Hope to see lots in this forum!

[Bazil]

Wow I am really glad this forum was added.  I remember folks alway asking where to find a puppet script or how to get started in writting a puppet script.  It can really be hard getting started and it well be cool to hear how folks write thier scripts.  Maybe some of them well even attach some samples of their stuff so others can download it and use it.

I think there really isn't that much difference between writing for puppets or people.  You just have to remember that some puppets have limitations.  I mean think about it some puppets are better at picking stuff up compared to others and some can do back flips and others can't.  So I think if you keep that in mind it is always a good idea but don't let it cramp your creativity.  You might just learn that a puppet can do something you didn't think it could.

It is always nice to have music in a show.  Folks seem to like being sung to.  If your not musically inclined try using an old standard and changeing the words to fit your situation.  Sometimes these old standards fit right in without even having to change them.  Just make sure you are not stealing someone elses work there are plenty of songs out there that are public domain.

That's my thoughts on the subject at the moment.  How about you'all... any tips?

[Shawn Sorrell]

I thought I would add to this thread and make it a Bazil's Choice.  Hope you do not mind Bazil...  

The reason I am doing this was to have a post at the top that had links to other sites that offer scripts.  puppet2puppet has added a lot of scripts for you to use in this  section and they are hosted on a site called Puppet Resources. So I will start things off by giving the link to their front page.

http://www.puppetresources.com/

Please feel free to add you favorite script site to this thread!

[Puppet2Puppet]

Thanks Wildfire!  And Thanks Bazil!

We are happy to share many of our puppet plays at this site.  Just like we do over at the puppet resources site.

We're all in this together, people.  As I've always said, "All (and I do me ALL) aboard the Heaven Train!"

Toot toot!

Jim

[masterofpuppets1]

Can ppl in this forum and others please REFRAIN from christian scripts, and add links to some non christian scripts.  I am a christian myself and do not mind them, but if u are catering to a non christian group then i cant use those.  Also, lets add a site 4 ventriloquist skits.  NICE!! THANX!!

Alan Jr.

[Geoff]

I'm afraid that we offer skits that we have found useful in our own performances. However I do use my skits in a kids club for non-christian kids very successfully. If you are looking for a secular source from which you can create your own skits why not try basing them on Aesops fables. I posted a copy Here.

[SuzieQ]

I am a writer. I am trying to become a puppeteer. The stories came first. Fractured fairy tales. I am scared of the performance end of it but after trying for years to convince publishers that there is worth in just a good laugh, I am trying a new tack. I have bought some puppets, fairy tale ones--and am going to try to do my story "The knight, the dragon and a new sweater for cook" as a puppet play.
PS SCARED to death...

[Shawn Sorrell]

Well first let me welcome you to Puppets and Stuff SuzieQ!  Glad you found use.

I think your approach is a good one.  There was actually a childrens book written called "Excuse Me, Are you a Dragon"  that the puppet company I worked with, StoneLion Puppet Theater, turned into a puppet production.  

It was a favorite of the owner of the company so she contacted the author, Rhett Ransom Pennell,  to see if he was interested in adapting it as a puppet play.  He loved the idea and a show was born!  

[SuzieQ]

Thanks for the support.
I am having to work so fast. I just heard in order to perform this year, I must get a tape to the Ren Fest in the next 30 days. I work 10 hours a day and I must do all of this in my spare time. Whew. I sure hope this works out.

[Shawn Sorrell]

I must get a tape to the Ren Fest in the next 30 days.

Just noticed you are in my neck of the woods... by any chance is this for the KC RenFest or Colorado?   You know I used to work not only KC but the entire south circuite of the RenFest.

[SuzieQ]

Kansas City.

Oh, by the way, I do have a one minute play to share...I used it for a Sunday School class.
Daniel and the Lion’s Den

A One-Minute Play

By Suzanne Sisco


King- You are a really great leader, Daniel. I am putting you in charge of my kingdom.

Daniel- Thank you, King.  I will do my best.

Later

King- I am sorry Daniel. You work hard and I really like you, but if you do not stop worshipping your God and obeying his commands, I will have to feed you to the lions.

Daniel- I must follow my God.

King-Put him in the lion’s den.

1st Lion- I don’t know why-but I am just not hungry.

2nd Lion- I am hungry…but I want a salad…some lettuce, a couple of tomatoes and a little ranch dressing.

3rd Lion- Do you know what sounds good? Noodles, with perhaps a little sauce on the side.

The next morning.

King- Daniel, you are still here. Your God must be the real God. I am sorry I put you there.

[SuzieQ]

OOPs that one was Christian. Did not mean to cause a problem. With me, it is just whatever comes out. Oh, well. You are free to use it if you like.
If the performance thing doesn't work out, I will be posting the other plays!

[Shawn Sorrell]

OOPs that one was Christian. Did not mean to cause a problem. With me, it is just whatever comes out. Oh, well. You are free to use it if you like.
If the performance thing doesn't work out, I will be posting the other plays!

