Guild Meetings and Events

  • Annual Puppet Fair at Fairyland


    Sat., Aug 26 Fairyland, Puppet Fair 10:00-4:30

    Fairyland
    699 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland
    Oakland, CA

    Your Guild has been participating in Puppet Fair at Fairyland since 1956! Join us for this action-packed day of puppet shows, a puppet exhibit and events, provided by Fairyland. Admission: Admission to Fairyland is free to Guild members who are volunteering. If your membership needs to be renewed, please do this before Aug 15th, so we can give a current list to Fairyland. At admissions, say that you’re with the Puppet Guild and have come to help. However, if you are bringing friends that are not members of the Guild and are not helping, they must pay admission (unless they want to join the Guild that day. If so, they should go directly upon entering to the Guild Info booth). Bart & AC Transit bus can take you to Fairyland. Additional info on directions, parking, etc. is at https://www.fairyland.org/visit-us/directions/.


    The Puppet Fair Saturday schedule.
    It Could Always Be Worse – Showtimes: 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m. at the
    Storybook Puppet Theater

    A funny Yiddish tale of a Jewish family that is unhappy with their living conditions. A mother, father, baby and two children all living in a very small house are fed up with their overcrowded, noisy home. They seek out the local Rabbi who advises solutions and tries to tell them that it could always be worse. Will this family ever learn to be happy with what they have? Come to Fairyland and find out! This show features lively klezmer music for a fully spirited performance!
    Puppets designed by Elizabeth Luce. Rod puppets created by Randal Metz.
    Scenery by Lewis Mahlmann. Script by Shana Barchas, Inspired by a Traditional Folktale.


    “Three Dinosaurs Gruff” presented by The Puppet Company
    Showtime: 12:00 p.m. at the Emerald City Stage

    Granny Brachiosaurus is telling her friend Grumpy Greta, a Pterodactyl, the tale of three dinosaur brothers. A Stegosaurus, a Triceratop, and a Ceratosaurus who all love to cross a tree bridge each day to nap, eat, and play on the other side. But what will happen when Ugh, a trollish caveman, moves in under the bridge? Our show teaches children the importance of working together, problem solving, and getting along. The pre-hysterical comedy pokes fun at the famous “3 Billy Goats Gruff” tale through the use of
    imagery, music, and songs. A family treat millions of years in the making!
    The Puppet Company was created by Randal Metz and has been producing imaginative family entertainment for close to 50 years.

    12:35-1:15 Guild Meet & Greet & Lunch break.
    From 12:35-12:50 gather at the benches at the Storybook Puppet Theater for a quick “hi” to meet other Bay Area puppeteers and keep you up to date on puppet happenings in the Bay area on beyond.

    Then, for folks that would like to do lunch at this time, the group can have lunch break at the benches, at the tables near the snack bar or some shady area of your choosing. We’d strongly recommend bringing a bag lunch and beverage, as the lineup at the snack area can be long.

    Please sign up at Sign Up Genius,
    https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050E4BAEAB2AA7FC1-fairylands1.

    “The Frog Prince” presented by Fratello Marionettes
    Showtime: 1:30 p.m. at the Emerald Stage
    This production of the classic fairy tale follows the spoiled princess Ofelia on her birthday.
    Her life is changed by a chance meeting with a frog – who we know to be a handsome prince, transformed by a witch. When she loses her new golden ball down a well, the princess promises to grant the frog three wishes in exchange for the ball’s recovery. Will Ofelia follow th rough with her promises, and will the frog turn back into the handsome Prince?
    The Fratello Marionettes has produced timeless marionette shows since 1989. Puppeteer
    Kevin Menegus brings classic stories and vignettes to life through hand-crafted
    marionettes.

    Bob Baker Marionettes of L.A. presents a Musical Variety Show
    Showtimes: 2:30 p.m. at the Aesop’s Playhouse
    Since 1963, the Bob Baker Marionette Theater has been part of imagination and fantasy that thrives in Los Angeles, with over 200 performances a year, utilizing over 2000 handcrafted puppets. Join Alex Evans as he presents his one-man variety show with marionettes from Bob Baker.
    The Bob Baker Marionette Theater of Los Angeles was founded by Bob Baker and Alton Wood. It’s reportedly the oldest children’s theater company in America.

    Note: Puppet Fair continues Sunday, Aug 27. The schedule is similar to Saturday’s schedule with a few changes. Find online at https://fairyland.org/events-and-performances/schedule-of-events/.

    Volunteers: We need volunteers!
    ● Do you have a puppet and would like to greet kids as you walk around the park? Bring your puppet and surprise kids as they enter the park, roam the ground and engage families in the fun or team up with another puppeteer for lively banter.
    ● Or would you like to help at the puppet making table? All materials and instruction are provided.
    ● Or answer puppet and Guild questions at the Puppet Guild Info Booth/Library + monitor puppet exhibit (your table will face the puppet exhibit)?

