Summer Intensive
About the program
Summer Intensive Puppetry Training
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July 6 - 19, 2025, with participant departure the morning of 20 July, 2025
Workshop Mission
Sandglass Theater believes that the puppet, as a theatrical medium, evokes the worlds of our dreams and memories, offering many metaphorical possibilities. We understand that puppet theater creation can begin in many places: through exploring a material, through play and relationship, or through dramaturgical research.
Applicants for the 2025 Summer Intensive training will select a focus track of Building, Performance or Directing. Participants will spend mornings as a whole ensemble developing common vocabulary through warm-ups, breath training and puppet animation/manipulation class. After lunch participants split into their tracks in puppet construction, puppetry performance or directing for puppet theater. In addition to daily classes, students will spend their evenings working on collaborative compositions in small ensembles, which will be presented at the end of the training.
Classes are scheduled five and a half days per week. Parallel lessons of morning training and focused afternoon tracks provide a strong foundation for participants to apply to their own work. Participants will have evening access to work spaces.
The objective of this training program is to:
- Inspire artists to understand and experience the strong potential of puppetry as a form of ensemble-based theater.
- Learn foundational techniques of giving life to inanimate objects in solo and collaborative processes.
- Enjoy being in a creative process with a group of peers to develop compositions that are specific to the medium of puppetry.
Sandglass teaches a method of puppet performance that has been developed over 30 years of workshops around the world. Morning training will be led by Ines Zeller Bass (Co-Founder), Eric Bass (Co-Founder), Shoshana Bass (Artistic Director), and Amanda Maddock (Sandglass Associate Artist). Applicants must select a first choice and second choice for the afternoon track. We will do our best to accommodate your first choice.
Location and housing and support
The Site
The Sandglass Summer Intensive will take place at Sandglass Theater in Putney, Vermont. Our intimate 60 seat theater is housed in a beautifully restored barn from the early part of the 20th century. Recently renovated to include a fully accessible lobby, with ramp for wheelchair access, the Sandglass facilities offer ample space to train, build, rehearse, and perform.
Summer is a wonderful time to be in Southern Vermont. Putney is a walkable small town that sits on the banks of the Connecticut river. Along with several places to eat affordably, there’s also a fantastic local co-op for groceries, an historic General Store and deli, plenty of hiking trails, and local swimming holes.
Housing
Housing is arranged by Sandglass Theater in beautiful Putney near the theater and workshop. Participants are housed together in double rooms and some breakfast items are available.
Meals
Weekday evening meals for all participants are provided by local cooks. The meal at the end of the day is an opportunity for conversation and connection that is an important part of the training. Special food needs are considered so that everyone is able to be a part of these meals.
Support
You may be eligible to receive financial support in the form of a grant or bursary from government agencies, foundations or other supporters in your own country. Please apply to them directly.
If you are a Vermont resident and are interested in the training to further support your professional life then you are eligible for the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation Vermont Non-Degree Grant. For further information go to vsac.org.
We are offering at least one US-based BIPOC scholarship which will be awarded on a first come first serve basis. Applicants who are interested in being considered for this scholarship will be able to indicate so in their application. The scholarship covers tuition, housing and evening weekday meals; the student is responsible for their travel, personal meals and all other expenses.
Costs, Application and Due dates
Course Fee: $1450
Housing: $500
Communal evening meals: $160 Monday – Friday (10 days)
Participants are responsible for all travel, other food and incidental costs.
Proof of vaccination may be required. We base our health and safety requirements on trusted sources and will update as needed.
The Sandglass Summer Intensive will take place at Sandglass Theater in Putney, Vermont. Our intimate 60-seat theater is housed in a beautifully restored barn from the early part of the 20th century. Sandglass is a fully accessible facility with space to train, build, rehearse, and perform.
Application and Tuition Due Dates
Applications open March 1, 2025. Final application is due in our office on Thursday, May 1st, 2025. (If sending via USPS, please allow at least 7 working days for the mail to arrive in our office on time). Applications accepted via email as well.
A $500 deposit holds your space in the Intensive and is due upon acceptance and no later than May 15. The balance of the Intensive fee plus additional housing and food costs (if applicable) are due before or upon arrival on July 6. Payment can be made by cash, check, or Paypal.
Should the Intensive be canceled for any reason, registered participants will receive a full refund less 10% to cover administrative costs for registration fee, housing and food that has been paid to Sandglass.
Sandglass follows state and federal guidelines for health and safety. We will update protocols with registrants closer to the start of the workshop.
When reviewing applications we consider your passion for learning, your courage, and the diversity of age and experience in the whole group. Your cover letter will be important for us to understand who you are and why you want to train with Sandglass.
