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FESTIVALS
Puppets Up! Festival - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED	Puppets Up! is an international festival of puppets that each year attracts thousands of visitors to beautiful Almonte, in Mississippi Mills, Ontario, 20 minutes from downtown Ottawa. The third weekend of August, professional puppetry troupes descend on Almonte to amaze, amuse, and astound audiences with a wide range of exceptional performances for all ages. Shows are held in five main theatres set up along the historic main street beside the waterfalls of the Mississippi River. Street entertainment includes clowns, buskers, musicians, dancers, and daily puppet parades led by celebrity parade marshals. Come discover the arts in Almonte at Puppets Up!
Toronto Festival of Storytelling	For 30 years the Storytellers School of Toronto has been bringing you stories and storytellers from around the globe as part of the Toronto Festival of Storytelling.
	This web page connects you with other puppeteers in Ontario regardless of location. The yearly meetings and occasional special events provide the opportunity to socialize and exchange ideas. Our membership is being rejuvenated with an influx of talented young professionals and puppet practitioners.
PERFORMERS:
	Mike Harding, Chief Puppeteer Applefun Puppetry Phone: (416) 895-3492 www.applefun.ca Since 1997, Applefun Puppetry has been performing its hilarious brand of entertainment throughout Ontario. Whether it's a birthday party or an annual company event, Applefun will be there to make sure the kids are having fun.
	Hugh Phillips The Fairytale Puppet Theatre Toronto On fairytalepuppettheatre.com 416-469-5342
THE BRICOTEERS WEBSITE	Grey Muldoon and James Ashby devised the name Bricoteer Puppetry Project for several related reasons: 1) to emphasize how they creatively use material available “at hand” to construct both stories and puppets, a tendency encapsulated in the critical term bricolage (bricoteer is an amalgamation of the words bricolage and puppeteer); 2) to declare openly that they are most interested in pushing the boundaries of puppetry, which in many ways already goes beyond what the theatre of human actors is capable of doing; 3) to inform others that theirs is an ongoing project that always welcomes new collaborators.
NINA KEOGH	Nina is a 3rd generation artist, puppet builder and puppeteer. Her career in theatre and television started in 1958 when she apprenticed as a puppeteer on the Friendly Giant with her parents John and Linda Keogh. His parents Vi and David created 8 foot high marionettes and operated them at places like Massey Hall - along with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (i.e.- Peter and The Wolf) She has hosted several series for TVO and CBC (including The Polkadot Door and Drop-In) Contact Nina at ninakeogh@gmail.com Website: www.ninakeogh.com
ME AND MY SHADOWS	Inspired by Javanese/Balinese traditions our shadow puppet performances and playshops have been adapted to the North American context. Our Multicultural Shadow Play allows for the sharing of diverse cultures, ideas, experiences and landscapes in a format that is fun, dynamic and rich and can be adapted to the time frames and needs of our participants. A general partnership owned and operated by Susan Allen and Susiawan, Me and My Shadows works in the field of learning through the arts and movement, and offers diverse performances and workshops in Javanese/ Balinese shadow puppetry, mask-making, integrated art, creative movement and yoga to engage all ages in creative, active, cultural expression and sharing. Susiawan & Susan Allen WEBSITE
	PUPPET ADVENTURE Doreen D'Eath performs, leads workshops and much much more Email:doreen@puppetadventure.com Web: www.puppetadventure.com Phone us at: 416-787-8588
Alexander Winfield	Alexander Winfield is a Bermudian-born puppeteer and puppet maker. He is an experienced Toronto street performer, where he has entertained thousands of his puppets, and has written and directed two full length plays featuring puppets, 'Tales from a Grim Archipelago' and 'All Hail Ye Mighty Lords of Nowhere'. He has performed as a puppeteer and storyteller in Toronto, Montreal, London, France and Bermuda. He is currently building a new cast of puppet characters. contact: 416 262 2945 e-mail: sheepWpunks@gmail.com
WEBSITE	PERFORMER & BUILDER Joel Brubacher has been building and playing with puppets since his early childhood. In May 2005, he established Banjo Puppets to legitimize the work he has been doing for most of his life.
PUPPET THEATRE COMPANIES & Others
	Studio Babette Puppet Theatre strives to provide quality puppet performances in a myriad of styles, which reflect the European background of traditional puppet forms, combined with the unique artistry of modern Canadian puppetry. CONTACT website: www.studiobabette.ca email: puppets@studiobabette.ca
CLAY & PAPER THEATRE: www.clayandpapertheatre.org	Out amongst the community bake-ovens and lush gardens of Dufferin Grove Park, Clay and Paper Theatre has been changing the world. Completely. Irrevocably. Medieval mystery plays, Punch and Judy shows, African myths, Indonesian shadow puppetry, Native Canadian masks- all these and more have been influencing Clay and Paper Theatre Company since its birth in 1994. This is theatre on the ground, for the groundlings, in the park and on the street. This is theatre of exaggeration, of giant puppetry, of satire and wit gone awry. This is a little theatre company asking big questions with humour and irreverence. This is Clay and Paper Theatre.
