Fall 2025 Workshops
Announcing Fall 2025 Puppetry Workshops!
Take a live online workshop from anywhere in the world or join us at the Fine Arts Building! Whether you choose a 1-day intensive, or you prefer one to two nights a week over several weeks, these workshops offer a range of puppetry styles including Shadow, Toy Theater, Cardboard Sculpting and more with expert instruction to create within a fun, communal format. Live work sessions, group sharing and personal feedback combine to make these some of the most enjoyable and productive workshop opportunities available. See below to select your course and register!
Limited scholarships available upon request, BIPOC encouraged to apply. We will review applications on a rolling basis.
early bird + multi-workshop discount
Get 15% off with the Promo Code PUPPETLOVE if you:
1. Register for a workshop at least two weeks before it starts
—or—
2. Register for two or more workshops in one session
Note: Only one discount can be used per workshop.
for teachers
Are you a TEACHER interested in using these workshops as credits toward your Certificate Renewal? We'd love to help make that happen!
Reach out to us at taylor@chicagopuppetfest.org so we can discuss.
Find the Perfect workshop for you!
Multi-Session Online Workshops
150 Hand Puppet Techniques (Level 1)
with Chad Williams
October 6 – November 10, 2025
6 sessions
Monday, October 6
Monday, October 13
Monday, October 20
Monday, October 27
Monday, November 3
Monday, November 10
6 – 8pm CDT Live Online
Cost: $300
150 Hand Puppet Techniques is great for beginners or puppetry pros! Participants will create their own hand puppets and learn the best techniques and secrets from a hand puppetry expert. Each week we will build, play, learn, and perform! Puppeteer Chad Williams incorporates moves from Chinese Bu Dai Xi, European glove puppetry, and other traditions into his modern style.
Cardboard sculpting (Level 1)
with Tarish Pipkins
October 14 – 30, 2025
6 Sessions:
Tuesday, October 14
Thursday, October 16
Tuesday, October 21
Thursday, October 23
Tuesday, October 28
Thursday, October 30
7 – 9pm CDT Live Online
Cost: $300
In Cardboard Sculpting you will learn to sculpt and build a puppet out of cardboard with master puppeteer and builder Tarish “Jeghetto” Pipkins. Jeghetto’s unique style integrates functional puppet armatures and controls with a variety of found materials. Think outside the cardboard box by creating a rod puppet with it. Jeghetto will share his unique building techniques as well as manipulating your creation.
Toy Theater I (Level 1)
with Roberto Rossi
October 20 – 26, 2025
5 Sessions:
Monday, October 20
Tuesday, October 21
Thursday, October 23
Saturday, October 25
Sunday, October 26
7 – 9pm CDT Live Online
Cost: $250
Toy Theater 1 is an introduction to the form and the basic skills concluding with a showing. Make your first toy theater stage using recyclable materials. Learn conceptual and design approaches in building an original work. Build basic jointed 2D puppets and moveable set pieces and discover the unique theatrical language of the Toy Theater.
Shadow Puppetry I (Level 1)
with Chinese Theatre Works
November 3 – 17, 2025
5 Sessions:
Monday, November 3
Wednesday, November 5
Monday, November 10
Wednesday, November 12
Monday, November 17
7 – 9pm CDT Live Online
Cost: $250
Shadow Puppetry 1 is an introduction to the form for the beginning puppeteer. Students will create a desktop shadow theater, build and create basic shadow figures and environments and devise their own short pieces with music or text. An overview of world shadow puppetry traditions is included as well as an introduction to light sources and fabrication. The course makes use of basic materials including home recyclables.
Toy Theater II (Level 2): Developing your Toy Theater
with Roberto Rossi
November 10 – 23, 2025
5 Sessions:
Monday, November 10
Thursday, November 13
Monday, November 17
Thursday, November 20
Sunday, November 23
7 – 9pm CDT Live Online
Cost: $250
In Toy Theater II, participants will develop their designs using durable materials. We will start by building simple wooden Toy Theater stages that are collapsible and portable, then test different lighting technologies and gadgets for how they can create effects and moods and, of course, try new ways of mounting and articulating figures. We will also look closely at the dramaturgy of the miniature spectacle – at the interaction of image, sound and text – as we prepare projects for an informal (yet always exciting) showing on the last day.
Though the focus of the instruction will be on working with durable materials, the workshop is designed to be flexible, and participants will be welcome to work with whatever resources are available to them. Participants working with wood should anticipate an added materials cost of about $60.
Shadow Puppetry II: Mechanisms (Level 2)
with Linda Wingerter
December 3 – 13, 2025
5 Sessions:
Wednesday, December 3
Thursday, December 4
Wednesday, December 10
Thursday, December 11
Saturday, December 13
7 – 9pm CDT Live Online
Cost: $250
Shadow Puppetry 2 focuses on the introduction of different mechanism for shadow puppets beyond the basic jointed puppet. The realization of ideas in shadow puppet form stem from concepts and design.
Single-Session Online Workshops
Build a Moving-Mouth Rod Puppet (Level 1)
with Greg Ballora
October 26, 2025
1 session:
Sunday, October 26
3 – 6pm CDT Live Online
Cost: $85
Build a Moving-Mouth Rod Puppet with Greg Ballora, whose credits include Team America: World Police, Spiderman II, Gremlins 2, Crash and Bernstein, Crank Yankers, and Obi Wan. The simple, intuitive mech that Greg will teach is similar to the type used on Rizzo the Rat. Along with building this puppet “skeleton,” learn how it works, why it works, and how you may need to change it if you come up with your own designs in the future. You will be assembling a kit, but this workshop is designed to show you the principals and be able to create your own designs from fairly easy to find materials.
The price of the workshop includes a mailed kit of materials. Register by October 12 to better assure receipt of materials prior to workshop.
Printmaking and Toy Theater (Level 1)
with Roberto Rossi
December 7, 2025
1 session:
Sunday, December 7
2 – 5pm CDT Live Online
Cost: $60
The first Toy Theaters appeared as printed novelties – paper stages, scenery and figurines ready to be colored, cut up and assembled for performance in 19th Century homes. This one-day workshop will open a window onto the origins of the Toy Theater in print making and give participants a chance to rehearse basic relief printing techniques. We will create carved linoleum templates from which to make multiple stages and characters – much in the fashion of the first designers of Toy Theaters. The focus will be on conveying the skills needed for participants to start their own journeys in printmaking and performance.
Participants should anticipate an added expense for tools and materials of about $75.
Single-Session In-Person Workshop
MAKE IT! (All Levels)
with Vanessa Valliere and Lindsey Noel Whiting
November 9, 2025
1 session:
Sunday, November 9
10am – 6pm CDT In-Person
Location: Fine Arts Building, 410 S Michigan Ave, Studio 433
Cost: $200
Fresh from their 2025 Chicago Puppet Festival debut production of LOOK! LOOK!, Vanessa and Lindsey will combine forces to teach a full day workshop in the creation of puppetry/object work.
Guide to Levels
Level 1 – Introduction of a particular form, through its basic skills and elements. Ideal for all new to puppetry and those looking to refresh their foundational knowledge.
Level 2 – Offering applied foundational skills and techniques for a specific form. Ideal for those who have some experience working in the form.
Level 3 – Instruction of more advanced skills and techniques for emerging and experienced puppeteers.
Level 4 – Instruction supporting the use of puppetry to create or progress a short form work.
Level 5 – Ideal for artists who are expert in their respective artistic field. These offerings frequently have an application and selection process, are by invitation and are designed to take a work in development to the next level.