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08/14/2023 11:42 AMA unique collaboration between Stony Creek Museum and Branford Parks and Recreation created a highlight for this year’s summer campers and culminated in a boisterous, environmentally-conscious puppet performance for campers.
In connection with the museum’s Macri-Weil Sicilian Puppetry special exhibit, the summer collaboration first sent campers to the museum, then followed up with a live performance for all campers at the Branford Community House featuring Sova Dance and Puppet Theatre. The performance was sponsored with assistance given to the museum by the Branford Community Foundation.
“The Stony Creek Museum is a hidden gem in Stony Creek,” said Dale Izzo, assistant director for Branford Parks and Recreation. “They reached out to us to have every camper visit the museum, and then they came to visit us with this fascinating puppet show for the campers to enjoy.”
Stony Creek Museum board member Mary Lee Webber said the outreach was a creative opportunity to share the museum’s historic puppetry exhibit and bring modern puppetry out into the community.
With assistance from the Branford Community Foundation, the museum hosted the puppet show for campers on July 27, as well as a puppet show at the museum celebrating the launch of the Macri-Weil exhibit in June and another upcoming puppet show that’s set to take place at the museum on Stony Creek Day in September.
This summer’s collaboration with Parks and Recreation was exceptional, said Webber.
“What was really amazing is that all of these kids came to the Stony Creek Museum, and they got to see the Macri-Weil puppet exhibit of the Sicilian puppets, which are over 100 years old and once were in the former Stony Creek Puppet House, which is now the Legacy Theatre,” said Webber, adding, “We also have a wonderful connection with the Legacy Theatre. [Managing director] Jeff Provost came to the Community House to see the puppet show.”
The museum’s Macri-Weil puppet exhibit launched June 15 for the season. Located at 84 Thimble Island Road, non-profit Stony Creek Museum is open Friday through Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. and by appointment. More information is available at stonycreekmuseum.org
Connecticut-based Sova Dance and Puppet Theatre’s engaging live performance took campers through “Marvelous Metamorphoses” with puppetry backed by live music and original songs, such as “Froggy Song.” As noted at sovatheatre.com, the group aims to celebrate “humanity and the environment” by entertaining and educating audiences with a combination of elements including moving body, puppetry, mask, video, dance, and artistic installations.
“This show really culminates a whole month of fun in July for the campers,” Webber said.