PUPPET MONGERS: www.puppetmongers.com	• Puppetmongers create entertaining plays of relevance for intimate audiences • make shows for children, families and adults audiences • build on the traditions to invent new and wonderful forms of puppetry • explore what puppets can be and can do • make puppet theatre that is beautiful, exciting, and delightful • tour locally, nationally and internationally. • work with other artists and companies on projects and productions • offer classes to adult learners through our School of Puppetry
Website	"The Old Trout Puppet Workshop is a puppet theatre company, founded on a ranch in southern Alberta in 1999. Our first year of operation was an experience of intense collaborative isolation – we lived together, cooked together, and worked together. We collected eggs, fed the pigs, and premiered our first show to a bunkhouse full of cowboys and Hutterites." "We’re dedicated to making professional puppet theatre, for both children and adults, that blurs that distinction. We launch forth to explore the outer edges of the puppet medium, and to create original, unique, and exuberant art. An Old Trout show strives for delightful allegory, joyful tragedy, and purity of spirit. We’ve created six productions: The Unlikely Birth of Istvan, The Tooth Fairy, Beowulf, The Last Supper of Antonin Carême, Pinocchio, and now Famous Puppet Death Scenes."
THE PADDLING PUPPETEERS : www.paddlingpuppeteers.com	The Paddling Puppeteers have been performing their musical puppet shows across Ontario and Quebec since 1999. A variety of colourful puppets bring to life several stories having to do with the environment. The shows present ideas of how we can take simple steps to preserve and restore Canada's natural heritage.
	"Since 1995, Puppets Elora has used traditional puppetry to bring affordable live theatre to children. Our highly-skilled volunteer puppeteers have backgrounds in education, community theatre and the arts. Members write or adapt plays as well as design and build beautifully-sculpted and elaborately-dressed hand puppets, props, and scenery. Puppets Elora performs throughout Wellington and Dufferin Counties, Waterloo Region, and sometimes beyond." Website
JUMBLIES THEATRE: www.jumbliestheatre.org
DRAMAWAY: http://www.dramaway.com	DramaWay provides a creative outlet for both young and old. Using dramatic techniques, participants are led down the paths of discovery. Participants are given the opportunity to engage in drama and other art forms. DramaWay places emphasis on the process of creation, and the experience of the journey. At DramaWay, we believe that drama allows everyone the opportunity to connect with others in their community, and to learn about themselves while doing so. Our programs aim to promote social development, enhance self-esteem, and improve communication.
THEATRE DIRECT CANADA : www.theatredirect.on.ca	Since 1976, Theatre Direct Canada has produced over 80 productions for 2 million young people across the country. Of these, over 40 were directly commissioned and developed by the company. In recognition of its outstanding work for young audiences, Theatre Direct Canada has been the recipient of 20 Dora Mavor Moore nominations resulting in 4 Awards and 9 Chalmers Canadian Play Awards.
PUPPET MAKERS
Banjo Puppets WEBSITE	PERFORMER & BUILDER Joel Brubacher has been building and playing with puppets since his early childhood. In May 2005, he established Banjo Puppets to legitimize the work he has been doing for most of his life.
CHENSATIONAL PUPPETS Kanja Chen WEBSITE	Chensational Puppets offers a range of services to fit every aspect of your puppet-related project. From custom puppet building to puppeteering, Chensational Puppets brings experience and talent to make your production the best it can be.
BLOG	Peu importe le médium, Mathieu René demeure créateur de créatures, d'où le nom Créaturiste. Il a toujours été, et demeure fasciné, par une multititude de disciplines artistiques visuelles. La marionnette est son domaine principal, et lui permet la fusion d'une majorité de ses intérêts en un seul objet de performance. Il crée et performe en tant que marionnettiste pour une clientèle locale et internationale. Il offre également de la formation sur mesure en fabrication. Il adore le travail sur mesure, et offre un large éventail de styles et de prix. ________________________ Regardless of Medium, Mathieu René remains a Creature Maker, hence the name Créaturiste. He has always been and remains to this day, fascinated by a multitude of visual arts disciplines. Puppetry is his main field of activity. He creates, and performs as a puppeteer, for a local and international clientele.He also offers custom workshops in fabricating techniques of puppets, masks, and accessories. He offers a wide range of styles and prices.
