Students showcase puppetry at theater production

NAU Theater is presenting familiar and original family-friendly stories in a production of Puppets! at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 and 10 and at 2 p.m. Dec. 11 at NAU’s Studio Theater.

The performances were inspired by international puppetry traditions and feature four different stories by four groups of students in professor Kate Ellis’ theater topics course.

Rapunzel will be performed using hand puppets; The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh will use shadow puppets; one group is using rod puppets for a piece based on the fairytale Jack and the Beanstalk; and one group will feature marionettes in its original work, Can You Imagine?

“Puppetry combines both design and technology with performance, which is where my interests lie,” said Ellis, whose students tackled the world of puppetry this semester, culminating with this public performance.

Tickets are $2 for NAU students, $14 for NAU employees and seniors, and $16 for general admission. Tickets are available through the Central Ticketing Office at (928) 523-5661.