NEXT STEP PREP: Puppetry with Terry McGonigle

Meet Terry McGonigle (just call him McGoo, eveyone does), who hails to Next Step Prep from Las Vegas, where he is a currently a teacher, consultant, and amazing costume designer, but he has had a long career in the performing arts in so many venues--too many to list! McGoo will be teaching the students aspects of the design part of theater. I hadn't thought about this much, but he emphasized that one should learn all the technical aspects of theater production, as well as the craft of performing. Each person, both on the stage and behind the scenes, plays a crucial role in a production. Costumers should understand that the weight and proportion of a costume will affect an actor's ability to perform. Set designers shouldn't make steps higher than 9" on a stage...all these things to think about and how they interact in the theater. Good lessons on teamwork.

Today's lesson centered on puppetry. Puppets are not your grandmother's arts and crafts project, my friend. Making a puppet and developing a character of that puppet is hard work. McGoo focused on teaching the students how to develop the character, or essence, of their puppet...what quirks does it have, how does it come alive...how to make it believeable. He then talked about how to exaggerate this essence so that it becomes even more entertaining. Finally, he discussed how a puppet needs to be an extension of the puppeteer. Sounds easy? It's not.

Here's my reference from yesterday's post. McGoo had the pleasure of designing a puppet for the musical "Nunsense"--Sr. Mary Annette (I'm SO embarrassed to say that I never got the joke before...Sr. Mary Annette...marionette....slap me with a piece of foam and some yarn please).

Explaining how to exaggerate a puppet's character, McGoo quickly demonstrated that this ain't your average nun. No hymns, no catechism, no rulers...Sr. Mary Annette sang from the score of "Flashdance." I'll have to admit, she's quite a dancer, too.

McGoo talked about having puppets do the unexpected, things out of the ordinary, as a way to develop their own special character.

The assignment: Design your own puppet, develop its essence, and introduce it to the class. For the next class, prepare a 2-3 minute performance for your puppet.

So...the students started with an average white tube sock. And this pile of stuff...beads, baubles, fun foam, yarn, ribbons, wire, pom poms, googly eyes....you get the picture.

A few dabs of a hot glue gun...

And voila! Here's Kalene with her puppet, Brittney...comes complete with detachable hair and uneven false eyelashes...

Cherish and Marie Antoinette...we were trying to figure out a way that she could lose her head, but the liability insurance probably wouldn't cover that...

Ana and her lovely puppet that comes complete with dress, beautiful curly hair, and red lipstick. I see merchansizing opportunities here...oh, the accessories!!!!

Alyx and his cheerleader puppet... and Jenna and her surfing Dragon duuuuuude.....

Then there's Liz, who has the great opportunity to introduce her new friend, who has just been hired as the spokesperson for Skittles...

Dane (the permanent acting coach, who just arrived and I haven't been able to photograph yet), and McGoo talk to Sofi about her life growing up in Greece...

Close up of Cherish's puppet...I LOVE the orange hair!

Jayme, Liz and Logan...and friends...

Wynston and his environmentally-challenged puppet who gets angry because people throw things, like trash and banana peels, on his head. This is a good example of the different ways puppetry--and performing--can be taken outside of the theater and used for educational purposes. And you can get paid for doing it!!! McGoo talked about a job he had using puppets and working for Kaiser Permanente, doing health education shows for kids. This is a good example of how the instructors try to plant seeds in the student's heads for how to use their skills in a multitude of ways...it sure beats waiting tables in between auditions, I'm sure!

Nicky and his new buddy...

Sami and her "My Fair Lady"-inspired friend...

Nyna and her little buddy...a dreamy puppet who falls in love with every boy she sees...

Jayme's little friend...

Meet Janice...she is stuck in the 80s. Oh, Janice...I can so relate to your outfit. I think it's still in the closet at my parent's house....

WAIT A MINUTE....THAT'S NOT A PUPPET?! What's Molly doing banging on those drums???

In the midst of this class...the other class showed up and did an improvisational music performance that they'd just been working on in the other room. I swear it was like stepping into the movie "Fame". THIS. WAS. COOL.