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Open Hand Theater and the International Mask and Puppet Museum in Syracuse, New York, is uniquely poised to become one of the outstanding puppetry centers in the US. It is gaining recognitions as and resource center and has been winning awards since 1994. It provides leadership in the arts and takes active part in community development by providing outreach programs, which bring the arts and community together. It shows its passionate commitment to the educational values of the performing arts. The relevance lies with the goals of Open Hand Theater, enriching, engaging and entertaining local and regional audiences. The long history of providing programs and performances that celebrate our human story has made a deep impact. Children learn about cultures from around the world, participate and develop their creative voice and thinking, and explore contemporary issues that impact all of our lives.
Mission & History
A museum and performance center celebrating the human experience through mask and puppet traditions from around the world.
Open Hand Theater, a not for profit corporation, was founded in 1980 as an experimental Masks and Puppets theater. Open Hand Theater is a professional repertory theater that produces original productions for adults, and works with schools providing performances, workshops, and artist in residency programs for children. Uniquely the theater has worked with such diverse groups as the Onondaga Nation Indian School, collaborated with Skomorokh theater of Siberia - touring Russia three times, and created an original giant puppet production of the Magic Flute with Syracuse Opera and Symphony.
In 1999 the theater opened the International Mask and Puppet Museum. The Museum, housed in a miniature castle built in 1890 is a unique center for performance and the puppetry arts.
The Theater is supported 1/3 by foundations and Grants, 1/3 by ticket sales, performances, and workshops, & 1/3 by generous donations and support by our members and the general public.
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~ PROGRAMS ~
The Theater's Youth Programs include:
* Touring Performances
* A World of Puppets ~ Saturday morning family series at the museum
* Youth Puppetry Playwriting Project ~ for students in grades 3-8
* Hand in Hand Theater ~ theater training for kids ages 10-16
* Puppet Circus Camp ~ held each July, in two week sessions
* North Side Youth Theater Project
* Van Duyn Elementary School Artist in Residency Program
Adult Programs include:
* Well Aged Words - Performances by some of America's award-winning storytelling
* Main Stage - theatrical adaptations of classic literature featuring Open Hand Collaborations and Original Productions
* The Art of Community & The Art of Crossing Borders; two puppetry courses offered at Syracuse University
* Internships: recent students have come from Wells, Bennington, and Smith Colleges
The International Mask and Puppet Museum
Collections & Exhibitions
The Touring International Mask and Puppet Museum artist in residency program
Cultural & Educational Resources for Teachers
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The Open Hand Theater, Inc
518 Prospect Avenue,
Syracuse, New York 13208
Tel: 315-476-0466
FAX: 315-472-2578
Email: Info@openhandtheater.org
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