Night of the giant puppets
A two-headed dragon, a four-headed monster from Greek mythology, a stalwart knight, a princess in distress: Giant puppets, ranging from 3 to 10 feet tall, are the highlight of the “Ivar Holiday Puppet Festival,” today at 7 p.m. at the New Ivar Theatre.
The large-scale puppets, crafted by students at Taft and Sylmar high schools, are the stars of a medieval-style fairy tale and a 15-minute version of “The Odyssey” -- performed in black light. Also on tap are professional puppeteers who will present their own vignettes using puppets of various styles.
This colorful event is the culmination of a pioneer program called “Puppet Power” involving Taft and Sylmar art and English studies departments. Students fashioned their fanciful large-scale puppet creations to enact original works based on literature.
Hosted by the LA Arts Intersection collective of performing and visual artists, the program is presented by the Ivar-based California Youth Theatre and the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department. Stick around after the show for a reception with the student and professional puppeteers in the Ivar’s Brick Box space, where the big puppets will be on display for an up-close look.
“Ivar Holiday Puppet Festival,” the New Ivar Theatre, 1605 N. Ivar Ave., Hollywood. Tonight, 7. $5. (323) 960-4386.
-- Lynne Heffley
The biggest entertainment stories
Get our big stories about Hollywood, film, television, music, arts, culture and more right in your inbox as soon as they publish.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
