Hanako and the Cherry Tree (The Pitfalls of Mr. Yama)

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Hanako and the Cherry Tree (The Pitfalls of Mr. Yama)

WHAT: "Hanako and the Cherry Tree (The Pitfalls of Mr. Yama)" performed by Thistle Theatre, a puppet theater for families.

WHERE/WHEN: Sunset Hill Community Club, 3003 NW 66th St, Seattle, WA 98117,March 4 and 5 at 1 and 3 p.m.

BYT - Crossroads Theatre, 16051 NE 10th Street, Bellevue, WA 98008, March 11 and 12 at 2 and 4 p.m. (Please note new location!)

Magnuson Park Theatre, 7110 62nd Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98115, Bldg. 47, March 18 and 9, 1 and 3 p.m.

TICKET PRICE: $10.

TO BUY TICKETS: Call 206-524-3388 or visit thistletheatre.org or http://www.brownpapertickets.com/ref/183572/event/2590940 (Sunset Hill), http://www.brownpapertickets.com/ref/183572/event/2590942 (BYT - Crossroads Theatre), http://www.brownpapertickets.com/ref/183572/event/2590949 (Magnuson Park),  or buy them at the door.

This week marks the opening of "Hanako and the Cherry Tree (The Pitfalls of Mr. Yama)." This beautiful puppet show includes four different styles of puppetry.

This puppet play tells the stories of a miser who discovers a magical cherry tree on his property. When a young girl comes on his property, they form an unlikely friendship, and misfortunes ensue when he swallows a cherry pit.

This Japanese tall tale includes an oni and tengu (mythical goblins) and a giant serpent! It also explores the theme of tradition versus modern values.

I play Hanako, the little girl. This is particularly fun, as the last time I did this show five years ago, I played a completely different role.

All voices are performed live by me and fellow puppeteers Andre Nelson, Amy Escobar, and Zane Exactly. We use  a variety of puppet styles including Japanese Bunraku-style, rod puppets, shadow puppets, and black light puppets to tell this story in the Rakugo traditions.

The script was adapted by Jean Enticknap. Jean also directed this lively production.

This show is recommended for ages 3 and up.

This play has laughs, scares, and magic galore! Don't miss our fun, beautiful show!

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Puppet Panel at International Dota 2 Championship

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Puppet Panel at International Dota 2 Championship 

Dota 2 is a very cool multiplayer online battle arena game made by Valve. Every year, there is an International championship, and this year the championship is held at Seattle's KeyArena.

The championship is a huge deal. Gameplay is broadcast on twitch.tv, YouTube, Steam broadcasting, and WatchESPN. ESPN picked up the tournament due to its large audience (estimated at over 30 million) and large prize pool. 

This year the prize pool is in excess of $20 million -- that's more than the prize pool at the Super Bowl!

There are color announcers during the games, and other analysts commenting on the games in between rounds. 

This year Valve decided to have the analysts in one of the in-between game sessions played by puppets, and I got to be one of the puppeteers!

We had a rehearsal on Sunday, when we found out what we would be doing. We sat at the desk with the real analysts sitting behind us. We would then sync our puppets' movements to what their human counterparts were doing. 

We got to watch our movements on video monitors (as did the human analysts), and the human analysts wore headsets so they could hear each other. 

I got to handle the puppet version of Ted "Pyrion Flax" Forsyth, who has an extensive YouTube channel. He's also a fun, funny guy. 

The hardest part of the gig was not telling anyone what was happening between Sunday afternoon and the performance Tuesday morning. So. Hard. 

It was worth it, though. The reaction when the puppets appeared behind the desk was fantastic, and it apparently was very loud inside the arena itself when they showed up on the Jumbotron. 

It was so loud, in fact, that it was difficult to hear our human counterparts!

The reaction online was good, too. An article appeared in iDigitaltimes.com titled "'DOTA 2' International 2016 Has Puppets Analyze and Interview, What Is Happening?" while over at Twitter, someone tweeted "Puppet Dota is best Dota." 

I agree. 

The puppets will definitely be back on Saturday, August 13, for the final day of competition, and we may be back earlier. Keep watching for us!

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Jack and the Beanstalk

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Jack and the Beanstalk

WHAT: "Jack and the Beanstalk" performed by Thistle Theatre, a puppet theater for families.

WHERE/WHEN: BYT Ivanhoe Theatre, 16661 Northup Way, Bellevue, WA 98008, Saturday and Sunday, October 10 and 11, at 2 and 4 p.m.

Magnuson Park Theatre, 7110 62nd Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98115, Bldg. 47 , October 17 and 18, at 1 and 3 p.m.

Sunset Hill Community Club, 3003 NW 66th Street, Seattle WA 98117, in Ballard, October 24 and 25, at 1 and 3 p.m.

TICKET PRICE: $10.

TO BUY TICKETS: Visit thistletheatre.org,

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/ref/183572/event/2168135 (Bellevue Youth Theatre), or
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/ref/183572/event/2168460 (Magnuson Park), or
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/ref/183572/event/2168694 (Sunset Hill),
call 206-524-3388 or buy them at the door

Thistle Theatre opens our 2015-2016 season with "Jack and the Beanstalk" at various locations throughout the Seattle area.

The popular fairy tale is set in the English countryside with all the puppets dressed in traditional English costumes. Our version is based on Benjamin Tabart's 1807 The History of Jack and the Bean Stalk. 

When Jack sells the family cow for some magic beans, it leads to an adventure above the clouds with a Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum giant, a cyclops, a hen that lays golden eggs, and a magic harp.