Naomi Kates WEBSITE	ART THERAPIST/EDUCATOR - PUPPET BUILDER Naomi designs, builds and incorporates puppets into her different applications of art. She was an assistant puppet builder in television and the wonderful experience she gained from that work led her to design puppets for theatre, private individuals and for her own projects. Naomi particularly enjoys inventing characters and building expression into them, whether through drawing, painting or in three-dimensional mixed media.
Kelly Kirkham WEBSITE BLOG	Kirkham Puppets came into being during the winter of 2001. Kelly Kirkham, a visual artist with a background in drawing, painting and sculpture, was on the hunt for a particular sort of hand puppet, one she remembered from earlier years, with a hard papier-mâché painted head and soft cloth body. Unable to find any, she decided to make some herself, and Kirkham Puppets was born. Kelly has been creating her puppets ever since, including hand puppets, finger puppets, marionettes and rod puppets.   Open Door Designs is pleased to stock Kelly's puppets in the retail store, click here to see what is available.
Alexander Mergold - Doll Artist WEBSITE BLOG		Open Door Designs is pleased to stock Alexander's puppets in the retail store, click here to see what is available.
	Pasha Romanowski is the founder and owner of Project Puppet. Lots of information on puppet building concepts and techniques, tutorials and patterns and kits for sale, especially for foam and fleece hand puppets. Website
	Noreen Young is a Canadian producer and puppeteer/puppet builder who is actively involved in the pupppetry business through her corporation, Noreen Young Productions. She was born in Ottawa, Ontario, and currently lives nearby in Almonte where she helps foster a vibrant arts community.
	With a successful performing company on the go Byron and Marlene morton worked tirelessly to build Images Puppet Productions Inc. to what it is today. “Canada’s Largest Resource Center for the Puppetry Arts,” producing everything from small hand puppets to custom corporate mascots.
PUPPET WEBSITES:
	This wonderful site has many pages devoted to puppetry. You will find many pictures and references to the extensive collection of historical, Canadian and international puppets donated to the The Canadian Museum of Civilization.The Museum's collection, boasting more than 2,000 puppets and accessories, along with extensive archival material, is unique in its ability to illustrate important facets of puppet theatre in Canada.
	"Puppet Buzz is your number one source for puppetry news with an international flare. The Puppet Buzz website has been created and is maintained by an international collective of dedicated puppeteers, puppet builders and puppet enthusiasts."
A rich tribute to an endearing and enduring rascal. The English Mr.Punch is truly an international character as well as being the British National Puppet. His origins are in Naples, whilst his family is worldwide.	Everything you wanted to know about Punch and Judy and more
PUPPET VISION BLOG	A wonderful compilation of puppet and puppetry information gleaned from many sources.
PUPPETEERS UNITE WEBSITE	Puppeteers Unite Mission To provide information concerning puppet performance, building, and business practices. To promote fellow puppeteers in their endeavors. We believe information, will strengthen our puppeteer community and, in-turn, foster, support, and empower present and future puppeteers.
OTHER PERFORMERS:
"Comedy, comedy, comedy. That's what this act is all about. But John Park is no joke-telling stand-up comic.	Instead, this performer uses clever juggling and visually engaging comedy routines set to music to make his audience laugh. The crowd is with John all the way - even on stage, as volunteers take part and challenge John laugh for laugh for the comedic spotlight."
LOCAL ARTISTS:
LISA RIDOUT EXCLUSIVE JEWELLERY	Absolutely Stunning Sterling
DORA D'ANGELO	Hand Painted Silk
DESIGN GILBERT DUFOUR	High quality leather goods
NEIGHBOURHOOD RESOURCES:
If you would like to inquire about the program, please feel free to contact Julia Collins at 416.516.8679 or julia@childrensmusicgarden.com website: www.childrensmusicgarden.com	Our program teaches the basics of music in a fun, encouraging environment that promotes peer interaction and personal development. General music training has many benefits, like improved motor-skills, self-esteem and focus. Movement, singing, listening and imaginative-play are the main focuses in the lessons. The children play percussion instruments and hear the teacher make many different sounds from the violin and piano at each lesson.
	THE STOP - COMMUNITY FOOD CENTRE: www.thestop.org Healthy Beginnings is a pre-and postnatal nutrition, health and social support program serving low-income women and their families in Toronto 's Davenport West community.
	PERTH DUPONT COMMUNITY GARDEN The garden in the Symington Avenue Park was started by the City Councillor Adam Giambrone in 2005. The Perth Dupont Community Garden is located just north of Bloor St. and west of Lansdowne Ave, one block west of Symington Ave, just north of Dupont St. The entrance to the garden is on Perth Ave
	Dufferin Grove Park  Dufferin Grove Park is a public neighbourhood park located in Toronto Canada, just south of Bloor, on the east side of Dufferin.