ART EXHIBITION
Theodora Skipitares: Performing Objects
Four Decades of Abundant Ingenuity
Curated by Nina Felshin and Designed by Matt Sorensen
From spectacular giant goddesses to poetic miniature tableaux, the puppets and performing objects of Theodora Skipitares have been enchanting audiences internationally for years. This retrospective exhibition, presented throughout the The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Educational Center, features highlights from her productions, ranging from Micropolis in 1982 to Footnotes, earlier this year at La MaMa Experimental Theater Club. Marie Curie, Pinocchio, Benjamin Banneker, and Helen of Troy, all together now.
PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION
Scattered Happy Memories of Puppet Friends by a 93-Year-Old
Curated and designed by Matt Sorensen
Nancy Staub created and directed the Puppet Playhouse in New Orleans, Louisiana for over 10 years. She organized the 1980 World Puppetry Festival at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, DC, where she acted as an Associate Producer of Theatre for Young Audiences for a few years. She co-founded the Center for Puppetry Arts Museum in Atlanta, Georgia, along with its founder/director Vincent Anthony. She considers it her most important legacy. She was a consultant for the inception of the Jim Henson Foundation and the first Henson International Festival of Puppet Theater in NYC. She served on several boards and committees of Puppeteers of America and UNIMA (Union Internationale de la Marionnette) of which she is proud to be a Membre d’honneur. Nancy has written over 50 published articles in journals and books including WEPA (World Encyclopedia of Puppetry Arts) of which she served as one of the original editors.
Matt Sorensen is a puppeteer, theatre artist, educator, filmmaker, and exhibition curator & designer based in Connecticut and New York. They are currently a Visiting Assistant Professor in Dramatic Arts at University of Connecticut’s Puppet Arts Program, where they also earned their MFA in 2022. Matt is looking forward to serving as the Interim Artistic Director of UConn’s Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry in the 2026/27 academic year. Their company, Puppet Bucket Productions, has designed and fabricated puppets for theater and film around the world.
LES Gallery
Opening: August 12, 4:30 PM– 9:00 PM
August 12–16: Daily, 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
August 17–29: Daily, 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Closing: August 30, 4:00 PM
ART EXHIBITION
Teatro SEA's World Puppet Collection
An exhibition honoring the richness and diversity of puppetry from around the globe. The showcase brings together a carefully curated selection of pieces that span various styles, geographical origins, historical eras, and materials. From ancestral techniques to contemporary expressions, this exhibition offers viewers an insightful look into the anthropological and artistic value of the puppet as a cultural bridge. An absolute must-see event in the history of visual theater.
Tamayo Gallery
Opening: August 12, 4:30 PM– 9:00 PM
August 12–16: Daily, 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
August 17–29: Daily, 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Closing: August 30, 4:00 PM
ART EXHIBITION
Teatro SEA's Pinocchios Around The World
An exhibition exploring the cultural impact and artistic metamorphosis of one of the most iconic characters in world literature. The showcase brings together a diverse collection of Pinocchio-inspired pieces originating from various countries, eras, and artisan traditions. Through a wide array of materials and manufacturing techniques, the exhibition analyzes how Carlo Collodi’s classic has been globally adopted and reinterpreted, cementing its place as a transcultural symbol of identity, childhood, and the art of puppetry.
SEA’s Gallery (2nd Floor)
Opening: August 12, 4:30 PM– 9:00 PM
August 12–16: Daily, 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
August 17–29: Daily, 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Closing: August 30, 4:00 PM
INSTALLATION
The Freak Family Roadshow
Jo Cunningham | USA
La Plaza
Opening: August 12, 9:00 PM– 10:30 PM
August 13–15: Daily, 11:00 AM – 10:30 PM
Closing: August 16, 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
