Eulenspiegel Puppet Theare Co. | West Liberty, Iowa

CURRENT SEASON: PUBLIC SHOWS & FIELD TRIPS!

2008-2009

See short video clip

Enjoy high quality puppet theatre in a small town atmosphere with Iowa's only professional puppet company! Come to Owl Glass Puppetry Center in West Liberty for a performance by Eulenspiegel or one of their guests! The 2007-2008 season features something for every age and every taste: folk tales (The Sorcerer's Apprentice by Calliope Puppets from New Orleans and a Till Eulenspiegel Tale by Eulenspiegel), a bilingual show(Armadillo's Rancho by Magical Moonshine Theatre from California) , an Eulenspiegel favorite during Spring Break, and a brand new show about a woolly mammoth!

Planned performances will use hand puppets, rod marionettes, rod puppets, shadow puppets, novelty puppets, and live music! Start the season by attending the West Liberty Children's Festival and end it by participating in the popular summer Parade Project!All events take place in downtown West Liberty, with most performances at the New Strand Theatre, a lovely 230 seat theater built in 1910 as an opera house.

Just a twenty minute drive from Muscatine or Iowa City, West Liberty is a hopping little town with lots of restaurants and a fabulous new coffee shop to indulge in before and after the performance! For the eleventh consecutive year, Eulenspiegel offers Puppets and Pastries: Dessert Theatre For Adults, a classy evening out for the mature generation.

RETURNING THIS YEAR!
On each performance day, Eulenspiegel offers a Make-and-Take workshop to be held at Owl Glass Puppetry Center from 3:15-4:15. Come after the 2:00 show or before the 4:30 show and make your very own puppet! Be sure to register early as workshops are limited to 25.
Examples of puppets to be made at the Make-and-Take Workshops will be displayed in the lobby before each show.

STUDY GUIDES AND CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS ARE PROVIDED FOR ALL SCHOOL FIELD TRIP GROUPS!

WEST LIBERTY CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL
co-sponsored by Eulenspiegel and the
West Liberty Chamber of Commerce
Saturday, September 22, 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.
Downtown West Liberty (Spencer St)
The Twelfth Annual West Liberty Children's Festival will include a puppetry mini-festival, featuring performances by Circus Minimus Puppetry from Minneapolis (see photo), Corcoran Puppets from Wisconsin, West Liberty Community Puppet Theatre, and Eulenspiegel Puppets. The festival offers food, beverages, performances by local dance troupes, and a host of children's games and activities.

ADMISSION FREE; ENJOY THE DAY!

Public Performances at the New Strand Theatre, 111 E. 3rd,
or Owl Glass Puppetry Center, 319 N. Calhoun, West Liberty
Tickets: $5.00
FIELD TRIP SHOWS HAVE SPECIAL GROUP PRICES OF $3.50. CONTACT US FOR INFORMATION ON FURTHER FUNDING SUPPORT!

CALLIOPE PUPPETS from New Orleans
Sunday, Oct. 19, 2:00 & 4:30 P.M.

THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE

FIELD TRIP SHOWS MON, OCT. 20, 10:00 A.M. & 12:30 P.M.

Calliope Puppets' version of this classic tale from the Brothers Grimm features a strong and quick witted girl whose ability to read is her greatest asset in overcoming a wicked sorcerer. This magical presentation features a striking array of puppetry techniques, including introductory puppets that appear from within a cape worn by the puppeteer, a life size girl and sorcerer, hand puppets, as well as rod puppet flying birds and shadow puppets in the exciting chase scene. The audience recites simple poems as they assist in the working of magic spells, and the girl remains true throughout to her mother’s advice to do something that puts good into the world.

CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS: Reading, Character Counts (responsibility), European folklore and culture, art, drama. STUDY GUIDE PROVIDED

THE EDUCATION OF A DONKEY
EULENSPIEGEL PUPPETS
SUNDAY, NOV. 23, 2:00 & 3:30 (NO 4:30 SHOW!)

