Puppet Lab

PUPPET LAB is an artist incubator celebrating its 10th year of radical, genre-expanding, boundary–pushing puppet work. Four emerging puppeteers — DOMINIQUE HERSKIND, AMOKE KUBAT, MARY PLASTER, and LIPING VONG — will present new, experimental performances during two weekends in August. More info and tickets at openeyetheatre.org/puppet-lab-festival. 

The residency artists spent the spring and summer workshopping their projects this year with the two Co-Artistic Directors of PUPPET LAB – OANH VU and REBEKAH CRISANTA DE YBARRA. Learn more about the artistic team at openeyetheatre.org/about-puppet-lab.

The PUPPET LAB program, created by Alison Heimstead in 2010, establishes a formalized process for emerging puppet and mask theater artists to advance their artistic development – to test and create new works within a supportive and challenging workshop environment. 

PUPPET LAB gives artists the time and space to test ideas, learn from others, and receive and respond to critical feedback. PUPPET LAB seeks to nurture exploratory, experimental, and innovative performance, and is interested in ideas that work within traditional forms as well as projects that are new in every way.

This program is made possible by generous support from the Jerome Foundation.

WEEK ONE PERFORMERS: MARY PLASTER & DOMINIQUE HERSKIND

• August 12, 13, 14

MARY PLASTER, The Forgotten Forest 

12-year-old Jacki assumes visiting their wise Nana deep in the dark woods will gift them infinite freedom to shatter their video game high score in “Bring on the Apocalypse.” Instead, they get lost on a magical journey that blows up their heart, world perspective, and sense of interconnection. This tale is enacted by six European-style wood marionettes carved in the wilds of Duluth with Zoom web instruction from Czech Republic during Covid-19 pandemic isolation. Trickster Kaspar, Mary’s seventh and most traditional character, claims he is 253 but was actually born in Prague last August. Puppet Lab’s opportunity has unleashed these new creations to share amazing adventures with us by catalyzing the co-creation development of their transportable home, performance skills, lighting, script, voices and music.

Collaborators:

Mentor Director/Technical Advisor: Kurt Hunter

Story, Marionettes, and Set by Mary Plaster

Co-Performer/Creative Consultant: Anthony Chapin

Performance Assistant: Sydney Petersen

Music and sound effects: Greg Herriges

Carving Instructor/Lindenwood “robot” creator: Mirek Trejtnar of Puppets in Prague

Mary Plaster is a recipient of state and local Individual Artist Funding. These 2022 activities are made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council (ARAC), and the Minnesota State Arts Board (MSAB), thanks to appropriations from the Minnesota State Legislature’s general arts and cultural heritage funds.

DOMINIQUE HERSKIND, Disconnected

There’s no better way to spend your weekend than hanging out in your studio apartment! Who needs friends when you can overanalyze all of the mistakes you’ve made with your existence? Come see a silly journey of self-discovery and reconciliation told through foam puppets! Meet the body, the mind, a head of lettuce, and all of the other wacky characters that inhabit this world. Besides, what could possibly go wrong? 

Collaborators:

Mentor Director: Steve Ackerman 

Performers: Ashley Ripley, Dominique Herskind, Grace Barnstead 

Show/ Puppet Designer: Dominique Herskind

Set Designer: Steve Ackerman 

Content Advisory: Disconnected is an adult-themed puppetry piece that includes puppet nudity, foul language, and drug use

WEEK TWO PERFORMERS: LIPING VONG & AMOKE KUBAT

• August 19, 20, 21

LIPING VONG, In Absentia

After learning of her diagnosis of a terminal illness, Grandma cannot understand why things begin disappearing from her home. She is visited by magical beings who usher her to move through this tumultuous time well. In Absentia (working title) is an observation of the aging of a loved one, of loss of independence and autonomy, and of how support for our loved ones can often be misunderstood.

Collaborators:

Mentor Director: Chamindika Wanduragala

Performers: LIPING VONG

Sound Design: Dameun Strange 

Composer: Nini Music

AMOKE KUBAT, Opera Of Memories

A lonely Old Woman revisits her life as she removes objects from a box. Each one is tied to a significant memory and experience. Amoke tells her story as a puppet, using masks, and oldies but goodies from her past.

Collaborators:

Mentor Directors: Gustavo Boada and Julie Boada

Performer: Amoke Kubat

Soundscape:  Sayge Carroll

Set Design & Stage Assistant: Keegan Xavi

Tickets

$15 — General Admission

Available at openeyetheatre.org

A limited number of $10 Economic Accessibility tickets are available online for all performances. If not sold out, a limited number of pay-as-able tickets will be available at the door.

Performance Schedule

WEEKEND ONE: MARY PLASTER and DOMINIQUE HERSKIND

August 12, 7:30pm

August 13, 7:30pm

August 14, 2:30pm

WEEKEND TWO: LIPING VONG and AMOKE KUBAT

August 19, 7:30pm

August 20, 7:30pm

August 21, 2:30pm

Age Recommendation: Ages 14 and up.

COVID-19 Policy
For the safety and peace of mind of our audience members, artists, and staff, Open Eye Theatre requires that audience members and staff wear face masks in the theatre. Masks must securely cover the nose and mouth and will be made available for those who arrive without them. Proof of vaccination is not required at this time. Open Eye bases our COVID-19 policies on the most recent CDC information. We greatly appreciate your compliance with this policy and thank you for helping to ensure that the show will go on!