“The kids got to know that Shakespeare can be very funny.”
– Veronika Kirschnerova, 5th grade teacher
What We Do:
A ShakesBEARS experience begins with an interactive Shakespeare-inspired marionette show followed by a puppet making craft.
The shows are designed to appeal to children and adults of all ages, but they work especially well for children ages 3-9. Mixed age groups are no problem! Even very small children are engaged by these bright and expressive handmade puppets.
The shows are short, sweet, and funny. Young audiences are drawn toward the storytelling and physical comedy of the puppets. Older children and adults will enjoy the zany retelling of a Shakespearean story told through modern language sprinkled with Shakespeare’s original text.
All children will leave with their very own puppet creation!
The Creation of ShakesBEARS:
The ShakesBEARS were created by puppeteer/puppet builder Christina Rodriguez.
As a self-professed Shakespeare nerd, Christina sought to create a children’s program to help change the concept that Shakespeare is confusing and inaccessible. She meticulously edits and interprets Shakespeare’s best loved comedies to appeal to children and parents of all ages.
Christina designed, carved, and painted the toy theater and marionettes that she performs with at a workshop called Puppets in Prague. Creating ShakesBEARS has truly been an ongoing labor of love.
It is Christina’s goal to introduce local children to Shakespeare’s stories in a funny, engaging, and interactive way that opens the door to a lifelong love of learning.
The Creator of ShakesBEARS:
Christina Rodriguez is an NYC-based actor and puppeteer. She builds and performs with shadow puppets, hand and rod puppets, tabletop puppets, and marionettes. Her original puppet works have been featured at La MaMa, Standard Toykraft, Puppet Playlist, and classrooms in NYC and the Czech Republic. She toured nationally with “John Tartaglia’s ImaginOcean” and with puppet improv troupe, Team Lopez. Recent credits include: “Point Pleasant: The Legend of the Mothman,” presented by The Unitards and “Manufacturing Micshief” at The Tank NYC.
Christina also builds and sells her puppet creations. Click here to visit her Etsy store.
ShakesBEARS 