Puppet Planners & Creators- "Seussical-The Musical"

Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Puppets in the Making

Fish puppet molds drying in the shop
and waiting to be spray painted.

Integrating puppets into a theatrical show is a huge collaborative effort. Like a big deal. Lots of components and people and planning and more. There is so much to cover and do...but let's take a step back and refresh on just how many people come together to create a Chaska Valley Family Theater production in general.

The typical CVFT show is a huge and elaborate undertaking in itself. 60+ cast members and then another 120 people or so behind the scenes including orchestra, stage crew, front of the house staff (concessions, box office, ushers) lights & sound technicians and then there is the Production team too - directors, producers, stage design, set construction, marketing, costumes, stage managers.....pppphew! Many, many people...and all volunteer hours go into making our shows.

"The Music Man" wrapped this March 2013 with a cast and crew
of more than 150 talented "River-cityians".

"All those hours!? All those people!? What do they do with their kids during all that time?". Glad you asked. The foundation of CVFT was built on family theater - meaning families come together to create, develop, produce, direct, act, move sets, paint and enjoy/watch the productions together.

That mission continues today and Seussical-The Musical is no exception. There are more than 14 families involved in the show on-stage and behind the scenes. Here is a look at four of those families -two of which are leading the charge and are responsible for bringing puppets to the Seuss CVFT stage.  The other two families are the masterminds behind making the puppets come to life.

Randy Ross and Co-Director Mary Pat Ross review script
and score to bring their artistic vision to life.

Planning & Creating for Suessical-The Musical  began last year when Co-Directors, Randy Ross and Mary Pat Ross, joined up with another father-daughter team, Producers, Tom Stauber and Anna Stauber. Seussical-The Musical  is a show featuring a colorful cast of characters from different realities coming together. The group decided puppets would be an exciting way to creatively and visually represent the magic and power of imagination. Both the Staubers and the Ross families have been involved on stage and behind the scenes with CVFT for over a decade.

Tom Stauber and Co-Producer Anna Stauber
(along with Abe Stauber who will play Mr. Mayor
and Karen Stauber, Stage Manager).

Puppet Designer, Cody Braudt, was brought in to develop the preliminary vision for the production. His sketches and plans emphasize the difference in size of characters through the design of large scale puppets, jungle animals, fish, shadow puppets and more. Currently, Cody is completing a study of Scenic Design at California Institute of the Arts with a concentration in Puppetry Arts. He also has a long history with the CVFT theater alongside his family including appearances in more than 20 shows and serving as a Student Representative to the CVFT Board of Directors. Cody's father, Reverend Robert Braudt stars in Seussical as Horton the Elephant.

Next week, Cody will return from school and join forces with Scenic Designer, Randy Herget who has been the creative genius for most of the CVFT shows over the past decade. Among his accomplishments are full stage design of Beauty and the Beast and engineering Audrey II for the production Little Shop of Horrors.

Randy Herget and Jane Herget CVFT Designers and performers.
Pictured: River Valley Dance Academy's The Nutcracker, 2012

Speaking of talented, over the last 15 years Randy has worked alongside beloved District 112 teacher and CVFT Costume Designer, Jane Herget to bring the stage to life with her hand-crafted and hand-selected designs. After skillful working on more than 24 shows together the duo decided to wed last summer. Adorable....and boom -another family is created at CVFT!

Jane has also served as Vice President of the CVFT Board of Directors and has worked as an instructor at Dragonfly Theater Camp for the last 6 years.

These talented individuals/families are joined by many others. Stay tuned for more behind the scenes of "Puppets are Possible!"

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Not family, but still havin' fun. Seuss Actors seen here at
rehearsal last week -singing, dancing, acting, etc.

NEXT UP: Behind-the-scenes look at the mechanical aspects of Seuss puppets with Benilde St. Margaret's STEM engineering team!

Again, here are the nitty-gritty details of the shows again in case you want to book early (recommended and appreciated). 

Friday, June 21 at 7:30pm - Opening Night and After Show Reception

Saturday, June 22 at 2pm and 7pm

Sunday, June 23 at 1:00 and 4:00pm - Special Meet the Puppet-Makers & Treats Day!

Thursday, June 27 at 7:00pm

Friday, June 28 at 10am, 1pm and 7pm

Saturday, June 29 at 2pm and 7pm

Sunday, June 30 at 2pm - Special Meet the Puppet-Makers & Treats Day!

GET TIX HERE

Chanhassen High School Theater - 2200 Lyman Boulevard, Chanhassen, MN

Until next time!

Jibs