Where Creativity Inspires and Entertains

Artistic Director for Puppet Arts Theatre, Peter Zapletal, graduated with a Master's Degree in Puppetry from the Academy of the Performing Arts in Prague. In 1970 he appeared at the National Festival of PofA and soon afterwards he moved to Jackson, Mississippi, where he joined the local PBS station as a puppeteer in residence. During the next 32 years he created many instructional and special programs with and without puppets. His instructional programs were seen in classrooms across the United States and special programs, from “Beauty and the Beast,” “Steadfast Tin Soldier” with Burl Ives, to “Bolero” (a ballet special) were broadcast by PBS. As a member of the Mississippi Arts Commission Touring Arts Roster, he also produced many shows that Puppet Arts Theatre tours throughout the Mississippi and Southeast offering magical and exciting theatrical experiences.

Repertoire

SAHARA ZOO - An exciting collection of folk tales from the African continent.

THE FISHERMAN AND HIS WIFE - The theme of greed and uncontrolled wishing for the impossible appears in many stories and fairy tales across the world.

THE TOAD PRINCE - Chinese version of other well-known stories, "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Frog Prince."

PETER AND THE WOLF - The world's most popular musical tale is magically brought to life with the quality of a big screen animated cartoon.

MUFARO’S BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS - Based on John Steptoe's Caldecott Award winning Cinderella tale is a celebration of goodness, generosity and love.

PINOCCHIO - An enduring children’s fable focusing on the moral lesson of the consequences of our actions.

PUPPETRY FOR CLASSROOM - Professional Development Workshop teachers will be introduced to a variety of puppets they can make for use in their classroom activities by themselves and also learn to make simple puppets their students can create under their supervision.

SHADOW PUPPETS - AESOP'S FABLES - This workshop introduces the students from 4th grade and up to shadow puppetry using an overhead projector.

Grades

Performances
Pre-K - 6th grade
Workshops
4th through 8th grade

Availability

Performances

Workshops from two-hour CEU to three - four day residency working with students

Suggested three-month lead from the dates of the event

Education

• Master’s Degree in Puppetry from the Academy of the Performing Arts in Prague
• Kennedy Center’s Seminar, Artists as Educators: “Planning Effective Workshops for Teachers”
• Mississippi Arts Commission Teaching Artist

Contact

Peter Zapletal Artistic Director

PUPPET ARTS THEATRE

1927 Springridge Drive Jackson, MS 39211

peter@mspuppetry.com

601 956 3414

www.mspuppetry.com/PuppetArtsTheatre/PATHome.htm