In addition to the characters you remember, the story includes a green fairy, a butcher, and a merry fool.

I play Jack's mother, the green fairy, the giant's wife, the hen that lays golden eggs, and the magic harp.

All voices and songs are performed live by me and fellow puppeteers Ben Burris and Andre Nelson. We use  a variety of puppet styles including Japanese Bunraku-style puppets to tell and sing this take on the traditional tale.

There are also some rod puppets in this show. The cow is a hand puppet.

The script and songs were written by Jean Enticknap and Sue Ennis with incidental music by Michael Flint. Jean also directed this lively production.

This show is recommended for ages 3 and up.

Performances at BYT Ivanhoe Theatre are at 2 and 4 p.m. on October 10 and 11.  That address is 16661 Northup Way, Bellevue, WA 98008

Magnuson Park Theatre shows are on October 17 and 18 at 1 and 3 p.m. The theater is in Magnuson Park in building 47. The address is 7110 62nd Ave NE in Seattle.

The shows are at Sunset Hill Community Club in Ballard at 1 and 3 p.m. on October 24 and 25. The address is 3003 NW 66th Street.

Be sure not to miss this action-packed show full of laughs and fun!

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Thistle Theatre Open House

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Thistle Theatre Open House

WHAT: Thistle Theatre Open House.

WHERE/WHEN: Thistle Theatre Studio, 6310 NE 74th St (Hangar 30), Seattle, WA  98115, Saturday, October 25, 2-5 p.m. 

TICKET PRICE: Free!

TO BUY TICKETS: RSVP at info@thistletheatre.org with the subject line "Open House." Space in the studio is limited.

You (should) already know that Thistle Theatre is performing "Baba Yaga and the Bag of Gold" at Magnuson Park in Seattle, WA, this weekend.

In addition to the play, however, on Saturday, Thistle Theatre is having an open house so people can see our new studio space in Hangar 30.


Guests are invited to come over after the show (or before the 3 p.m. show) and see where we rehearse.

There will be refreshments and an opportunity to take pictures with the Wall of Puppets and the puppet mural.

Guests can also meet Mrs. Periwinkle and Possum, hosts of one of Thistle's delightful birthday puppet plays.

Children 12 and under will also be able to make a bat puppet.

The studio is 1 block northeast of Magnuson Park Theater, with the entrance under the blue Parks Department awning. 

If you are planning to join us, please RSVP by emailing info@thistletheatre.org with the subject line "Open House." We want you to join us, but space is limited.

See you on Saturday!

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Backstage at "Little Shop of Horrors"

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Backstage at "Little Shop of Horrors"

I had the pleasure of attending "Little Shop of Horrors" at ACT (A Contemporary Theatre), a co-production with the 5th Avenue Theatre.

The show was done with the usual level quality one expects from ACT and 5th Ave, full of great singing and acting, clever lighting and sets, and expert direction.

However, the treat for me was taking a backstage tour with Audrey II puppeteer Eric Esteb.

Eric showed me (and my mom, also a puppeteer) all four puppets used in the show. The final puppet was under a drape, but we did get to look at its back.

The third puppet, which is the one used in "Feed Me" was in full view, and I even go to feel it.

Eric graciously told us his favorite part of the show (eating people), and how that works.

He told us about the technical aspects of operating the two larger plants. I had thought he got to leave the stage when the plant is more "dormant," but that was not the case, and in fact, he's on stage for all of act II.

The puppets used for this production are based on the original puppets designed by Sesame Street performer Martin P. Robinson (who is probably best known for performing Telly Monster), though are made from lighter weight materials than were available in 1982.

Eric also revealed that the largest Audrey II puppet was too large to fit in the rehearsal space, so rehearsals with that puppet occurred in another room

He also would rehearse one-on-one with that puppet with Ekello J. Harrid, Jr., who voices the killer plant. The effort showed, as their lip synch was very good.

After looking at the puppets, Eric and Jason (a stagehand whose last name I sadly didn't get) graciously showed us the area under the stage.

There are several set pieces moved in through trap doors on hydraulic lifts, and Jason's job is to raise and lower them using a console that looks, as Eric put it, like the inside of the Tardis.

These lifts also facilitate a few entrances and several exits, and it was very neat to see.

I am grateful to both of them for letting us see the inner backstage workings of this terrific show.

When you go to the show, check out Eric's curtain call. Quite possibly the best curtain call I've ever seen.

When he isn't acting, singing, or puppeteering, Eric is an aerialist whose work can be seen at TheInnamorati.com.

"Little Shop" runs at ACT in the Falls Theater (700 Union St., Seattle), and tickets are $29 to $74 and can be purchased at 206-292-7676 or acttheatre.org.

The show runs until June 15, so there's still time to catch it.

Eric, Gina, and Jason backstage at ACT

Gina Wilhelm Actress

National Day of Puppetry

Gina Wilhelm Actress - National Day of Puppetry

Saturday, April 27, is the National Day of Puppetry for 2013.  The National Day of Puppetry falls on the fourth Saturday each April.

This is a good chance to watch a puppet show, read about famous American puppeteers, or make a puppet of your own. 

If you didn't get to a puppet show today, consider going to one on Sunday.

If you can't do that, I have put up a number of puppet videos at my Facebook fan page.

And please enjoy this video of Jim Henson, Don Sahlin, and Muppeteers making simple puppets. Make a puppet with them!

Happy National Day of Puppetry!

Gina Wilhelm Actress