Electrified Puppet Show at Literacy Park

Puppet shows are an audience favorite in Newport and one of our favorite puppet companies is Dragon Theater Puppets from Portland. Jason Ropp and his cast of characters come to Literacy Park this Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. for You're Electric, an original show written especially for this summer's Fizz! Boom! Read! library program. All children and families are invited to attend this free program.

You're Electric brings the history, science, invention and safety of electricity to life using puppets and props designed and constructed by Jason. Show topics include the light bulb, how batteries work, how to stay safe around electricity, and how our own bodies use electrical responses. Featured characters are Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, Albert Einstein and more!

Jason is a very talented performer who writes the scripts, makes all of his puppets and performs all the roles. Something this librarian appreciates about him is the time he takes after his shows to talk with the children and show them how things work behind the scenes. If folks have young visitors in town, this is a great show to bring them to.

This is the last show in Literacy Park for this summer. Young readers still have until August 31 to finish their reading contracts and get their t-shirts, courtesy of Newport's Umpqua Bank.

Puppet Show in Literacy Park This Wednesday

Magic, music, dancing, laughter and stories have filled Literacy Park this summer. This week is the last show for our "One World, Many Stories" summer reading program and we're going to finish with puppets, just like we have for the past four years. Jason Ropp and his cast of characters from Dragon Theater Puppets will bring their show to Newport, Wednesday at 1:00.

This year’s show, "Rapunzel Redeems Rumpelstiltskin," is Dragon Theater Puppets original production written specifically for the library theme of “One World, Many Stories.”

Wednesday, August 3, Dragon Puppet Theater will be at Waldport Public Library (10 a.m.), Newport Public Library (1 p.m.), and Driftwood Public Library in Lincoln City (6:30 p.m.). On Thursday, August 4, they will be at Toledo Public Library (11 a.m.) and Siletz Public Library (1 p.m.).

The puppet shows are funded by Ready to Read grants from the Oregon State Library as well as support from Ross and Janis Neigebauer and Jeanette Hofer. Lodging is provided by La Quinta Inn and Suites of Newport and D’Sands Motel in Lincoln City.

Children attending the puppet show are urged to wear their yellow summer reading shirts for a photo session. I'll certainly be wearing mine!