Over time, puppetry has always been associated with childhood; from the Victorian booths set out to entertain with the immature humor of Punch and Judy, to the wisdom of Kermit the Frog, puppets have been a part of the culture of youth. Professionally, the act of puppeteering involves as much practice and dedication as any other dramatic art, but still remains relegated to the corner of the performing arts world. Puppeteers are a unique blend of artist and creator, bringing life to the inanimate and combining form with function. The University of Connecticut is one of three schools in the nation to offer a BFA degree in Puppetry; graduates go on to use their skills in Broadway plays, television shows, or the classroom. It seems that for now, at least, most puppeteers with a degree in their craft will be able to secure themselves jobs doing what they love. Why, though, does the art of puppetry still exist?
Puppetry in its simplest form has existed for thousands of years, used as a way of telling stories or in rituals and celebrations. The craft has evolved from the mere recreation of events to a culture all its own. Following the late Jim Henson's creation of the "Muppet" (a word he claims is a portmanteau of "marionette" and "puppet"), Henson started his first puppet-based show, Sam and Friends, in 1955. This show was succeeded by the unflinchingly popular Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock and other beloved television programs and feature films. With puppeteers bringing life to Henson's characters since the 1950s, generations of children have watched and loved these puppets. If nothing else, children connect with puppets (and Muppets) because in their eyes they are magical beings. They walk and talk like us, but there is an element of make-believe that exists in their shapes and sizes that can't be recreated by putting on a costume; it has to exist on its own, which is where puppetry comes in.
Were it not for children's television shows, the puppetry major may not exist today. Trends show that the need for professional puppeteers skyrockets in the Winter, when performances of holiday specials involving puppets begin their seasonal runs. But if not for the creation of Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, would puppetry exist only on the stage? Unlike dancing and acting, puppetry has just begun to truly permeate modern culture as a means of entertainment on its own. The hit Broadway show Avenue Q is one of the most well known examples of new culturally popular puppet show. Avenue Q features a cast of modern puppets, almost like adult versions of the Sesame Street characters many in the audience grew up watching. The show is certainly not for children, and has become one of the most popular Broadway productions.
So what is the value of puppetry? For the puppeteers, it could be a way for them to reconnect with and recreate a part of the magic of their childhoods. For the audience, it's the lure of that intrinsically childlike nature of the puppet. Henson's "Muppets," easily recognizable with their bulging eyes and wide mouths, and are a symbol of youth and imagination. Puppets can act in ways human beings cannot. They can fly, bend, twist and move in an entirely inhuman way, and can take whatever shape the artist can create; given the fact that our childhood puppet shows and movies remain popular today, the puppet industry appears to be going strong. Audiences react and relate to puppets in individual ways. It's easy to get swept up in a puppeteer's performance and forget that the character on stage is not actually a human being. Puppetry affords audiences an escape, and it allows its practitioners to bring the inanimate to life.
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