In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre explained

In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre
City:Minneapolis, Minnesota
Country:United States
Type:Regional theater
Opened:1973

In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre (also known as Heart of the Beast or HOBT) is an American puppet company and nonprofit organization based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[1] The theatre serves audiences through puppetry performance and education. The company has written and performed scores of full-length puppet plays, performed throughout the United States, Canada, Korea, and Haiti and toured the Mississippi River from end to end. The theatre historically sponsored the annual May Day Parade and Ceremony that was seen by as many as 50,000 people each year.[2] [3]

History

HOBT began in 1973 as Powderhorn Puppet Theatre, named for Powderhorn Park in Minneapolis.[4] In 1975, the theatre organized their first May Day procession and event.[5] [6] About 50-60 people and a few puppets marched, raised a maypole in the park, and had some speeches. In the next years, the event grew and evolved into a way to celebrate community builders.

In 1979, the theatre changed its name[7] based on a suggestion by poet and theatre member Steven Lisner. In 1987, they moved into the rented Avalon Theatre, a former cinema originally built in 1909 as the Royal Theatre.[8] HOBT then purchased the Avalon Theatre in 1990 for the building and staging of productions.

In 1999, the Weisman Art Museum at the University of Minnesota exhibited Theatre of Wonder: Twenty-five Years In the Heart of the Beast, celebrating the works and productions by the theatre.

In 2017, the theatre received $275,000 from the will of Sarah Bowman, a performer and longtime supporter of the theatre. The funds were used in upgrading the theatre building.[9] In 2018, the organization was awarded a grant by The Jerome Foundation.[10] This ongoing effort also supports renovation of East Lake Street properties impacted by civil unrest during the George Floyd protests in Minneapolis–Saint Paul.[11]

In April 2023, HOBT launched a free puppet & mask lending library, which includes free programming, such as puppet story time and make and take crafts.[12] [13]

Productions

Over the years, productions have used various styles of puppet and mask performances, including bunraku and larger-than-life puppets. These include:[14]

May Day Parade and Tree of Life Ceremony

The annual parade hosted by In the Heart of the Beast Theatre drew large crowds and showcased large puppets and floats and entertainment by performers.[20] Each year's parade/festival had a theme, ranging from Spring and environmental topics to social topics like peace and racial justice.[21] The event also featured a festival in Powderhorn Park and a Tree of Life Ceremony involving more than 300 performers.

In 2019, HOBT announced the 2019 May Day would be the last May Day they would organize, and that they would be taking time off from producing May Day to reimagine ways this celebration could be more decentralized, inclusive, accessible, and sustainable.[22]

In March 2019, a short documentary entitled "Children of Spring" premiered. The documentary focuses on the children involved in the May Day parade and festival.[23] [24] The film premiere helped raise $15,000 for May Day.[25] In February 2023, the Board of HOBT decided to release May Day Celebrations to the community. Following that announcement, future May Day events or actions were independently produced by community groups, and not part of official HOBT programming.[26]

