The Ballard Institute Presents THE FAIRY TAILOR By Sarah Nolen

Sarah Nolen will perform The Fairy Tailor at the Ballard Institute Theater. Photo courtesy of Puppet Showplace Theater.]
As part of its 2018 Fall Puppet Performance Series, the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry at the University of Connecticut is pleased to present The Fairy Tailor by Puppet Showplace Theater's Resident Artist and UConn Puppet Arts Program alumna Sarah Nolen on Nov. 10, 2018 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Ballard Institute Theater, located at 1 Royce Circle in Downtown Storrs.

Meet the Fairy Tailor, hard at work in her enchanted shop, where dressing racks and laundry baskets are known to have minds of their own. Watch as she transforms everyday garments into extraordinary characters, and shares stories of bravery, from Little Red Riding Hood(ie), to The Emperor's New Clothes. With the audience's help, the Fairy Tailor summons the courage to take a stand against a giant, crafting a solution that combines cleverness with creativity. This colorful, interactive production is guaranteed to inspire audiences of all ages. This show is 50 minutes long and is recommended for ages 4+.

Sarah Nolen is a puppeteer and filmmaker originally from Austin, Texas. As Puppet Showplace Theater's resident artist, she performs regularly for youth and family audiences and teaches puppetry in camps, workshops, residencies, and evening adult classes. Sarah earned her BFA in film from Southern Methodist University, and an MFA in Puppet Arts from the University of Connecticut. Known nationally for her versatile, witty, and innovative work across multiple puppetry styles, she has appeared in the National Puppet Slam, at the Puppets in Paradise Festival, and the Out of Bounds Comedy Festival. Sarah has toured internationally as part of the ensemble for Reverse Cascade, and has performed as principal puppeteer for the immersive multi-media show Pip's Island in NYC. In Boston, she has worked closely with the Boston Pops Orchestra, performing as a puppeteer/narrator in A Visit From St. Nicholas, and again as a designer/builder of the Arthur Fiedler puppet for Puppets Take the Pops. In addition to her work in puppetry, Sarah is an experienced filmmaker with credits that range from reality shows and commercial television to Indie features and web ads. In 2015, she received the Mister Rogers Memorial Scholarship in support of her television pilot Treeples, a show geared towards empowering girls, which screened at film festivals across the United States.

Upcoming Fall Puppet Performance Series shows include:

Dec. 1: The Gingerbread Man by WonderSpark Puppets
"Run, run, as fast as you can-you can't catch me I'm the Gingerbread Man!" The Gingerbread Man is the classic story of a little running cookie-with a Christmas twist. Watch as the Gingerbread Man outwits and outruns various hungry animals-and figures out what he really wants for Christmas. This hand puppet show is performed in a traditional puppet booth. Recommended for ages 3+.

Ticket Prices: Adults: $12; Members/Seniors: $10; Students: $8; Kids: $6 (12 years and under).

Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry, by calling 860-486-8580, or online at bimp.ticketleap.com. A surcharge will be added to any purchases made online. Tickets may also be purchased at the Ballard Institute on the day of performance starting at 10 a.m. There will be open seating and no reservations. Visitors can park in the Storrs Center Garage located at 33 Royce Circle. Parking is free for the first two hours and $1 per hour thereafter, with a daily maximum charge of $8. For more information about these performances or if you require an accommodation to attend this event, please contact Ballard Institute staff at 860-486-8580 or bimp@uconn.edu.

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