Odd Savvy

Fred C Riley III (Founder/Artistic Director)

Jon Ludwig, Ping Chong, Janie Geiser, Yeng Feng, Josef Krofta, Larry Reed … These are just a few of the iconic directors that  Fred worked with and learned from over many years in puppet theater. He has performed marionettes from 9 foot to 7 inches tall. He has performed rod, moving mouth, Czech black, tabletop, mask, and every combination thereof. He has performed shadow with press screen, overhead, and 30 foot wide cinematic. He has directed and written for the Center for Puppetry Arts and many others. He choreographed for Ping Chong and Company. He has taught movement and puppet theory. He voiced many puppets and has done  voice over work for many companies. He has recorded and done sound design. He is so grateful for all he has been able to do and accomplish.

This next chapter is about using all these skills toward something new and more personal. He wants to work from an emotional core. Wants to blend the styles and forms he has learned into a new landscape for the stage. Looking to find the essence of life force has been the root of all the work he has done for decades. Breathing through these figures to listen rather than to tell.

The Ground

In January Odd Savvy received a Workshop Grant from The Henson Foundation to further explore our current project ‘The Ground”. These are photos from our first explorations of the next phase of this work. We are introducing new elements of puppetry, mask and design. Everything was built in cardboard this time to be able to more quickly work out ideas. It also makes changes easier to incorporate. Marie-Claire Erdynast is back on tabletop puppetry. She is also assistant directing and dramaturgy. Her, Jessica Nguyen and Tracy Nguyen all helped with shadow design of this latest incarnation.

These pictures were taken at Paul Dresher Studio in Oakland California. The space was made available by the generosity and continued support of Paul Dresher for this project.

Our figure  awakens from slumber into a dream. We watch her take her first steps. As she learns to move her body, so do needs and emotions feel flexed. Can she come to balance in this world. Can her striving to make a better world through innovation stay in accord with the natural world? Will the creatures that befriend her fall victim to her improvements, or reap the rewards of her caring? Will this dream of a better life, this struggle forevermore, be a life well lived? We will explore this hour how we strive to overcome the natural world while often losing sight that we are part of it.

Mock ups for June 2023’s workshop of “The Ground” Photos: Jessica Nguyen

                           Tabletop Puppetry Introduction

Instructor 

Fred C Riley III: Fred has taught puppetry to adults at The Center for Puppetry Arts (Atlanta GA), lectured on puppetry at Stanford and trained professional puppeteers in the USA and abroad. He has directed, written and performed in countless performances over the last 30 years.

Course Description

This class will take students through the practice and practical application of Tabletop Puppetry. Over the 2 week course, students will learn to move the puppet alone and how to achieve more complicated movement cooperating with 2 to 3 puppeteers on a human figure. Students will learn conventions of the style and best practices in improving movement through the form. 

Learning Objectives

Students will be introduced to the basics of puppet movement, and how to apply those concepts to the Tabletop Puppet. We will explore and apply these concepts through classroom exercises and performances.

Students will:

•  apply the concepts of gravity, breath and focus

•  analyze movement to apply to puppet performance

•  practice the basics of a swing walk

•  learn the importance of finding and working within  the inherent rhythm built in to each puppet

•  explore the areas where puppetry moves beyond the confines of dance and acting, and where the forms intersect

Outcome

This course is meant to lay the groundwork for a greater exploration of Tabletop Puppetry. It is meant to introduce a new storytelling tool as well as help students see the world in a new way. Some will want to take more classes and delve deeper into this Tabletop world, and some will take what they learn to add something new to their current artistic endeavors. Both theater and film (through greenscreen) have embraced this form, so we are trying to give you the tools you need to explore too.

     

If you are in need of a puppeteer, or just want advice on a show you are currently working on, we would be happy to hear from you. Please send a short email with “Odd Savvy” in the subject and we will get back yo you shortly.

OddSavvy@gmail.com