Stacey Gordon (Sesame Street's newest Muppet, "Julia") & Noel MacNeal (Bear in the Big Blue House) will share inspirations & personal experiences about using puppetry in connection with autism.
Description:
“Autism” is not just a word; for some, autism is a way of life. But it also has many complicated associations. Professional puppeteers Stacey Gordon (the performer of the new “Sesame Street” Muppet character, “Julia,” who has autism) & Noel MacNeal (performer of “Disney’s Bear in the Big Blue House” & Nick Jr.’s “Eureeka’s Castle, among others) will share their inspirations, along with professional & personal experiences, using the art of puppetry in connection with autism, & share how interested guests can use this skill, too.
A discussion about both design & performance aspects of creating characters, & how mannerisms & voice lend themselves to character. How can this info lend itself to your RPG weekend?
From marionettes, to rod puppets, to moving-mouth puppets, & finger puppets; enjoy an engaging discussion about how each puppet builder on this panel approaches their craft.
A short Q & A, followed by a chance to mingle and hang out with some of the professional puppeteers attending Gen Con. A great time will be had by all.
The influence of puppetry on the evolution of robotics (& vice versa).
Description:
As robots become more prevalent in our society, scientists are turning to the ancient art of puppetry to help them communicate and live along side their human counterparts. Hear about how puppetry has influenced human-robot interaction and how robots are opening up an entirely new medium of performance.
Sesame Street puppeteers Stacey Gordon & Noel MacNeal will field guests questions & share their own insights, views, & personal experiences of their time on the show.
Description:
Now nearing 50 years on television, “Sesame Street” has become an icon of Public Television & a benchmark of quality educational content. But how has it changed after all these years? How has the real world impacted its goals? What educational issues have & have not worked? And what’s coming up? “Sesame Street” puppeteers Stacey Gordon (now cast as “Julia” to help children understand autism) & Noel MacNeal (puppeteer, writer, director, & production consultant) will field guests’ questions & share their own insights, views, & personal experiences of their time on “The Longest Street on Earth.”
Professional puppeteer Noel MacNeal will teach television puppetry skills used by The Muppets on such shows as Sesame Street & Disney’s Bear in the Big Blue House (Noel puppeteered & voiced “Bear”).
Description:
Ever wanted to try your “hand” at puppetry? Professional puppeteer Noel MacNeal will teach the same television puppetry skills used by “The Muppets” on such shows as “Sesame Street” & “Disney’s Bear in the Big Blue House” (of which Noel puppeteered & voiced the title character “Bear”). This workshop will conclude with a rousing “sing along,” where participants will puppeteer with Noel. Adults performing these same exercises will appreciate & understanding the physical demands & performance creativity Noel has used to audition & train professional puppeteers for the international versions of “Sesame Street” (in Japan, Pakistan, Mexico, & more). So what are you waiting for? You can be a puppeteer!