It’s not easy finding holiday entertainment that both kids and adults can agree on. But here’s an idea: a bizarre puppet show featuring an ice-skating dinosaur, telenovelas, a disco dreidel, and the L.A. River. It’s Sparkleblob, the brain child of Julianna Parr, who also runs a weekly craft night at Akbar, a popular Silver Lake. bar That’s how several of the regular puppeteers and producers of Sparkleblob came together. There are fourteen people in all.
“I sort of feel like we’re a puppet Voltron,” Parr says.
This is the show’s fifth year. The location has changed every year. This season it’s at Automata Arts, an experimental puppetry and film space in Chinatown. And it follows in the traditions of PeeWee’s Playhouse and HR Pufnstuf. It even has a pair of talking Christmas stockings.
As in previous years, the play carries some social and political satire, delivered with heaping spoonfuls of sugar. Last year played up the Occupy movement, and this year pokes fun at the artisan food and craft craze. The show also stars a family that’s not exactly Ward and June Cleaver material. But underneath all the silliness are themes that hint at something more serious – a message about family and community. KCRW hung out at one of the rehearsals. Photos below.
Photos by Rosalind Helfand
Everyone involved in the Sparklebob Puppet show are so very talented. Great puppet characters, singing, dancing and having fun in the best of holiday spirit. Thank you for spreading the word about them.
A devoted fan,
Chris
Sparklebob puppet show is really great and love the way you guys have done it. definitively it is really great and the audio file is great. all the pictures are great and long live.
latina media ventures
An ice skating dinosaur – that would've been more of a sight if it was a full-sized man in costume. In fact, they should consider turning the puppet show into a full-sized performance on ice.
Very superb information can be found on blog . “You have to learn that if you start making sure you feel good, everything will be okay.” by Ruben Studdard.
I'm taking the kids to Disneyland this summer and would love to check this out… I think it would be a hoot. Love this sort of entertainment.
Kelowna Vacation Rentals
I feel similar online site owners should really check out this unique blog as a model. Unbelievably clean and easy to use style, including superior content! You are very skilled operating in this important subject matter :)
I think other sorts of web site owners may want to take into consideration this web page as an example. Truly clean and simple to use structure, coupled with outstanding content and articles! You are a professional operating in this particular area :)