PuppetFest Midwest - Some thoughts...

PuppetFest Midwest, as described at: http://www.puppetfestival.org

“PuppetFest MidWest is an independent, annual puppetry festival that is presented, organized and financially supported by puppeteers as a gift to other puppeteers. It is an affordable puppet festival, with an emphasis on showing and teaching the traditional skills of good puppet theatre.

Attend the festival, participate in a 4 day in-depth workshop, and treat yourself to world-class puppet performances. The intimate setting enhances the workshops and performances that are lead by some of the top puppeteers working today.”

This is what PuppetFest Midwest was for me:

It was much more than inspiring. It was watching world class performances each night seeing the different styles of puppetry and watch the puppeteers at work in their element. It was being on an equal level with such artists which was both humbling and encouraging. It was picking the brains of so many other puppeteers and hearing stories and experiences from so many perspectives. It was the support network of 50 puppeteers who believed in you and laughed at all the right places. It was the friendships I made where age had no barriers and who I’ll keep in my heart forever. It was the immense laughter I shared, where your belly and your cheeks would never recover.

It was the ‘something’ that was missing from my life to make me feel complete. It was the longing for knowing there was something out there - but didn’t quite know what it was. It was realising there are a group of amazing, loving, passionate people who had devoted their lives to puppetry.

This was something I could have never even start to imagine if I hadn’t have experienced it first hand.

Puppet Jeopardy - funniest event during the festival

PuppetFest Midwest - Last day at the festival

This was incredibly hard for me. I felt like I had found my family, my people, only to have to leave them - but I already know I’ll be back next year and that I’ll see some of these people on the rest of my journey at the next festival.

A group of us younger folk had all become really close - so much so, that we even helped pack each other's suitcases for some (who will remain unnamed) who may have partied too hard the previous night and didn’t have time to pack! We laughed the entire way as we ran to the bus - only just making it - all carrying each other’s bags, suitcases and puppets!

Each stop to the airport we lost another friend, and each stop was another tear-jerking moment each tougher than the next. It also didn’t help that most of us hadn’t slept all week, so every emotion was probably heightened only just a bit!

A couple of us went back to Kansas City for more merriment and puppetry together. That same day we went to see Paul Mesner’s Theatre and show that was on that day and he even took us all back stage, deep into the heart of an old building that contained levels and levels of hundreds of stored puppets, materials and workshop and theatre spaces. Just incredible.

But now, as sad as I am to leave my new found home and family I must press on - as I’m not even half-way through my adventure! I think I’m going to enjoy a few days to explore Kansas City and to have some well need-rest. After only living on a few hours sleep each night, laughing more then I’ve ever laughed and absorbing much more than I thought possible, I really can’t wait to rest my head...

PuppetFest Midwest - First day at the festival

Trenton, Missouri

Walking up and down Kansas City Airport looking for the Puppet Festival pick up/meeting point for the bus to Trenton, I try to guess what puppet people look like - I really have no idea what to expect. So I proudly show/wear my Elmo T-shirt and smile at people, seeing if the shirt registers - but they look at me as if I’m strange....

After four trips up and down the airport - I finally stumble into a group of friendly looking people, all busily talking as excited as a bunch of preschoolers. These must be what puppet people are. I’m welcomed and praised for “coming ALL the way from Australia” and I feel right at home and just know it’s going to be a fun festival.

My new friends, Kathy and Heather

Finally, I’m on the bus to Trenton, Missouri. However, the drive gets further away from ‘city life’, passing fields and fields of greenery and huge rolled up hay balls... We even see some Amish people pass by in a horse and buggy! I’m having a few second doubts about where I’ve found my puppet journeys taking me... But hey, anything is better then hearing gun shots at night in Downtown L.A. right?

We finally get to the cute little, albeit ghost town, of Trenton and the college where the festival is held. Suddenly it’s like a stampede of elephants - no hang on - they're puppeteers! All swarming to get inside and I feel slightly overwhelmed... But I get to my dorm room to recollect myself and get to meet my wonderful room mate Van, I start to feel more and more at home. She was last years recipient of the scholarship that I now have, and we get along just great.

Phillip Huber and his puppets

*Phew* I can finally relax. I even take the ‘just in case’ money from out of my shoes and place it like a normal person in my wallet. It’s the little things that make you feel human again.

After we all settle, we have orientation, dinner (real American food) - we see the most amazing marionette puppet show I’ve ever seen. It was by world-class puppeteer Phillip Huber. At that point I was so in awe - I said; “This show alone was worth the entire trip to America and this is only the beginning!”

Partying late night...

That night we partied, like only a bunch of crazy puppeteers could. I wasn’t left alone for a second, because everyone wanted to talk to ‘that Australian girl’! I felt so overwhelmed by everyone’s open hearts and arms and how I was welcomed into a family of 50 other puppeteers. It was fantastic - I don’t think I’ve ever felt as welcomed into a community as I did that night.

I didn’t sleep that night. I was too overwhelmed and excited and couldn’t wait to start my ventriloquist class in the morning.