Creativity & Fun at GPAPG's Unforgettable National Day of Puppetry Celebration
- May 6
- 6 min read
GPAPG's National Day of Puppetry, held on April 26th at the beautiful Abington Art Center, was an extraordinary celebration of creativity and imagination! We are so pleased to announce that over one hundred and seventy folks came to celebrate with us. Chad Parsons and Kevin Kelly were Co-Directors of the event with Roni DeFalco and Sally J. Moore providing support, along with the GPAPG Board of Directors.
Families and individuals of all ages gathered to enjoy a day filled with captivating performances and hands-on workshops. It was a day filled with the spirit of playfulness and community. From puppet-making, a film-festival and lip-sync event, to a puppet parade, the event showcased the vibrant world of puppetry. Performers came ready to entertain and guild members happily volunteered to make the day come together! We surely hope that attendees left smiling, feeling inspired and connected to this unique art form.
Captivating Performances
The day festival included eight unique performances that celebrated the diverse talent of puppeteers who came from Baltimore, the Philadelphia area and New York. Attendees experienced a rich variety of acts, providing different storytelling techniques that brought characters to life in many captivating ways. Black Cherry Theater shared their marionette expertise by performing Billy Goats Gruff'kins on their stunning stage and proscenium. Delaware Valley University's puppetry club performed Puppet Club Zoo. This was its first showing and it featured their newly designed puppets. One of the guild's missions is to support new and emerging puppeteers and we could not have been prouder of them!
David Hutchman, a seasoned performer whom we were to pleased to have with us, brought a Philadelphia favorite, Digger the Dog to perform The Magic Pot. The audience was filled with adults and children and when Digger wanders through the audience stealing everyone's imagination it was only one of many delightful moments. Plucky Diane Guzzardo, performed two shows of The Untold Story of the 3 Little Pigs! Who doesn't love a plot twist on a old tale delivered by a talented puppeteer who delights in the enjoyment of her audience? Thanks also to energetic New Yorker, Anthony Sellitto-Budney, who performed The Breakfast Show for children and OverSouled to a more mature audience. We really appreciated his great effort in being involved in this our first National Day of Puppetry.
Our only crankie performer and experienced puppeteer, Dr. Schroeder Cherry with The Land of Primary Colors. From Baltimore, Dr. Cherry spun a tale of a land where people sang before the sun came up and lived with only primary color existed until something unexpected happened. Rounding out the day was Some Bunny to Love, by Chad Parsons and performed for the first time by Hal Miller and Christopher Mazeika. Thank goodness the audience voted down the Stink Bug and supported the concept of love is love!
Hands-On Workshops and More
The event wasn’t just about watching performances. Workshop participants crafted their own puppets from recyclable materials with Anthony Sellitto-Budney, explored performance techniques using scarf marionettes with Gabe Hazuda and learned the basics of stop motion animation with Nate Dreschel and Noah Cohen. These sessions attracted a diverse crowd, from children excited to engage with art to adults looking to try something new. Attendees left not just with their creations but also with new skills and a sense of accomplishment.
Of course, the day also offered chances to build a variety of puppets! Folks could be seen making very clever paper bag puppets adorned with all types of goodies. There were clothpin puppets and sock puppets too.
Vendor's Alley: A Marketplace of Creativity
In the heart of the festival, Vendor's Alley was a marketplace where attendees could explore an array of puppetry-related products. From handcrafted puppets to high quality professionally made puppets. Shoppers discovered unique gifts for fellow puppet enthusiasts while exchanging ideas and inspiration, creating a lively atmosphere that felt very much like a community gathering. Much thanks goes to all our vendors.
A Puppet Short Film Festival: Sooo Much Engagement!
The film festival was a hit! Films were submitted from all over the United States and submissions had to be under 10 minutes. Submissions that were selected had the audience laughing and since some of the local filmmakers were present discussion of their work could follow. The audience asked questions about the filmmakers processes and how they utilized various forms of animation and puppetry. We thank everyone who submitted their work to make this part of the festival a true success.
