Finished Mulan "ancestor" puppets

August 28, 20010

http://www.gastage.com - They have already sold out but should be getting more in stock in 2-3 weeks.

http://www.outoftheboxpuppets.com In Stock while it last. Approx: 34yrds left.

https://www.puppet-mart.com/ Sold Out.

http://www.sspuppets.com Available in Complete Puppet kits only.

[somethingradical]

There was a HUGE confusion as to who was doing these puppets this summer. 4 Days before the show opened I was told I had to build them, not taking into consideration that I asked 3 months in advance if I were to build them. Anyway here are the final puppets...I am proud of them, yet not my designs, because I only had 4 days to build 5 puppets ranging from 8ft tall - 12 ft tall.
 
Here are the actors using the framework of the puppets


Building the Heads


Actors using the puppets from backstage


Finished puppets in 4 days


Broken down puppet for change over


I was happy with how they came out for the time I had. I lost a lot of sleep over these guys, and while their facial features could have been smoother and all around better constructed, i think they came out well.

I did have a bit of help on their costumes but everything else I had to do alone.
I would love your input!!!

[Shawn Sorrell]

Cool! I think they look nice. Quite an accomplishment for just four days.

[Russell2005]

I agree! That's pretty fast work! They look great! Remember the audience won't be scrutinizing them as close as you are. They'll be at least 20 feet away.

[Billy D. Fuller]

Great Job ! and quick to.

Billy D.

[Bhanu]

Congrats..great & quick job indeed...Good luck

Bhanu

[LJ]

I think they are fantastic! Thanks for sharing!! Can't believe you got them done so quickly!

[somethingradical]

Thanks for the positive comments everyone. I know these guys and gals could be a lot better but with the time constraint I was just happy to get them done 5 hours before opening! I might be working with the same theatre on The Jungle Book, next summer, and they know now that I should start building WELL in advance. I just started building puppets less than a year ago and I am loving it! I think once I am done with my BFA in musical theatre I would love to try for my Masters in Puppetry @ Uconn

[puppetfreak]

So are they doing Mulan the Junior Musical from MTI? Just curious cause I love Musical Theatre! And just curious, how old are you cause I'm a senior in High School and I'm thinking of applying at Uconn too. That and West Virginia. Also Cal Arts has a good program for puppetry. Where did you get your BFA in Puppetry?

[LJ]

Where did you get your BFA in Puppetry?

Just one thing to consider as you decide on schools.  You will want to be sure that you end up with a degree that gives you more than just puppetry because if you are too limited you will have a much more difficult time getting a job after you graduate. Notice that Somethingradical's BFA is in Musical Theatre. Just don't want you to limit yourself too much.

[Sunbeatle Puppets]

wow, excellent work! i cant believe how well you did under that kind of pressure! good job!

[puppetfreak]

Just a little backgound. I study Theatre already at a specialized high school. And I would be double majoring in either Musical Theatre or Theatre. Maybe Minor in Phycology or Child Development since I really enjoy kids and want to learn why they're...well kids.

But back to topic I love your puppets!!! They seem like they are very huge which gives Mulan a great dynamic of having to live up to the family name!

[LJ]

What did you use for the structure for the arms? I can't tell from the first picture.

[somethingradical]

To answer y'all's questions...

*I am getting my BFA in musical theatre right now, then i am going for my Masters in puppetry hopefully at Uconn. sorry for the confusion.

*Yes it was technically Mulan Jr, but I worked for a professional theatre company that gets the rights to take off the "JR" for their kids shows. It's the same thing the Alliance theatre company in Atlanta did. Peach State Summer Theatre, the company I worked for, is the official musical theatre company of the state of Georgia, they are a rotating repertory theatre doing 3 full scale productions over 2ish months.

* The structure was basically a large T shape, made from wood and Aluminum pipe. The foam hands were attached to a pvc pipe about 3ft long, then a 4ft circle of tie line attached the arm to the structure. We tried using jointed pvc for the whole arm but bc they were larger than the actors, and the actors were basically inside of the puppet we took away the top part of the arm and replaced it with tie line. Each puppet was extremely light weight, the heaviest being maybe 5lbs.