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Spring 2023 Public Shows

May 7, 2pm: “The Trolls & the Tree” at Arlington Eco-Fest: Trolls Skimpa and Blompa want to take good care of the fairies’ lush garden but struggle to decide what’s more important: their deluxe toaster or the fairies’ cherished tree? Join puppeteers Margaret Moody and Ann Wynne and musician Peter Lehman for an interactive environmental fable. Free, outside on back lawn of Robbins Library. More:https://www.arlingtonma.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/31607/6207?curm=5&cury=2023

May 19, 4:30pm: “Badger Meets the Fairies” at Cary Library, 1874 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington MA

Gentle Mr. Badger agrees to help the fairies build a playground, but then it’s complicated: the fairies won’t use cement and Mr. Badger wants to learn to fly. Join Margaret Moody on puppets and musician Peter Lehman on mandolin for this spring story. Free registration: https://www.carylibrary.org/programs

June 3, 10:30am: “Taking Turns” at Old Schwamb Mill, 17 Mill Lane, Arlington, MA. Friends Mathilda and Doggie are thrilled to play on the bouncy house at their friend’s party, but taking turns is really hard. Best for ages 4 to 7, free, outdoors.

Taking Turns

 

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What Puppets Do After School

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The puppet characters I’ve seen created in my “Puppet Pals” ACE class at Arlington’s Brackett School don’t flop on the couch. After acrobatics at the skate park, they go home to their dog and eat everything on the raspberry bushes. And they love to pose!

When we made moth and butterfly puppets last week I wondered what those puppets would do besides fly. It turned out that my kindergarten and first grade students knew the outline of their creatures’ life cycle. Puppets flew, drank nectar, injured a wing – -and healed it –before landing in a tree and laying eggs. Which became caterpillars who gobbled and spun chrysalises before flying away.

 

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“The Trolls and the Tree” at Fall River Library

On July 13, Peter Lehman’s lute music brought the peaceful sense of a fairy woodland to the Elm Street tent outside Fall River Library.  Children gathered on a rug, ready to meet fairies, squirrels . . . and trolls! In this interactive show, Peter, Ann Wynne and I want our audience members to have opinions — but we were surprised at how strongly they spoke to Skimpa the troll. “No, you can’t push down the tree!” “But I need space for my beautiful new chair,” she whined. “NO!” the children said.

 

When the trolls persisted in knocking over the tree, our faithful audience helped them plant a baby tree for distraught fairies. And, after trolls, fairies, puppeteers and our amazing musician took their bows, the children arrested the trolls! We know they will take good care of trees in the future.

Fall River Children’s Librarian David Mello with his own tree puppet.

THANK YOU, FALL RIVER CULTURAL COUNCIL!! This show was supported by a grant from the Fall River Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. And thank you to librarian David Mello for his incredible support of children and those who perform for them.

 

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The Trolls Are On Their Way

The wheels are still wobbly, but Skimpa wants a test drive.

So happy to have a grant from the Arlington Cultural Council to create “The Trolls and the Tree: An Immersive Theater Piece for Children” with Ann Wynne and Peter Lehman. In the story, two trolls agree to take care of an idyllic fairy garden. But, when there’s not space enough in the garden for their toaster, TV, and lawn chairs next to the tree, guess which item gets moved?

Many friends are designing woodland seat covers for our show! Here are a few. 

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Summer Days

Happy to have been performing in parks, preschool yards and gardens! My first in-person show of 2021 was for a 90th birthday party on a sparkling summer evening in Gloucester. By August, the days were more sweat than sparkle and what a relief to go inside for a Puppet Day. But all hail to the battery-operated sound system that makes performing outside so easy!

Monkey King opening the season in a Gloucester backyard
Manchester Public Library, with DreamTale Puppets
Fall River library, outside, with “Badger Meets the Fairies”
Runs on a rechargeable battery, fits in a backpack.
At Magnolia Park, busking
Amazing Fall River librarian preparing for Shark Week
Hungry puppet, Puppet Day at Country Cottage Center in Medway

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Puppets in the Park, Saturday, July 17

Cow and his good friend Mouse love to play and picnic — until it’s time to share dessert. Join Margaret for this gentle farm fable at 10am on Saturday, July 17. And please stay after to try out some fun puppets!

Best for ages 3 to 7. All welcome. FREE.
AT: Magnolia  Park, 111 Magnolia Street, East Arlington, MA

 

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Little Stories starring Doggie and Mathilda

Got a minute or 3? I hope you’ll take a look at these short videos featuring Doggie and Mathilda.

Here’s Mathilda’s favorite song:

“My Cousin Kit” and “Watching for Owl” were part of Arlington’s  FOX & OWL TINY FILM & PHOTO FESTIVAL 2020. The shadow puppets were drawn by artist Kari Percival.

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Badger at the Old Schwamb Mill!

Arlington’s beautiful Old Schwamb Mill reopens on the weekend of September 12-13. I hope you’ll join me for “Badger Meets the Fairies” on Sunday at 2pm. The show is  free, donations welcome.

To see the show via Zoom: Preregistration is not required; here is the link to join the show.
Meeting ID: 899 7252 9386 Passcode: 966075.

Badger is very excited to perform with Peter Lehman on mandolin and Ann Wynne on voice and percussion! Here’s a clip:

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Gotta Get Ready for Bubblefest!

Skimpa and Blompa, my favorite trolls, are practicing for Bubblefest — a socially distanced 2020 rendition of Arlington Porchfest, happening on June 7. Want more information? www.arlingtonporchfest.org

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Kind Words on GigSalad.com

This month I am a “Top Performer” on GigSalad.com! Part of the rating is that my shows have gotten 5-star reviews from parents and preschool directors on GigSalad. I hope you’ll take a minute to read their comments:

https://www.gigsalad.com/margaret_moody_puppets_boston

Most of my reviews are about birthday parties, which are a lot of fun. Usually I perform a 30-minute show and lead puppet making. My favorite supplies are toilet paper rolls, construction paper and yarn in all colors. Here are some photos of toilet roll puppets on the move, and a  sock puppet who feel asleep guarding her pizza.