A Whimsical Puppet Parade
As the day festival reached its grand finale, many of those who could stay til the very end of the day participated in an exuberant puppet parade. Colorful puppets of all shapes and sizes danced along, reminding the audience of the fun and creativity inherent in puppetry. Just look at the happy paraders. Thanks to puppeteer and GPAPG member, Michael Paul, who led the paraders.
Evening Social Hour
As the day transitioned to evening, slam attendees enjoyed a social hour that allowed them to mingle and reflect on their experiences. Of course, new audience members that only attended the slam joined in too. The camaraderie and shared enthusiasm for puppetry filled the air; it felt like a true celebration of community and creativity coming together.
The Evening Highlight: Puppetry Slam
The "Just F*cking Do It!" Puppet Slam, themed “Getting Lucky”, featured seven bold and brilliant puppeteers from Baltimore to New York who delivered a night of unexpected, hilarious, and heartfelt performances that pushed boundaries and embraced the unexpected.
Gabe Hazuda opened with Inside Me, a haunting and beautiful shadow puppet piece that stunned the audience with its raw emotion and abstract visuals. It was, in the best way, not what anyone saw coming. Hal Miller, a new and welcome face in the GPAPG community, assembled a rowdy crew of fortune-cookie-reading cats, each with a hilarious take on luck, fate, and feline fortune.
Brittney Wilhelm wowed the crowd with a darkly comedic rendition of “A Little Priest” from Sweeney Todd, performed with a cat and dog puppet duo. The classic duet took on a whole new meaning with her clever puppet interpretations—delightfully grim and ridiculously funny. Black Cherry Puppet Theater returned with two dazzling mini marionette acts, reminding everyone of the charm and technical precision they’re known for.
James Ofalt brought the house down when his ordained puppet spontaneously re-married a couple in the audience—complete with a certificate signed by every audience member. Jen Adams offered a thoughtful twist with a performance that blended puppetry and art history, inviting the audience to reflect on themes of luck and timing through an unexpected historical lens.
The night wrapped up with Anthony Sellitto-Budney, who faced off with a space alien insect in a surreal and sidesplitting exchange—one where the audience had to translate the alien's clicking language in real time. (Spoiler: it almost made sense.)
The night’s standout emotional moment came when a hand-and-rod puppet officiated a surprise wedding vow renewal, turning a goofy premise into a genuine celebration of love and community. The warmth and spontaneity of the moment encapsulated everything that made the slam—and the entire day—so special.
From wild laughter to quiet reflection, each act brought something unique, proving that puppetry isn’t just for kids—it’s a powerful, expressive, and deeply human art form.
Want to perform in our October and December slams? We can help get you ready. Check out or May 28th workshop...
Celebrating the Magic
GPAPG's National Day of Puppetry was more than just an event; it celebrated creativity, community, and the timeless allure of puppetry. The combination of performances, workshops, and shared experiences brought people together and fostered a deeper appreciation for this vibrant art form. Such events allow communities to nurture creativity and inspire future generations. The Greater Philadelphia Area Puppetry Guild wants to thank EVERYONE involved with making the event a success.
Hopefully we will be back next year! We will keep you posted!
Thanks Once Again to
Black Cherry Puppet Theater, Big Howl, Digger & David, Reaching for the Stars, Break-fast Puppets, Dr. Schroeder Cherry, Puppet Club Zoo, MuppetStuff, Just * Do It Puppet Slam, Slamtastic Parties, The Unknown Zone, Monkey Boys, RonDee Productions, Gabe Hazuda, Marionettist, Chad Parsons, Producer & Teaching Artist, Payton Smith & the Abington Art Center, Libby our GPAPG Mascot, GPAPG Members, & Board Volunteers , and to our many attendees & donors!
Constructive feedback regarding any aspect of the event would be appreciated.
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