Calliope Puppets History
Artistic Director, Karen Konnerth has been building and
performing with puppets for over twenty five years.
Home of Calliope Puppets, six blocks from
the Mississippi River levee
Following an education from Tufts University and Rhode Island School of Design, and an initial career as a touring musician, her background in sculpture collided with study in classical mime. Puppetry was the natural result, when these were intermeshed with her life long love of traditional stories.
Performing solo, as well as with various skilled partners, sometimes including her family troupe, she has received recognition as a Louisiana State Roster Artist, as well as recipient of a State Division of the Arts Fellowship in Theater. CALLIOPE PUPPETS present over 200 shows a year, along with numerous workshops and residencies for children and adults on aspects of creative expression through puppetry, and also school curriculum based learning through this inspiring art form.
Snapshots
Mr. Grump, very early signature puppet, mid '70's
Aliens, from original story, mid '80's
Karen, with Adella Gautier and Washboard Leo,
for Mott's Storytelling Theater, 1990
Dinosaurs show, 1992
"Mississippi Journey" featuring Karen along with Judy Stock,
tours Louisiana, 1995
Family troupe, with Karen, Vic, Flora, and Kyle,
presents "Hare and Tortoise,"
tours Louisiana and Puerto Rico, 1996
Family troupe in El Grado, presents "El Circo Corriente,"
touring Spain, 1998
Celebration of the Ancestors community parade project,
in collaboration with Rfuaw Diarra and
In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre personnel,
New Orleans, LA, 2001
World Visual and Performing Arts Festival,
Lahore, Pakistan presented Calliope Puppets, 2004
Owlglass Puppetry Center, West Liberty, IA,
home of Eulenspiegel Puppets, host to Calliope Puppets, 2005
Traditional Costa Rican parade puppets,
from Artesanías Los Mantudos, seen on Costa Rica tour, 2006
Presenting "The Fisherman and His Wife,"
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Millenium Stage,
Washington, DC, September 16, 2006
