Corduroy Puppet Show
Contributed by Kristin Thompson. She comments on this image: “All of us together behind the stage before sewn curtains. My puppet is the Night Watchman, Kristen’s is Lisa’s Mom, Ed’s is Pirate Peter Patroneous Pigbottom III, a new character we created who lives in the Toy Store.”
Kristin’s story:
“Let me introduce myself, my name is Kristin Thompson. For almost a year now me and my fellow Americorps service members have worked on an adaptation of your father’s book “Corduroy” as a puppet show. I wanted to get in touch with you and just give you a background of what Kristen, Ed, and I have been working on and created thanks to the work of your father.
We came together two years ago, Ed and I serving children in an Americorps program called Minnesota Reading Corps which services children who are below their grade level in reading K-3rd Grade. This past year Kristen joined us in the program. As a special day for the children we read your father’s book “Corduroy” to the children and do not do our regular one-on-one tutoring. Because of this day, Ed had this great idea to create a puppet show out of “Corduroy” and Kristen and I agreed we should give it a try. This was October of 2008. Since then we have created a stage, a script based off of the book, backdrops, characters, and sound to create the “Corduroy” story, puppet style.
I cannot tell you how much I’ve enjoyed performing this puppet show. It has been a great pleasure. Starting at our own site, Cityview Elementary Performing Arts Magnet in Minneapolis and performing for the pre-K-3rd graders; then to St. Paul Children’s Hospital, a pre-school in Minneapolis where Kristen volunteers, and August 6th we will be performing at Minneapolis Children’s Hospital.
I want you to know we are in no way profiting from this puppet show. It is all volunteer and all from our hearts that we want to create an interactive play from one of the most beloved children’s books of all time. One which your father wrote. Thank you so much for creating the Don Freeman website and allowing me to contact you today. I just wanted to let you know your father’s book is still having a positive and creative impact upon children and adults. We (the adults) and the viewers (the children), I believe, are receiving the same amount of joy from this experience.”
Roy comments: Thank you Kristin! The characters look great, wish I could see the show!
