Sarah Nolen, resident artist at Puppet Showplace Theater.
continued from previous page
professionally recorded shows that people could rent and watch at home. “Coming together is something we’ve always wanted to do,” shares Aretta, “but it’s not something we have been able to do before.”
What are the challenges and what can we learn from them?
Putting on a puppet slam as Great Arizona Puppet Theater’s first drive-in event had its challenges. We had all these great big puppets because my dad didn’t understand building small" shares Gwen. Since it was an experiment, we decided not to charge and asked for donations. "We barely made any money at all. The Arizona heat posed the greatest challenge. “We realized it was coolest in the morning,” explains Nancy Smith. “So, we sent out a survey and asked people if they would come to an 8 a.m. show. Surveys are great because you get feedback, and they are like a little teaser.” “We took advanced payment only,” chimes in Gwen Bonar.
“We asked people to stay in their cars and to not smoke! We staggered the cars a bit in the parking spaces, so windows didn’t line up. We kept our masks on while setting up. My mom and I took ours off during the show so as not to interfere with our mics.” The theater even partnered with a local restaurant. Audiences ordered breakfast that was served to their car!
“The kids were just joyous,” Nancy recalls. “It takes the stresses of the world away to sit in a car and have breakfast and watch a puppet show. The audience honked their horns for applause. We had been so nervous, and by the end we were tearing up.” Puppet Showplace Theater asked, “Once we find you, how can we find you again?” They ran all events through their ticketing system. “We asked, how do we use this time to get strong? [Resident artist] Sarah Nolen is usually running around doing shows. Now she could make time to make repairs,” explains Roxie. With the reality of smaller live audiences and people who may feel unsafe in public, Puppet Showplace Theater wanted to find a way for their contracted artists to still make income and have an opportunity to perform. Roxie, Sarah, and former resident artist Brad Shur pooled their skills in TV, film, and animation production. “We explored ‘how do we let people come to the theater in small groups and watch a puppet show live, but still have a broader audience?’ We needed quality cameras and switching abilities on site,” explains Roxie. “We developed an
26
Great Arizona Puppet Theater, Nancy Smith & Gwen Bonar, Drive-In Puppet Theater.
interactive ‘Puppet Show and Tell’ and virtual birthday parties. Performer Honey Goodenough charges our normal price point for birthday parties. We don’t want to get into all of this hard work with client relations and then charge too little. They have been really successful. We get weepy emotional feedback about how liberating and exciting these events are.”
For Beth Schiavo, this was the “perfect beta stage to test the digital opportunities and untapped potential” she saw when first getting to know the Center for Puppetry Arts. Early on, decisions were made about what content would be free. Through social media, they have been able to watch the trends without spending money on marketing. “Shorter pieces get people’s attention,” Beth shares. “Longer programs, such as archival performances, need to add some type of interactivity to it.” Audiences not only watched Pete the Cat but also interacted with both the performers and the book’s author. Prior to the shutdown, digital learning “had only connected to classrooms as opposed to connecting 100 individuals at once,” shares Sara Burmenko. “At first, we streamed through Zoom. It started with 50, then 100, and then people were upset that they couldn’t get in, so we transferred to FB Live. We went from seven countries to 85 countries interacting. We changed with what people wanted. After two months, people were tired of looking at a screen. We asked, what need do we have to fill now?”
What advice can we gain from these women in leadership?
Stop, look around, and listen to what your artists and audiences value. Then make a plan. Be ready for that plan to grow and change, but stick to your core values. Try looking at what you already have in a different way. Be cautious of taking on too much too soon, or giving everything away for free. Use free tools, like social media and online surveys, to both promote and gain insights on what works for your audience and what they value. “Don’t get discouraged,” reminds Beth Schiavo. “Have something to say, and use your art to be able to tell your story.” Nancy Smith adds, “If you haven’t performed for a while, be sure to warm up!”
Great Arizona Theater founding member Kenny Bonar passed away in April 2020, but his spirit lives on in the shows and characters that he created.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
