CVFT News: The Making of a Puppet! "Seussical-A Musical"

Behind-the-Scenes continues with Randy Herget....The Making of the Fish.

Before you take a look at these fish...I have breaking news. At rehearsal last night, Cody Braudt, CVFT "Seussical-The Musical" Puppeteer and California Institute of Arts student, said he is having kids at Excelsior Art on the Lake help him make the biggest puppet in the show. SUPER COOL!

This one! We're going to help make this one -the 12' one!

Please join us for this creative and fun adventure. We will also have Dr. Seuss hats to hand out, our new season announcement, cast, crew and puppeteers from the show AND a make your own Cat in the Hat puppet to take home. ok -now on to Making Fish Puppets:

"Seussical-The Musical" Fish Sculpture

Step 1 - Sculpture: Cody Braudt and his team mold out the fish shape by hand with a special type of clay. This unique creature is about 12" long and 5" wide at the biggest point. Check out the detail on the tail.

Step 2 - The Fish Mold: This Plaster of Paris type material is then poured around the fish and dried. It will be used to make the final fish structure.

Plaster of Paris type mold of the "Seussical" fish.

Step 3 & 4 - Pouring & Drying: The mold is then closed, banded together and a liquid neoprene rubber is poured into the hole. This special material dries from the outside in which allows the artists to create a structure that is hollow. Over the three day drying process, and before the piece completely dries, the creator tips the mold over and pours out the remaining liquid. This hollows out the fish.

The closed and banded mold with the infamous spout.

Step 5 - Opening the Mold: I got video of this part.

An up-close of the neoprene wonder.

Step 6 - Cleaning & Sanding: Using a sculpting knife, Randy, Cody and team scrape off the excess pieces of the fish and also use a sander to make the fish the exact shape and texture they are looking for.

Anna Stauber, Co-Producer of "Seussical" seen here cutting away the excess neoprene.

More expert shaping and cutting.

Randy at the sander.

The after product before painting

Step 7 -Painting: The fish are spray painted and then detail is added by hand. In all there will be 40 of these creatures taking the stage alongside their puppet-masters. Steps 8 and 9 are not shown here as Randy said that is a secret he wouldn't tell. You have to see the show to find out what happens to the fish!