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Community Corner

Internationally Renowned Puppeteer Uwe Spillman Set to Perform in Morristown and Holmdel during National US Tour February 1, 2014

The non-profit German School of Morris County  (www.glsmc.org)
and German School of Monmouth County 
(http://www.germanschoolmc.org) will co-host the only New Jersey
performances of international, award-winning puppeteer Uwe Spillmann, who will
bring his original fairy tales from his native town of Eberholzen, Germany to
New Jersey, during his national US tour. 



Performances are scheduled for Saturday, February 1 at 10:00
am and 11:00 am in Morristown at Morristown Beard School, 70 Whippany Road
Morristown, and  at 4:00 pm at The German
School of Monmouth County, 112 Middletown Road, Holmdel, NJ.  All performances, which are presented for
English and German speakers, are free and open to the public.  Donations would be appreciated.



“Uwe’s visit in 2011 was a hit with all our students and
we’re thrilled we can bring him to two locations in New Jersey this winter,
says Principal Michaela Greco. “Our schools not only teach a language but bring
cultural events for the community to enjoy.”

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Traditional Characters Tell
Modern Tales



Mr. Spillmann, known as “Der Kiepenkasper” writes original
fairy tales and creates his own puppets including the traditional fun-loving
Kasperle, funny pirate and bad witch that delight and enchant children. In
Spillman’s theater, the children participate by waking up the puppets from
their wicker basket (Kiepenkaste) to start the show. Mr. Spillman sounds the
start of the story with his small wooden clarinet.  In the story of the Three Feathers, Kasper
needs the children to help him “undo” the magic tricks he learned from a
witch.  In his Trip to Pirate Island, he
outwits a silly pirate who steals his gong. Spillman notes that in his experience
all children, even those without any German knowledge, understand the plays and
participate as the stories unfold.

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According to childhood development experts puppets helps
children express themselves, work out their fears and worries and deal with
difficult situations through the carefree world of make-believe and
role-playing skits.  Each performance
ends with a meet and greet with Mr. Spillman and his friends.



Puppetry a Theater Tradition
Since Medieval Times



Long before the characters from the Muppets, there were
puppets that performed slapstick comedy. 
Kasper - from ancient Persian - means “keeper of the treasure,” dates to
the beginning of Christianity and is believed to have been named after Casper,
one of the three Magi who visited the Christ Child.  The character also appeared in early mystery
plays of the medieval Church.



Kasperltheater emerged in the 1700s and soon became
synonymous with puppet theaters throughout southern Germany and Austria that
featured Kasper, his friends Gretel and Seppel, and a varied cast of characters
that usually include grandma, king, princess, witch, devil, robber, policeman,
wizard and crocodile.    A more
child-like version of Kasper appeared in Munich in 1858 to tell stories of good
and evil and to beat the evil devil, witch and crocodile.



Contact info@germanschoolmc.org for more
information about the performances.  

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