Puppet Slam N’ Picnic

Get ready for your puppet adventure of the summer at the Puppetry Guild of Pittsburgh’s showcase on Spring Hill

August 1, 2018—Are you ready for a puppet adventure? Pack a picnic and head up to Spring Hill for the third annual Puppet Slam, brought to you by the Puppetry Guild of Pittsburgh. This year the event is hosted at the Workingmen’s Beneficial Union, a new event space that includes an outdoor picnic area that will be full of puppet activities and an indoor performance featuring many of Pittsburgh’s favorite puppet acts.  The new Spring Hill Brewing will be serving as well.

“This is going to be one hot August night of puppet shows and shenanigans. Stop feeling bad! Start feeling good! Get your whole crew together to laugh and frolic on top of a mountain with puppets and music and beer.”

–  Dave English, President, Puppetry Guild of Pittsburgh

A Puppet Slam is a showcase of short, contemporary puppetry work typically aimed at an adult audience. The main performances will include marionettes, ventriloquism, hand puppets, shadow puppets and object theater.  The evening will be hosted by Pittsburgh favorites Tom Sarver and Dave English with music by Daniel “Kreepy Dollz” Baxter and his band Imaginary Friends. Expect performances from seasoned puppeteers Alison Babusci, Cheryl Capezzuti and Kellee Van Aken (Fuzzy Boundary Productions), Joann Kielar and Bob Rumba. The guild is also excited to showcase first time performers Albert Pantone, Theresa Casciato and Becky Spevak. While this isn’t a puppet show specifically designed for children, all ages are invited

Prior to the main event, puppet-lovers are invited to magical evening picnicking outdoors from 6:00-7:30.  Bring a picnic basket and enjoy a tasty beer or a non-alcoholic Teaboy Pop and then participate in a puppetry workshop presented by Light Bright Beautiful Puppetry. You are also invited to bring a favorite puppet to showcase at the event and enjoy a treat from the puppet-themed bake sale with proceeds benefiting the Puppetry Guild. The picnic will end with an interactive dance experience with Giant Puppet Dance Club, July’s winner of an Awesome Pittsburgh grant. At 7:30 a parade will lead people indoors. Special thanks to KG Autoworks for sponsoring this event.

The Workingmen’s Beneficial Union was a 100-year-old social hall that served the Spring Hill community; it has been vacant for about 15 years. It is now home to Spring Hill Brewing, Rescue Street Farms and a new event space, the WBU. The Puppetry Guild of Pittsburgh is excited to help activate this new event locale that includes both indoor and outdoor space less than 10 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh.  Learn more athttps://www.goodfoodpittsburgh.com/spring-hill-brewing-will-open-this-week/

The Puppetry Guild of Pittsburgh unites puppeteers, puppet makers and people that love puppets by supporting and celebrating the art of puppetry in the greater Pittsburgh region. This organization formed in the fall of 2015 and is working to produce more puppetry-related events in the region. The Puppetry Guild of Pittsburgh is affiliated with the national organization Puppeteers of America. Anyone who loves and supports puppetry in the region is welcome to join the guild for an annual membership fee of $15.00. Learn more about the guild at https://puppetryguildofpittsburgh.wordpress.com/

New Sun Rising is the fiscal sponsor for The Puppetry Guild of Pittsburgh. NSR provides strategic programs, vital services, and accessible funding to power civic innovation from idea to impact.