MellyPop! Productions

MellyPop! offers several different services--1. Puppet Performances; 2. Workshops; and 3. Artist-In-Residencies:

1. Puppet performances: (Most puppet performances engage the audience with fun audience participation!)
A. Full-length (45-60 minutes)--Needs a 20' X 20' X 8' Space (Show includes music, average 5-7 puppets)
B. Mid-length ( 25-35 minutes)--Needs a 20' X 20' X 8' Space (Show includes music, average 5-7 puppets)
C. Shorter Performance (15-20 minutes)--These are shorter fairy tale shows with a simpler set perfect for a smaller party or library who would like to pair a smaller performance with a puppet-building workshop. (These smaller puppet stories average 2-4 puppets).

****Puppeteer will bring all materials needed for the performance--sound system, puppets, props, set, etc. Items needed from the venue: a smallish table to use behind the set; water for the performer; one hour before and after the performance for setup and teardown; private place for puppeteer to change clothes before and after performance**********************

2. Workshops--
A. Theatre and Storytelling Workshops--
This workshop teaches your students the basics of theatre and engages students with: a brief history, theatre vocabulary and best of all, interactive learning!
Length: 45-50 minutes
Recommended Age: Most enjoyed by students 6-12 years old (Ask about our Junior High and High School Theatre workshop!)
Recommended Number of Students: Up to 60 students
Cost: Varies Depending on number of workshops booked and travel

B. Puppetry Workshop--
During this workshop your students will learn all about the magic of this ancient art through storytelling, puppet demonstrations and hands-on learning!
Length: 45-50 minutes
Recommended Age: Most enjoyed by students 5-10 years old
Recommended Number of Students: Up to 60 students
Cost: Varies depending on number of workshops booked and travel

C. Puppet Building Workshop--
Each student builds their own puppet masterpiece! (Depending on type of puppet built, it is recommended to have 2-3 volunteers to help with this workshop.)
Length: 50-60 minutes [depending on type of puppet built]
Recommended Age: Most enjoyed by ages 3-10 years old (Puppet workshops for older grades also available, and need 2-3 sessions)
Recommended Number of Students: Up to 30 students (or one classroom)
Cost: Varies depending on number of workshops booked, type of puppet built and travel
************Discounts offered for multiple bookings!************

3. Artist-In-Residencies--
Imagine the most exciting week of the school year when all of your students get to become artists! Everyone benefits from MellyPop's engaging Artist-In-Residencies!

A. Fine Arts Residency--Your residency artist incorporates theatre, puppetry and storytelling to teach this interactive residency! The residency artist sees each class once or twice, depending on time constraints. We encourage each student to use their imagination by writing their own stories, creating characters and learning to be creative through storytelling and the fine arts. The week can begin with a "kick-off" assembly and culminate with a final assembly giving the students a chance to show what they have learned!

B. Puppet Building Residency--Each student will create their own puppet masterpiece during this hands-on residency! If time allows, a fun puppet parade can be scheduled for the end of the week!

*****Each residency includes up to 5 workshops per day and the number of days scheduled will depend on the size of your school.
*****Suggested grades: K-5
*****Cost of Residency: Varies depending on number of workshops throughout the residency week + travel expenses. Discounts offered for block bookings!

MellyPop! brings fun and engaging puppet performances and workshops to libraries, schools, pre-schools, community centers and theaters. We are a family-based company dedicated to providing high quality and original entertainment to kids and families in the Midwest and beyond!

Mel Hatch Douglas, MellyPop's artistic director and residency artist, honed her craft at Madcap Puppets of Cincinnati where she studied Puppetry with Master Puppeteer, Jerry Handorf. Mel has performed in more than a thousand puppet shows and taught hundreds of residencies and workshops over the years. She has worked with marionettes, full-body, shadow puppets, rod puppets, giant puppets and all types of hand puppets.

Mel is a seasoned performer and-- in addition to traveling to numerous schools, libraries and camps---she has enjoyed working with: The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati; The Cincinnati and Toledo Zoos; TheatreWorks; The Lincoln Children's Museum; The Know Theatre; Pones Dance Troupe; and several Symphony Orchestras in North America.

Mel's Motto: Art is for everyone and everyone should have the opportunity to create and experience it!

MellyPop! provides its own sets, sound and props (if in a theater we can also connect to your sound if you would like). For our full and mid length performances we will need a 20' X 20' X 8' space. We ask that the venue provides:
--a small table
--a private space for the performer to change before and after the performance
--water for the performer
--at least one hour in the performance/workshop space prior to and after the performance/workshop to set up and tear down materials
--electrical outlet ( and extension cord) for performances and workshops ( electrical cord adapter for older buildings)
--for puppet building workshops we will need tables and chairs for the participants and one/two tables and chairs for glue stations. We also ask for 2-4 volunteers to help with kid wrangling/gluing/etc.