OOMPAH Course Features
Renowned Puppeteer
As registration continues for the OOMPAH summer arts program in the Huntington School District, students and their parents are considering from among the time-honored courses that have proved popular through the years and several new classes that are provoking excitement.
One of the new courses is "Puppetry: On TV and on Stage!" The class is open to students entering grades 4-9. Participants "will work with world renowned puppeteer Noel MacNeal and learn the ins-and-outs of puppeteering," according to a course description.
The course will be offered during each of the four daily 50-minute periods of the summer program, which runs from June 27 through July 22.
"We are thrilled to welcome Mr. MacNeal to the OOMPAH staff this summer," said Joan R. Fretz, district director of fine and performing arts. He is best known as the Bear on Disney's "Bear in the Big Blue House" children's show.
Mr. MacNeal is also a senior puppeteer trainer for the "Muppets" and "Sesame Street" and worked closely with Jim Henson. The author of a new book, "10-Minute Puppets," Mr. MacNeal will provide students with an opportunity to learn how to make small hand and giant performance puppets, work in small "casts" to develop their own songs and choreography to be performed on camera and live on the final day of the camp, and learn all about professional puppeteering from one of the world's most skilled performers.
Visit http://www.noelmacneal.com/about.shtml to learn more about Mr. MacNeal, who has taught puppeteers across the world. The puppetry courses four OOMPAH sections are expected to fill-up quickly so parents are encouraged to register their child as soon as possible.
There is a $95 fee for each summer course, which is identical to last year's and includes all supplies and an OOMPAH (Organization of Music Parents of Huntington) t-shirt. A $45 registration fee will also be assessed to cover course materials. There is a family discount of $50 for each additional child registering for four classes.
Detailed course descriptions and registration information is available on the Huntington School District's website at www.hufsd.edu; Click on the Arts tab and then on the link for summer programs.