Careers in Puppetry

Subtitle: The Art of Puppetry featuring Puppeteers from the PBS Kids program Between the Lions

Date: Mon, September 21, 2009

Time: 9:00 to 9: 45 a.m.

Audience: High School and Middle School

Guest #1: Peter Linz
Peter Linz has been playing with puppets since the age of three and has wanted to work in children’s television since age 10. After a short detour, during which he obtained a degree in psychology from the University of Georgia, his dream was realized when he was hired to be a puppeteer with the Jim Henson Company. His puppet characters can be seen on Sesame Street, Bear in the Big Blue House (Tutter, Pip), Lomax – The Hound of Music (Lomax), Blue’s Room (Polka Dots, Doodle Board), The Book of Pooh (Pooh), and It’s A Big Big World in which he stars as “Snook” the sloth. Peter’s film credits include the recent remake of “The Producers” as well as “Muppets From Space” and “Men in Black”. He has created & led workshops in television puppetry under the auspices of the Jim Henson Company in Germany, China, Mexico and the United States. Peter is an original Broadway cast member of the Tony Award winning musical “Avenue Q”. He has recently wrapped production on season 10 of Between the Lions in which he performs Theo the Lion, Announcer Bunny and Gawain.

Guest #2: Pam Arciero
Pam Arciero is a principal puppeteer with Sesame Street and Between the Lions, performing numerous characters, most notably Grundgetta Grouch and Leona Lion, respectively. She has worked on many adult and children's programs including Blue's Clues Blue's Room, Chappell's Show, Allegra's Window, The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss, TV Funhouse, Oobi, Eureeka's Castle and The Great Space Coaster. She has performed in many commercials and films, including Sundance Myths 2004, Sundance Film Festival, Extreme Measures, Little Monsters and Follow That Bird. As a stage director, she directed Elmo's World Live, Oscar's Big Game Show, Gotta Dance, and Bird's Beach Party for Sesame Place, Play with Me Sesame Live Tour, and Disney's Wahoo Wagon at the El Capitan Theater in Los Angeles. She has also directed Between the Lions and Oobi for television. She has taught for the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, California State University, Fresno, Sesame Street International and the University of Connecticut. She holds and Undergraduate Degree in Drama from the University of Hawaii and a Master's Degree in Puppetry from the University of Connecticut.

About this program:
"Careers in the Performing Arts" The Art of Puppetry Featuring Puppeteers from the PBS Kids program Between the Lions

Join us as Peter Linz and Pam Arciero discuss their career background and the skills and responsibilities as premier puppeteers.

To participate:
Schools interested in participating in this educational opportunity should contact John Ramicone at 216-916-6360 or by September 14th. A program fee of $75.00 will be charged to schools not in the NOTA member districts. Please process a purchase order to WVIZ/PBS ideastream Distance Learning c/o John Ramicone, 1375 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland 44115 and fax a copy of the PO or number to 216-916-6361.