Winter Classes Wrap Up: Puppets, Masks, and a Whole Lot of Theatre Magic

This past winter, ACT’s Puppet Making & Performing and Behind the Mask classes brought imagination to life through hands-on creativity, character work, and a shared love of storytelling. Over the course of the season, students explored a wide range of theatre-making—from building puppets and masks to developing original characters and performing for a live audience.

In Puppet Making & Performing, students crafted everything from classic paper bag and sock puppets to a larger-than-life parade piece—a giant meatball made from a beach ball and tissue paper. (It almost didn’t make it out of the studio after we forgot to measure the door, but it ended up stealing the show!) Their final performance told the story of a visit to Freddy’s Restaurant, complete with puppet parades, a lively chef, and Dolly Parton as the ever-charming waitress. For an added touch of stage magic, Teaching Artist Alison Soderquist surprised students during their final class with a bit of science theatre: a steaming bucket of dry ice!

Meanwhile, Behind the Mask focused on building characters from the inside out. Students created expressive masks and used physical theatre techniques—like mirror movement and ensemble work—to explore their characters’ personalities and stories. One especially fun moment was the debut of the class’s custom-built “Shrink Ray,” a theatrical illusion that transformed full-sized props into tiny miniatures before the audience’s eyes. With a little theatrical flair and help from volunteers, everyday objects like orange juice cartons became pint-sized props, much to everyone’s delight.

The season wrapped up with a joyful combined theatre showcase at Kuyper College, where families, friends, and community members gathered to celebrate students’ work. The puppet skit and mask fashion show highlighted each student’s creativity, and an accompanying art display rounded out a fun and festive evening of performance.