PLEASE NOTE: MONDAY'S SHOWS HAVE BEEN CANCELED!

Written for Eulenspiegel by playwright Rebecca Gilman, this story is adapted from a tale first published in 1500. It features the company’s namesake, Till Eulenspiegel, a stuffy University Rector, and a lovable donkey. Full of wordplay, it follows Till as he tricks the Rector by teaching a donkey to read. It's performed with a cast of beautifully crafted hand puppets and rod puppets, a block-printed, Medieval looking set, and the original live music of Ron Hillis.

CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS: Literacy, European folklore, Medieval history, comparative literature, art, drama, Character Counts.

STUDY GUIDE PROVIDED

A BRAND NEW SHOW!

EULENSPIEGEL PUPPETS

A WOOLLY MAMMOTH SHOW!

SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2:00 & 4:30

Eulenspiegel Puppets premieres their newest production, a delightful tale of the lovable mammoths who roamed the Iowa prairies 10,000 years ago! Don’t miss this opportunity to see what the Eulenspiegel Puppets and musician Ron Hillis come up with this time!

FIELD TRIP SHOWS MONDAY, JAN. 19, 10:00 A.M. & 12:30 P.M.

CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS: History, natural science, social studies, art, music, drama, Character Education.

STUDY GUIDE PROVIDED

PUPPETS AND PASTRIES
DESSERT THEATRE FOR ADULTS
Owl Glass Puppetry Center
Saturday, Feb 28, 8:00 P.M.

Sunday, Feb. 29, 2:00 P.M.
Tickets: $15.00

Tickle your imagination and your sweet tooth by attending "dessert theatre," featuring EULENSPIEGEL PUPPETS, their talented friends, and delectable desserts! If you love puppet theatre, you’d like the opportunity of enjoying it in the company of other adults, and you’re curious to see what the puppeteers come up with, then this is the event for you!
BONUS: watch for additional performances by other Iowa artists!

SPRING SPECIAL (whether or not you’re on break!)
New Strand Theatre or Owl Glass Puppetry Center
WED, MARCH 18, 10:00 A.M & 12:30 P.M.

Bring your class if you’re in school or your family if you’re on break! Watch an Eulenspiegel favorite! Title TO BE ANNOUNCED!

ARMADILLOS' RANCHO

MAGICAL MOONSHINE THEATRE from California

Sunday, April 5, 2:00 & 4:30 P.M.

FIELD TRIP SHOWS MON, APRIL 6, 10:00 A.M. & 12:30 P.M.

Magical Moonshine Theatre from California returns to West Liberty with another hilarious show! Michael and Valerie Nelson use large, beautifully designed tabletop puppets, a witty script, and live music to present this humorous, fast-paced story. The script is cleverly bi-lingual in Spanish and English. You’ll understand it regardless of which of the two languages you speak!

CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS: Spanish language, Bilingual education, Mexican folklore, art, music, drama, Character Education.

STUDY GUIDE PROVIDED

SAL FINK, CATFISH WRANGLER
EULENSPIEGEL PUPPETS with musician RON HILLIS

FIELD TRIP SHOWS (OPEN TO THE PUBLIC)MON, MAY 11, 10:00 A.M. & 12:30 P.M. (Tuesday show may be added)

New Strand Theatre

Eulenspiegel celebrates our rivers and prairies with tall tales starring Iowa folk heroine, Sal Fink, legendary daughter of Mike Fink, the mighty keel boatman. The production features live music, written and performed by Iowa musician Ron Hillis. With lots of sound effects and harmony singing, this performance will leave you humming!

CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS: Tall tales, American Folklore, science (river lore), American history, art, music, drama.

Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre is supported in part by grants and donations from The Iowa Arts Council, The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, The Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust, The Community Foundation of the Great River Bend, The Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine, The Ryan Trust, The Stanley Foundation, and many generous friends.

Sal Fink photo by Michael Kreiser

current season

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