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5/23/19 - Catskill Puppet Theater

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Catskill Puppet Theater co-founders John Potocnik and Carol Mandigo visited Frankfort-Schuyler Elementary School on May 23 to perform “The Lion’s Whiskers” and lead a shadow puppet workshop for students.

The Catskill Puppet Theater combines art, music, drama and American folk culture to address important issues for students of all ages and teach life lessons in a powerful, entertaining and memorable way.

Each play uses a blend of humor, mystery, drama, and magical special effects and is illustrated with a combination of original and traditional music. The shows also featured full sets, colorful scenery and large, exquisitely crafted puppets that transformed the elementary gymnasium into a fantasy world rich with wonder and excitement.

“The Lion’s Whiskers” is a musical adaptation of a traditional Ethiopian folktale, featuring a charming cast of human characters and African animals. When lonely Minya marries a widowed man with a son, she goes to a Wise Man for advice. He tells her that in order to win the heart of the little boy she must first pluck three whiskers from a Wild Lion. In doing so she not only finds the courage to tame the lion, but also the secret to gaining the love of her new family.

While at the elementary school, Potocnik and Mandigo also visited art classes to conduct a workshop on making shadow puppets. Students were able to learn how the artists’ puppets were made and create shadow puppets of their own to keep.