About The Class

This puppet-building and performing class is the perfect way to explore your imagination and have some fun! In the first part of the class, you will have hands-on experience with designing and creating a hand puppet. Second, we will practice bringing your puppet to life with voice and movement techniques. Third, you will learn the basic principles of improvisation and storytelling to bring your character to life. At the end of the course, the class will stage a special puppet show performance featuring your unique creation!

THIS CLASS MEETS TUESDAYS AT 7PM

Note:

The materials fee covers the supplies to build the base of your puppet, you may bring additional items to decorate or dress your puppet as you would like.

YOU MUST SELECT A PUPPET TYPE ON THE NEXT SCREEN! Choose from either "Fancy Sockpuppet" - made of Felt and akin to Kermit, or "Fuzzy Monster" - made of faux fur and akin to Elmo!

CAUTION hot glue and rubber cement will be used during the build phase, please be cautious not to burn yourself or sniff too many fumes

Meet The Instructor: Frank McDade

Frank McDade is a writer, producer, performer, and business guy with over a decade of bringing fun, creativity, and strategic ideas to the comedy world. In 2009, he started studying improv and sketch comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in NYC before moving to Chicago to study at iO and work in the marketing department for the B2B division of the famed comedy theater, The Second City. Frank has mastered both long-form and short-form improv, written many sketches for video and stage, dabbled in clowning but couldn’t master the pratfall, co-produced and wrote for a transmedia web series “I Made America”, completed two TV pilots that he swears he’ll submit to festivals one day, ran many creative corporate workshops, and is currently writing a near-finished book called Playtivity that demonstrates how improv comedy + toys + design thinking come together to impact business.

Frank created a line of original plush toys, puppets, and stories based on his cast of characters known as “Stranded with Strangers.” In addition, there is a sweet spot in his heart for his original mother-from-New-York character Barb, his overly talented group of friends and comedy collaborators “Moop Troop”, and his favorite sketch shows a Power Rangers Parody and HORSE. Frank can currently be found performing, producing, coaching, and writing at Arcade Comedy Theater and now teaching at Bottlerocket Social Hall. He is excited to bring his knowledge of puppet building and performing to the Pittsburgh community! Let’s play.