Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre Co. History

Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre was founded in 1974 as a touring puppet troupe. Founding member Monica Leo was joined by Teri Jean Breitbach early in 1975, and the two performed exclusively as a duo until the 1990's, when they began to incorporate musicians and other puppeteers.  Eulenspiegel has been active in the Iowa Arts Council’s Artist in the Schools and Communities Program since 1977. During the 1980’s and early 90’s the company was also active in Wyoming’s Artist in Education Program. From 1981 through ‘91, the puppeteers toured on the Iowa Arts Council’s Summer Touring Arts Team. In 1989, Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre Co. was incorporated as a non-profit, tax-exempt arts organization for the purpose of providing high quality performances and workshops, educating the public about the art of puppetry, and establishing a regional puppetry center.

Through the years, the Eulenspiegel Puppeteers have experimented with almost every type of puppet imaginable, have collaborated with musicians, playwrights, directors, designers, and other theater companies, and have worked tirelessly to hone their art form. They have performed at six national Puppeteers of America Festivals, fifteen regional P of A festivals, a national festival in the former German Democratic Republic in 1987 (the only company invited from a non-Communist country), international festivals in Austria, Japan, and the Czech Republic, and a national festival in Germany. In addition, Eulenspiegel has toured in Germany, Japan, Austria and twenty five of the 50 states. Eulenspiegel is known for witty scripts, original and expressive puppet designs, soft-sculpted, hand dyed scenery, evocative music, and strong graphics.

At Owl Glass Puppetry Center in West Liberty, Iowa, established in 1995, Eulenspiegel has taken an ever-increasing role in community development and outreach, presenting an annual season which includes performances by Eulenspiegel as well as by guest puppet theatres from all over the world. For eleven years, Eulenspiegel sponsored an annual amateur Puppeteers Festival, giving inexperienced puppeteers, third grade through adult, the opportunity to create and present original puppet productions in a festival setting, with free consultations and critiques. Other outreach programs include the West Liberty Children’s Festival, the Summer Parade Project(two weeks of open studio hours during which 100+ people help build giant puppets for the annual County Fair parade), and, annually since 2002, a community performance featuring local and area adults as puppeteers.

Current Eulenspiegel personnel include Lead Puppeteer Monica Leo, Musical Director Ron Hillis, Outreach Director Peggy Fitzgerald, Guest Puppeteer Pam Corcoran, Associate Duffy DeFrance, and Marketing Director Mallory Smith.  Teri Jean Breitbach, currently on leave to continue her education, acts as Artistic Consultant.

Eulenspiegel is the recipient of the prestigious 2000 Iowa Arts Award for long term commitment to excellence in the arts.

                                  EPTC MISSION STATEMENT
Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre is a non-profit, tax-exempt puppet company organized to promote the art of puppetry by producing and presenting high-quality performances and workshops. The company is committed to educating the public about the arts, serving as a center for the exchange of ideas, and enhancing the quality of community life.

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