Age has the advantage of wisdom and skill…and youth has the advantage of energy and excitement. Bring them together, and wonderful things happen. Once they get past the generation gap, they complement each other.

In our intergenerational puppet programs, seniors used their wide experience to help the elementary students learn elementary theater skills—sewing costumes, building shadow puppets, cutting shapes, drawing, designing sets. The students, without knowing it, gave the seniors a sense of excitement, purpose, and a reason to look forward to a new day. For example, in the picture at the upper right Frank McHugh (in the wheelchair), who was seriously wounded in World War II, was the first in his group to volunteer as a puppeteer. He said that the puppet workshop with the kids was the most exciting thing he did. He never missed a day during the Intergenerational program. Without realizing it, the students learned from the seniors and shared their experience, and gave them back the gift of friendship. And they all did a great puppet show!

PuppeTree Home | Programs | Performances | Puppets | About Us | Artist in Residence |Creative Dramatics |
Integrated Arts | Intergenerational Programs| Teacher Training | Workshops | Theatre Crafts

The PuppeTree c/o Ann Legunn •P.O. Box 130 Post Mills, VT 05058
(802) 785-3031• email