May Day Parade gallery

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre . Propel Nonprofits . July 15, 2018 . July 12, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180712134926/https://www.propelnonprofits.org/studies/heart-beast-puppet-mask-theatre/ . live .
  2. Web site: 44th MayDay Parade, Ceremony & Festival set by Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre . Asian American Press . April 13, 2018 . July 12, 2018 . July 12, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180712134445/http://aapress.com/community/44th-mayday-parade-ceremony-festival-set-by-heart-of-the-beast-puppet-and-mask-theatre/ . live .
  3. News: Family fun: In the Heart of the Beast May Day prep . Melissa Walker . April 5, 2018 . Star Tribune . July 16, 2018 . July 16, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180716155433/http://www.startribune.com/family-fun-in-the-heart-of-the-beast-may-day-prep/478889723/ . live .
  4. Web site: About Us . In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre . July 12, 2018 . July 12, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180712185532/https://hobt.org/about/ . live .
  5. Book: Theatre of Wonder: 25 Years in the Heart of the Beast . 1999 . Colleen J. . Sheehy . University of Minnesota Press . 978-0816634200 . registration .
  6. Web site: Marsh . Steve . Curtain Call: A Brief History of Theater in Minnesota - Here's how the drama we currently miss so terribly came to be such an essential part of our community. . Mpls. St. Paul Magazine . MSP Communications . October 13, 2020 . April 17, 2021 . April 17, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210417192545/https://mspmag.com/arts-and-culture/history-theater-mn/ . live .
  7. Web site: About Our Name . In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre . July 12, 2018 . July 12, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180712132330/https://hobt.org/about/our-name/ . live .
  8. Web site: Avalon Theater in Minneapolis, MN . Sean Ryan . Cinema Treasures . July 12, 2018 . July 12, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180712214536/http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/5331 . live .
  9. Web site: Late Heart of the Beast theater supporter/performer's gift will fund big things . Chris Hewitt . Pioneer Press . August 7, 2017 . July 12, 2018 . July 12, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180712214449/https://www.twincities.com/2017/08/07/late-heart-of-the-beast-theater-supporterperformers-gift-will-fund-big-things/ . live .
  10. Web site: NEWS: Jerome Foundation Announces Inaugural Organization Grant Recipients . Basil Considine . June 15, 2018 . Twin Cities Arts Reader . July 15, 2018 . July 15, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180715230337/https://twincitiesarts.com/2018/06/15/news-jerome-foundation-announces-inaugural-organization-grant-recipients/ . live .
  11. Web site: In the Heart of the Beast will reopen in Minneapolis — with Minnesota's first puppet library . Jenna Ross . April 6, 2023 . Star Tribune . June 23, 2023 . June 23, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230623101012/https://www.startribune.com/puppet-library-part-of-plan-to-revive-reopen-minneapolis-avalon-theatre-on-lake-street/600264983/ . live .
  12. News: 'Puppets want to move': Heart of the Beast theater opens puppet library . Tom . Crann . Megan . Burks . mprnews.org . April 29, 2023 . May 1, 2023 . May 1, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230501141029/https://www.mprnews.org/story/2023/04/29/puppets-want-to-move-heart-of-the-beast-theater-opens-puppet-library . live .
  13. Web site: Twin Cities' Puppet and Mask Lending Library . Katie . Heruth . Minnesota Parent . 2023-05-01 . 2023-05-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230501141221/https://www.minnesotaparent.com/twin-cities-puppet-and-mask-lending-library/ . live .
  14. Web site: Main Stage Productions . In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre . July 15, 2018 . July 15, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180715223637/https://hobt.org/performances/ . live .
  15. News: In ‘The Impact Theory of Mass Extinction,’ Junauda Petrus-Nasah explores a Black penchant for dinosaurs . Sheila Regan . MinnPost . June 14, 2022 . April 23, 2024 .
  16. Flying Sorcery – A Stirringly Mythical 'The Minotaur or: Amelia Earhart is Alive and Traveling in the Underworld' . John Townsend . June 19, 2018 . . July 15, 2018.
  17. News: Heart of the Beast puppet theater invites you to Mr. Rogers' neighborhood . Chris Hewitt . Star Tribune . February 2, 2018 . July 15, 2018 . July 16, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180716024952/http://www.startribune.com/heart-of-the-beast-puppet-theater-invites-you-to-mr-rogers-neighborhood/472182683/ . live .
  18. Web site: At Heart of the Beast, a children's book grows up . Euan Kerr . February 17, 2016 . . July 15, 2018 . July 16, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180716025059/https://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/02/17/heart-beast-theatre-crow-boy-minneapolis . live .
  19. Web site: Queen . In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre . 2016 . June 29, 2020 . live . August 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810073329/https://hobt.org/events/queen/ .
  20. News: In the Heart of the Beast Theatre's MayDay Parade . . Xavier Wang . May 9, 2017 . July 12, 2018 . July 12, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180712183057/http://www.startribune.com/in-the-heart-of-the-beast-theatre-s-mayday-parade/421561533/ . live .
  21. Web site: The Themes of the 41 Years of MayDay! . Sandy Spieler . July 15, 2018 . July 15, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180715212638/https://sandyspieler.com/years-of-mayday/ . live .
  22. News: In the Heart of the Beast to host its final MayDay Parade this spring . Sheila Regan . January 9, 2019 . . January 15, 2019 . January 16, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190116050225/http://www.citypages.com/arts/in-the-heart-of-the-beast-to-host-its-final-mayday-parade-this-spring/504104041 . live .
  23. News: New movie shines light on MayDay Parade as it struggles to stay afloat . . Jenna Ross . March 28, 2019 . March 31, 2019 . March 31, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190331204455/http://www.startribune.com/new-movie-shines-light-on-mayday-parade-as-it-struggles-to-stay-afloat/507775852/ . live .
  24. Web site: The Joy of MayDay . hobt.org . March 31, 2019 . March 31, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190331151905/https://hobt.org/events/the-joy-of-mayday/ . live .
  25. Web site: We love MayDay. We are so touched by how... . MindTwist Studio . Facebook . March 30, 2019 . "We love MayDay. We are so touched by how many people chose to come and watch our film ‘Children of Spring’ last night, and even more by all the heartfelt feedback wereceived after the screening. A big shout out to The Changeups for the music; and Liz Howls and Steve Ackerman for the wonderful whimsical Puppet Shows that closed the evening off. We are so glad that our film was able to help raise $15,000 for MayDay Parade and Festival last night." . March 31, 2019 . March 31, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190331152400/https://www.facebook.com/MindTwistOfficial/photos/a.308120532559105/2099265770111230/ . live .
  26. Web site: MayDay Released . In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre . 19 April 2024 . 2023.

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