No problem at all.  One thing I pride myself on is that Puppets and Stuff is diverse.  I want all to feel at home here. As long as a person is willing to respect others I see no reason there should be any offense taken by anyone.   Have you checked out PuppetResources by the way?   Tons of scripts and you can submit your own to share with others.  That is not to say you shouldn't share them here also.  

Good luck on getting the KC RenFest.  If you do I may have to come out and visit.  Haven't been for many years now... once you work them the alure wares off a bit.

[Miryana]

I write my own scripts and they are all fairy tales - sometimes original, sometimes adapted classics. There is a great book on fairytales, called "Morphology of the Folktale" by V.Propp, that lists the motifs present in fairytales, with most common structure. It's almost like a "recipe" for a fairy tale, but when you think about, most movies nowadays have that structure. For example, "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" is built exactly within that frame, "Lord of the Rings" has very strong elements, "Harry Potter" is totally within that structure, so it is a very helpful tool to outline a story, and every time it can be different. I recommend it for aspiring writers of fairy tales.
For example, one of the structures is:
 1. The story starts with an absence of a parent or a guardian — a king departs for a trip, a parent dies, etc (in  "Narnia" the kids were sent off because of the bombing)
2. A protagonist is left behind, with an order not to do something (not to go into a forbidden room; not to open a door to a stranger) or explicit order to do something (to send an apple to the old woman every dawn, etc). (the kids in Narnia were not suppose to go into the room with the wardrobe)
3. The protagonist does exactly what she/he shouldn’t or doesn’t do what they were suppose to.
4. The antagonist emerges (villain) and a harm is done to the member of the family (a princess is taken by a dragon, a which casts a spell on everyone) (the White Witch emerged, harming their little brother)
5. The protagonist is sent or volunteers to go to find the way to overpower the villain, where usually she/he seeks a magic object or a person who can help—quest is introduced
6. This quest brings her/him to a helper, a creature or a person that knows the secret to overpower the antagonist (Gollum).
7. The protagonist will have two unsuccessful attempts to overpower the antagonist and succeed only the third time.

There is also a great web site dedicated to the study of fairy tales: Sur La Lune www.surlalunefairytales.com These people know their stuff, and at times they are a bit too academic for my taste (they usually psychoanalyze to the bitter end; that's where I learned some nasty stuff about that little flirt Red Riding Hood and the wolf, what a horrible creature he was! but they also have just about every fairy tale there, in full text, in as original version as possible, so it's a great source of materials.

As for "limitations" on Christian materials - I am not very involved in religion, but it does not bother me at all if people post whatever materials they have, for as long as they are not offensive and promote hatred etc. Perhaps there is a way to make subsections so these materials can be directed into proper categories so everyone can focus on what is interesting to them? Something like: "religious", "fairy tales", "educational", "satyrical" etc

Wild Joker, I suggest you take a look at that Sur La Lune site, it is the same concept as this one, there could be something interesting we haven't thought of yet. Mind you, I think our site is actually better )
 

Miryana

[Miryana]

My challenge, rather than writing scripts, is directing the show. I did find that book "Directing Puppet Theatre Step-By-Step" by Carol Fijan and Frank Ballard, which helped a bit, but it still took lot of other research to get a grasp on what directing is and what techniques to use to do it correctly. I ordered some books on directing for the human theatre, still didn't get around to reading them, but I find that most of the mistakes I made was related to directing a show, not necessarily the script writing. Another thing is that I use fairy tales, so directing is crucial for adaptations.  
So any advice in this department is more than welcome.
Miryana

[Ron G.]

I write my own scripts and they are all fairy tales - sometimes original, sometimes adapted classics. There is a great book on fairytales, called "Morphology of the Folktale" by V.Propp, that lists the motifs present in fairytales, with most common structure. It's almost like a "recipe" for a fairy tale, but when you think about, most movies nowadays have that structure. For example, "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" is built exactly within that frame, "Lord of the Rings" has very strong elements, "Harry Potter" is totally within that structure, so it is a very helpful tool to outline a story, and every time it can be different. I recommend it for aspiring writers of fairy tales.

I've added Propp's book to my Amazon wishlist, Miryana, and I'll keep an eye out to see if I can find a cheap copy locally. It sounds great - and much better suited to script writing than that Bruno Bettelheim book on the psychology of fairy and folk tales that I mentioned to you before. Since I don't perform I've never concerned myself much with script writing or direction, and I don't spend a lot of time reading about the subject or posting in this particular forum, but it's starting to sound more interesting to me. I still have no plans to perform but I enjoy good stories as much as the next person.

Are puppet scripts with songs very common or useful? Or would that be corny?

This isn't addressed to Miryana, but refers to the exchange higher up in the thread. I'm not currently involved in church activities the way I used to be, but as far as Christian vs non-Christian stories and scripts are concerned, in the New Testament Jesus himself was a storyteller, and his parables were entertaining and uplifting without bashing anyone over the head with religion. In fact, the "religious" people in his stories were sometimes the bad guys - like in the parable of the Good Samaritan. Anyone who tells stories shares that trait with Jesus himself.

Would it be sacrilege to take one of those illustrations of Jesus ministering to the little children, and Photoshop a couple of sock puppets on his hands...?

http://images.google.com/images?q=jesus%20children

 

Ron G.