    Thank you! If you would like to display some of your puppet creations, contact Randal Metz at (510) 569-3144. You MUST have your puppet at Fairyland no later than 10:00 on Sat. 26th
    .
    Guild Library will be at Fairyland
    The Guild library has hundreds of books covering a variety of topics. Books & DVD’s will be available for checkout at the Guild Info Table for people that have been members for at least 6 months. If you have a book checked out, please return it at Fairyland. If you can’t make Fairyland, please mail it to…
    Guild Librarian, Lee Armstrong, 720 Ladera Dr., Sonoma, CA 95476.

  • Grant Baccioco to present at this month’s Guild meeting via Zoom
    Would you like to learn how to make money on social media with puppets? Join us Friday, April 21st at 7pm via zoom for our Guild meeting with a special presentation by Grant Baccioco. Sign up at the link below to receive the meeting ID and passcode. See you there! https://m.signupgenius.com/… Grant Baciocco is a SAG-AFTRA puppeteer who started his training with The Jim Henson Company in 2006 and has performed over 300 live shows with the company’s Puppet Up! Uncensored including tours to Australia, Toronto and Las Vegas. His other puppetry credits include Earth To Ned, Wet Hot American Summer, The Muppets, Last Week Tonight and Mystery Science Theatre 3000 where he plays M. Waverly. Grant is also the creator of Toiley T. Paper who has over 3 million followers on Tiktok and 230k followers on Instagram.
     
     
     
  • Guild Holiday Party! Saturday, February 18th 2pm-5pm Volunteers Appreciated
    Guild Holiday Party – In February! Saturday, February 18 2-5pm, Featuring a performance of “Winnie the Witch” Black-light Puppet Spectacular by Art Grueneberger of Puppet Arts Theater Co. at 3:30pm Location: Poison Apple Productions 847 Arnold Dr. Martinez, CA 94553 Would you like to help with the set up/ raffle/ contribute a finger food? SIGN UP HERE A Holiday party in Feb? Yes!  As traditional, the Guild waits until the new year to celebrate the Holidays, as it’s the busiest time of the year for some puppeteers. What could be more traditional than a Halloween Show to ring in the New Year? Winnie the Witch is no ordinary show. It’s filled with amazing digital effects created by our own Guild member, Art Grueneberger of Puppet Art Theater Co. After the show, he’ll give a “behind the scenes” look at his show and share his tech-pertise. Also, the Guild Holiday party includes a potluck, Guild library and other fun. So, save the date of Feb 18 for a great get-together!  
  • December 5th – Online Workshop with Pam Severns
    The SFBAPG is glad to invite you to spend an evening with Pam Severns!   Monday, December 5th will be Pam Severns’   “Writing Puppetry Acts for Puppet Slams” Online Workshop via Zoom. Join the fun in this one-hour workshop with LA-based performer, Pam Severns. This workshop is perfect for all styles of puppetry, no matter the skill level.  The workshop will help you devise, structure and create an act and characters for puppet slams.   We will also have a brief Guild meeting with some updates and announcements. Sign up HERE to attend this free workshop
  • Children’s Fairyland Day of Puppetry August 27th 2022
    August Guild Meeting In Person at Fairyland’s Day of Puppetry! Sat., Aug 27th 9am – 5 pm At Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland,  Fairyland’s “Day of Puppetry” is an annual event filled with a variety of joyful puppet shows, crafts, activities, and a display of Fairyland’s treasure trove of hand-crafted puppets. NOTE: This will be a “Cautious” Puppet Fair for all of us. Fairyland is following all safety protocols. Mask wearing is optional while outdoors but mandatory for all indoor activities and performances to keep all visitors safe. Admission: Admission is free to Guild members. Go to the main entrance and tell a Fairyland “helper” that you’re with the Guild. Guild members may bring friends who aren’t members, but if they aren’t helping, they should buy a ticket in advance online, https://fairyland.org, unless they help out or join the Guild that day. Fairyland will have an updated roster of members. If non-helping guests aren’t able to buy tickets in advance, a Fairyland “helper” can help them do an online purchase on-site. Guild Meeting From 12:10-12:50 – Enter Fairyland & join the Guild meet & greet (bring something to sit upon and a picnic if you’d like) at the Merry Meadow. Around 12:30 there will be a brief Guild meeting, led by our new Guild President, John Arnold. Meet your new Board of Directors, learn about upcoming events, and share programming ideas and more. https://fairyland.org For directions, public transit & parking, visit https://fairyland.org/visit-us/directions