COMMUNITY PUPPET SHOW: Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) Artist-in-Residence Kenneth Lewis Sr., right, has led local families in recent puppet-making workshops, which will culminate in a public performance on February 18 at 3 p.m. in the ACP’s Solley Theater.

The Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) will host a Community Puppet Show on Sunday, February 18 at 3 p.m. in their Solley Theater. Led by winter Artist-in-Residence Kenneth Lewis Sr., a local artist who has led puppet-making workshops for many years in our area, this collaborative production is designed, constructed, and scripted by Princeton community members of all ages.

In January and early February, Lewis and the ACP hosted Saturday morning puppet theater workshops for children and caregivers that covered all the essentials of a full puppet production. Lewis introduced participants to different styles of puppets and the countless possibilities used to create a successful show. The first workshop tasked the group with developing a storyline followed by backdrop painting, puppet making, and script writing.

The performance will feature multiple stories running 5-10 minutes each, with the puppet-making teams managing the puppets, sound, scenery, and dialogue. In addition to running the workshops, Lewis designed and created a puppet theater used for the production with materials donated by Hamilton Building Supply.

The audience can expect to see “old-school” storytellers of all ages bringing their hard work to life in this 90-minute production.

The performance is open to everyone, with tickets available for a $5 suggested donation. Those tickets and a free RSVP option are available at artscouncilofprinceton.org.

The Anne Reeves Artist-in-Residence Program, named after the ACP’s founding director, was established by the Arts Council in 2009 to offer artists the opportunity to conceptualize and create work while providing the community with creative interaction with working artists in all disciplines. Learn more at artscouncilofprinceton.org.