Beginning September 22 and running through November 14, the Grand Marais Playhouse will host an after-school program that focuses on the art of stage puppetry. Participants, aged 8 and up, will learn about a wide variety of puppet styles, including:

• Hand puppets

• Rod puppets

• Shadow puppets

• Finger puppets

• Ventriloquist puppets

• Marionettes

• Found object puppets

Students will not only learn about these different styles but also have the opportunity to create their own puppets and write original stories. A key part of the after-school program, according to the Grand Marais Playhouse, will be the construction and painting of a puppet stage. This stage will be used in the December production of The Witch’s Princess."

In late October and November, the puppetry group will create the puppet scenes for the play, specifically the witches' battle scenes at the beginning and end of the show, as well as the traveling scenes narrated by the narrator character. According to the Grand Marais Playhouse website, there are no lines to learn for these scenes, and while participation as a puppeteer in the performances is encouraged, it is not required.

The program runs Monday through Friday from 3:30 to 5 PM, and daily attendance is not mandatory. The suggested cost is $200, with a "pay what you can" policy. To register, visit the Grand Marais Playhouse website.

Auditions for The Witch's Princess

Auditions for the full-scale production of The Witch's Princess will be held on September 18 at 5 p.m. at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts. The play is open to a wide age range, from 8 years old to adults. 

According to the Grand Marais Playhouse website, in The Witch's Princess, a kingdom is cursed after the queen's death. To break the curse, the king promises his daughter's hand in marriage to any knight who can defeat the evil bog witch. Princess Alessandra, determined to avoid this marriage, secretly goes on a quest to kill the witch herself. She assembles a team of monsters for the journey, but soon discovers that nothing is as it appears—neither the monsters, the witch, nor the curse itself. 

Those auditioning are asked to bring their conflict schedules.

Rehearsals are scheduled from Sunday through Thursday, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.,  but attendance requirements will vary based on the specific role. The show will feature larger-than-life characters like the Monsters and the Bog Witch.

Beyond acting roles, the Grand Marais Playhouse is also seeking creative individuals to help with the production. They are calling for puppet makers, cosplay crafters, costumers, painters, and other creators to attend the auditions to learn about the plans and sign up to help bring the show to life.

For more information on The Witch's Princess, please visit the Grand Marais Playhouse website.