Last week, I missed a rare opportunity to see a professional puppeteer give a free performance at the Toledo Zoo as part of a four-day arts event that included performances by the Toledo Symphony, the Toledo Opera, and the Toledo Ballet. My schedule just wouldn’t permit it. It’s very important to me to see as many professional puppet shows as possible in order to learn more about the craft, derive inspiration, and support puppetry in general. I just need to learn about it farther in advance.
In June, I missed my chance to attend an international puppet festival in Nashville. It was not because I wasn’t aware of it early enough, but because I had some serious car trouble that also prevented me from attending a convention for which I had already registered. Next year I intend to see both, if my car’s health allows it. I need better luck.
I recall that there is a puppet theatre and museum in Detroit, Michigan, so maybe I’ll be able to see a puppet show before the end of summer. (Detroit Puppet Theater and Puppet Center is the place… and I just noticed that I missed a series of performances by a few days. Make that the entire 2007-2008 performance season… by a few days. The very last performance was August the 16th. I’m just not lucky.)