Juniper Tree Puppets Events

Juniper Tree School of Story and Puppetry Arts developed out of many years of outreach teaching. We offer a variety of workshops, professional development courses, and weekend events. The focus of the school is a 3-part certificate training in Storytelling and Puppet Theater that consists of three 10 day summer intensives, with self designed practical practice projects to work on through the year after each summer session.

The Art of Solo Marionette Theater. Boulder, CO June 28-July 2

There is a unique art in creating one-person marionette puppet theater. In this week we will discover how rich and approachable a solo show can be. We will dye silk, create a marionette character, and learn manipulation with meaningful movement and archetypal gesture. As we prepare our solo stories for early childhood, we will develop helpful staging techniques, storytelling and presentation skills. Contact Suzanne for further information.

Therapeutic Insights From Womb to Three Years. Boulder, CO July 5-9

This much requested professional development week will bring the depth of therapeutic early childhood insights in a practical way in support of this most important time in child development. Nancy Blanning, therapeutic movement and sensory integration specialist, and Suzanne Down, therapeutic puppetry pioneer for the young child, will bring rich content, artistic and useful skills for the everyday work and living with this age. Contact Suzanne for further information.

Part 3 Certificate Puppetry Training. Santa Cruz, CA July 15-27

This is the artistic focus and part three of an ongoing 3-part training in puppet theater. Participants will live into the archetypal story kingdom and meaning of the fairy tales and develop the performance aspects of silk marionette theater. A full info-package will be sent to participants. This course is only for current trainees or those from other trainings who wish to complete their course. Contact Suzanne for more details.

Therapeutic Rod Puppetry Workshop. Santa Cruz, CA July 30,31

Join us to explore the incredible Rod Puppet and how it can be used to enliven the Nursery Rhyme storytelling for early childhood classrooms and home. How are the Nursery Rhymes so important for language development, breathing health, and the support of the child’s immune system. We will create Wee Willie Winkie Rod Puppets and learn how to bring them to life. These puppets become beloved members of classroom and home. Contact Suzanne for further information.

The Art of Solo Marionette Theater. Sacramento, CA August 2-6

There is a unique art in creating one-person marionette puppet theater. In this week we will discover how rich and approachable a solo show can be. We will dye silk, create a marionette character, and learn manipulation with meaningful movement and archetypal gesture. As we prepare our solo stories for early childhood, we will develop helpful staging techniques, storytelling and presentation skills. Contact Suzanne for further information.