A production of talented Almonte kids, known as the Kids Power Project will be included among the professional shows in the Puppets Up! festival this year.
WInners Max Berkowitz and Will Thompson receive their prizes from Mayor John Levi in the presence of Puppets Up! mascot Nick
The home-grown show, “The Tale of Timsville”, tells the story of a local bully named Chuck and his dog Scruffy who stir up trouble in their town and how the townsfolk figure out a way to deal with the nasty pair’s shocking lack of respect for the environment.
In an entertaining mix of young actors and puppets operated in the style of Broadway’s “Avenue Q’, “The Tale of Timsville”, will be presented 3 times a day in the Almonte Old Town Hall theatre during the 2-day festival weekend, August 6 & 7. The Kids Power Project will share the AOTH theatre space with “Aboriginal Experiences”, a First Nations performance group from Ottawa.
Based on a story written by Grade 7 Naismith student, Max Berkowitz, “The Tale of Timsville” has been adapted to the stage by television writer and puppeteer, Bob Stutt, whose credits include “Big Comfy Couch”, Fraggle Rock”, “Sesame Park” and “Under the Umbrella Tree’. Runners up in the story-writing competition were Will Thompson (second prize) and Jordan Wark (third prize). Cheques for $250, $150 and $100 were awarded to the first, second and third place winners.
Young entrepreneur and producer of “Almonte’s Got Talent”, Jeff Gourgon, agreed to take on the role of Casting Director and has come up with an awesome cast of 10 local kids who love drama and performance art. They have all made a big commitment to two weeks of rehearsals and a total of six performances at Puppets Up!.
Puppeteer/teacher Allan Martin has returned to sit in the Director’s chair as he did two years ago when the Kids Power Project presented their previous successful production, “The Adventures of Read and Squirmy” (written by young Josh Thompson) at Puppets Up! 2009. Allan has a lot on his plate this year because he and his fellow-puppeteer, Trish Leeper, aka “The Manipulators”, will be presenting their show, “Rovero and Juliet”, in another theatre venue at the festival.
Many other generous and talented adults are contributing to the project including two Sheridan College students in the Advanced Special Effects Makeup, Prosthetics and Props Program who, during their field placement with Puppets Up! in July, will be doing set painting and props in the studio space of the Thoburn Mill.