Monica Leo at 319-627-2487 or monica@puppetspuppets.com.