Czechoslovak-American Puppetry - Softcover

William Keyes, Milan Knizak Vit Horejs

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1886406006 ISBN 13: 9781886406001

Publisher: GOH Productions, 1994

Synopsis

For fify years, a troupe of antique marionettes were confined to a dusty closet at Jan Hus Church in the heart of New York City's Czech and Slovak neighborhood. In 1984, Vit Horejs brought his puppet show of Czech Fairy Tales there. When he found the hidden trove, he felt he had his work cut out for him: he had to bring the puppets back to the stage and he had to discover their history. The first task resulted in the creation of the Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre, which has since performed traditional and not-so-traditional marionette performances in twenty seven states, in Europe and in Asia. This book is the result of years of detective work on the second task. In addition to the lead historical essay about hundred and fifty years of Czech-American puppetry, the book contains William Keyes essay "'We Were-And We Shakk Be:' Puppetry and Czecho-Slovak Politics, 1860-1990," focusing mostly on Milan Getting, a SLovak-American and puppeteer who worked ! tirelessly for the creation, recognition and preservation of Czechoslovakia in the first half of out century. The book is complemented by Milan Knizak's essay "The Marionette Proud and Dignified" devoted to overall history of Czech puppetry and individual puppet carvers. Twenty-four color and twenty black-and-white photographs.

About this title

About the Author

Vit Horejs was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, where he grew up on a hearty diet on folk tales and puppet theatre. He published a number of original stories and poems in his native country before he moved to the United States in 1979. His first English-language book "Twelve Iron Sandals and Other Czechoslovak Tales, was chosen as one of the best children's books of the year by the New York Public Library. As a professional storyteller, puppeteer and artistic director of the Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre, he has performed at the Lincoln Center, Jim Henson Inernational Festival of Puppet Theatre, the Smithsonian, and countless festivals, theatres, schools and Indian reservations in twenty seven states as well as Europe and Asia and in Woody Allen's film "Don't Drink the Water." He currently resides in New York City, a proud father of Sarazina Joy, a firstgrader.

Edition details

• Publisher: GOH Productions
• Publication date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1886406006
• ISBN 13: 9781886406001
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 80