Elkland Arts group

represents Todd

at regional festival
By Scott Nicholson
nicholson@wataugademocrat.com

A local puppet troupe is taking an environmental show on the road as part of a regional festival.

Elkland Art Center in Todd has been selected to present “Jason’s Dream” at the Southeast Puppet Festival in Savannah, Ga., this weekend, and is also exhibiting in a public street fair.

The center has been working on the show for nine months, building sets, making puppets, and using a script by Mary Gray of Boone. The puppet show will also be featured at Ashe County’s Christmas in July on July 5 in West Jefferson and presented for third graders next year in the Watauga County school system.

“Jason’s Dream” is a puppet show about a young boy who is more interested in playing than recycling. His younger cousin, Hope, has an environmental conscience, and urges Jason to get on board with recycling. One night Jason has a dream about being stuck in a landfill. After being introduced to trash that is also “stuck, stuck, stuck,” he discovers the true value of recycling.

Martha Enzmann, director of Elkland Art Center, said the regional festival is recognition of the center’s work.

“It’s highly selective,” Enzmann said. “It’s a juried process done by a committee and it’s the best of the region. Puppet shows are chosen by puppeteers to be seen by puppeteers, so it’s a high honor.

“This particular show will be in the street fair, which is open to the entire city,” she said.

“It’s an effort to increase the visibility of puppetry. ‘Jason’s Dream’ can be done outside easily, since it’s big and has a lot of movement. It’s a great opportunity for us because we hope we can get lots of opinions from other puppeteers. We’re also bringing our Puppet Caravan, which is an attractive, attention-getting item that is highly unusual. I expect we’ll have several thousand people.”

The puppeteers for the show are Cindy Ball and Lexie Danner of Boone, who have been active in puppetry, expressive arts, theater and teaching for years. Gray, the show’s writer, is a graduate of the University of Wales and is also a storyteller. Enzmann started Elkland Art Center in 1997 and is also a painter.

In addition to puppet shows, the center is organizing this year’s Fourth of July Liberty Parade in Todd, featuring community workshops each Saturday in June from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The puppet show’s recycling theme is part of the center’s positive educational message. “This subject matter is important because only 6 percent of people recycle and we want to work with children on the importance of recycling and begin developing good habits,” Danner said, adding that puppetry is an effective medium for teaching.

“Puppetry is enchanting and captivating. People cannot escape the pull and magnetic force of puppetry. It communicates directly and clearly.”

Elkland Art Center’s mission is to “educate and enlighten on such matters as the environment, care and concern for all living things, conscious living, and the value of living in family and in community.” For more information on the center’s work, visit elklandartcenter.org.

The Puppeteers of America’s 2008 Southeast Regional Festival is hosted by the Savannah College of Art and Design and the city of Savannah.

It takes place June 12-15, with dozens of performances for all ages.