Presented by Sea Beast Puppet Company: Kat Pleviak, Erin Krause, Maggie Krause
Curiouser and curiouser… who will you become?
Join us for a delightfully peculiar, drop-in make-&-take workshop where the characters of Wonderland are reimagined through a fantastical world of steampunk. Choose from a cast of classic characters like, Alice, the Mad Hatter, White Rabbit, Queen of Hearts, Cheshire Cat, Caterpillar, and more… perhaps even a certain frumious Jabberwock if your feeling so bold as to bring him to life…… as a beautifully illustrated puppet that is.
Each participant will receive a complete set of parts for one character to color, assemble, and animate. With intricate designs and whimsical details, this experience is as much about the joy of coloring as it is about creating a moving puppet. If time allows, you may even find yourself making more than one… after all, Wonderland rarely stops at just one surprise.
Guided by the inventive minds of Sea Beast Puppet Company (seabeastpuppetry.com), this workshop invites makers of all ages to explore creativity, storytelling, and a touch of mechanical magic. No prior experience required, just a desire to slow down, relax, meet some cool folks, and get your craft on.
This is a 90-minute open workshop, and guests are welcome to drop in, arrive late, or stay as long as they like.
There is no fee for this make-&-take experience, all are welcome! A small teapot of donations will be available for those who wish to contribute; even a few coins help keep the gears turning and the supplies flowing.
Perfect for ages 5–12 and equally enjoyable for adults who love to color, craft, and create.
Kat Pleviak is the Artistic Director and founder of Sea Beast Puppet Company in Glen Ellyn, IL. She holds a BFA in Directing from the University of Illinois (2002) and an MFA in Youth Theatre and Puppetry from the University of Hawaii M?noa (2009). She is currently pursuing an M.A. in Clinical Psychology at Roosevelt University. Under Kat’s direction, Sea Beast has initiated a number of exciting puppetry projects, including original productions such as the Puppet Meltdown Puppet Slam, The Shadow Puppet Conspiracy, The History of Light, and Méfiez-Vous de la Vache-Garou, which won Best in Show at the 2013 Chicago Fringe Festival.
She has taught countless workshops across the country and currently serves as Membership Officer for Puppeteers of America. Kat was also a featured artist in Puppetry International’s “40 Under 40” issue.
Erin Krause is the best Box Office Manager a group could ask for and a committed puppet enthusiast. She worked for years as a high school teacher and is one of Sea Beast’s go-to (and favorite) workshop presenters. When not working with Sea Beast, she works in Nursing Administration at College of DuPage.
Maggie Krause may be young, but she is a longtime Sea Beast alum. She has been helping Sea Beast present at conferences for years. When she’s not teaching puppetry on land, she teaches swim lessons in the water and is currently in her first year at College of DuPage. She also enjoys creative writing and anime.
