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Submit a Letter of Endorsement...
Letters of Endorsement from Sponsors
It is my pleasure to recommend the Hudson Vagabond Puppets: Ferdinand the Bull which was presented at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in January, 2005 as a part of our school bus-in and family series.
The performance ignited the imaginations of our student and family audiences as they enjoyed the larger-than-life puppetry and maskwork. Our audiences were thrilled with the company's "re-imagining" of this classic story complete with original songs and dances.
I would be happy to answer any questions about these performances here at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.
Sincerely,
-Jason Holland, Manager, Education Programs, Orange County Performing Arts Center
What a great week we had with you all! The school shows brought in 2,700 children, parents, and teachers, and the weekend brought the total attendees to your shows to over 3,800. Both Oniroku and Momotaro were so beautifully crafted and presented, and there were many compliments from audience members. I loved the storks, and am glad you told me how they came about, and the peach with Momotaro inside was just great. And, the kids all loved the ogre. The entire production was first rate and carefully put together.
-Priscilla Johnson, Performing Arts Coordinator, Longwood Gardens
I want to thank you for the magnificent performances of “Peter an the Wolf” that the Hudson Vagabond Puppets did with the Westchester Conservatory Symphony Orchestra. Perhaps the concert at Lincoln Center before a most deserved full house needs special mention. As music director of the orchestra, I have received more of a response both directly and through the mail than for any other performance in our history.
Elliot Magaziner, Westchester Conservatory Symphony Orchestra
We had two sold-out performances of children grades K-4 who sat with full attention throughout the performance. ...both students and teachers after the shows...had nothing but positive enthusiastic comments.
-Yvonne Kuhlman, Director of Campus Programming
Luther College, Decorah, Iowa
I would like to thank you so much for the wonderful performance "Tales of Beatrix Potter" at the Huntington Summer Arts Festival on Tuesday, August l5, l995. My expectations were exceeded both by the number of people who attended and by the quality of the performance. The program really kept the audience's attention-kids and parents alike. It's really nice to present programs that are geared for children yet the entire family enjoy. I, myself, had to go backstage and see how some of the puppets were made. All of the masks and puppets were created with such great craftsmenship. The dogs were especially unique!
The choreography was wonderful and the stories entertaining. Please let me know when you have MORE tales of Beatrix Potter. It was a pleasure to work with you in preparing for the engagement. In keeping with the level of a great event, the performers were equally as friendly and cooperative the day of the performance. Please thank them all for a peformance well done. You are all true professionals. Thank you for the experience.
-Steven A. Hoffman, Program Director
Huntington Arts Council
We do want you to know how delighted we were with the Beatrix Potter performance we hosted on March 25. The positive comments are still coming in from all directions. The show was wonderful from beginning to end and the dance demonstration was an added treat. As presenters we are always struggling with the issue of unruly audiences. But we noticed with your performance, the crowd was mesmerized! They were watching and listening very carefully and that is a dream come true for us. That is the magic of live theatre we hope to share with them. Keep doing what you do! Today’s over entertained kids need what you give them.
-Suzanne Loverdi, Lansdale AAUW
Curtain Time for Kids
I just wanted to get a quick note off to you to say a big "Thanks to the Hudson Vagabond Puppets and to you for all your great work this past season. Cinderella was just as charming and fun as ever. Our audiences loved it! It was also wonderful to have you as one of our resident teaching artists for this pilot year of BAM"s Education Initiative. It is such a unique and powerful experience for the children, teachers and everyone involved in a residency when an artist/performer steps into the classroom and then onto the stage and does both so well. That direct connection between the stage and the classroom lends a real excitement and stimulus to the school environment. Your residency led the children on a first hand exploration of puppetry arts in an intimate classroom setting then naturally made the connection with the stage when they experienced the performance and on-stage workshop after the show. Children and adults alike got such a charge from seeing you in the performance and then getting a "backstage" look at the production itself.
It was a wonderful experience! I am really looking forward to next season and to Snow Queen and Mammoth Follies! Thank you so much once again. Have a restful summer. I'll talk to you soon. Warmest regards.
-Leanne Tintori Wells, Program Director
Brooklyn Academy of Music Performing Arts Program for Young People
Thanks to you and to so many other performers and volunteers, First Night Nyack '98 was a wonderful success! In spite of the extreme cold, the wonderful puppet program that you offered at the Helen Hayes Performing Arts Center, along with those of the other l00 performers, was compelling enough to pull l000's of participants out to enjoy First Night in Nyack. I had a chance to slip into your performance of Peter and the Wolf and it was absolutely charming! The audience was enraptured, of course. It was our good fortune to have you as part of our program this year. Thank you so much for your participation in Nyack's First Night. Please send along to your performers our thanks for sharing such a wonderful performance with our community.
Have a wonderful, healthy and delightful l998 - and thank you again.
-Jane Sherman, Coordinator
First Night Nyack l998
I want to thank you for the magnificent performances of “Peter an the Wolf” that the Hudson Vagabond Puppets did with the Westchester Conservatory Symphony Orchestra. Perhaps the concert at Lincoln Center before a most deserved full house needs special mention. As music director of the orchestra, I have received more of a response both directly and through the mail than for any other performance in our history.
-Elliot Magaziner, Westchester Conservatory Symphony Orchestra
I was delighted by the performance of the Hudson Vagabond Puppets at the Harvard Club of New York City yesterday, Sunday, December l4. Not only was the performance of a Victorian version of Prokofiev"s "Peter and the Wolf" delightful for childen (I've never seen the Harvard Club children so spell-bound) and adults, but the educational component was equally interesting. Both the adults and children were fascinated as the mechanics of puppeteering were explained in language suitable for children. The antics of the puppeteers as they conducted the lesson kept the children (and a few adults) from becoming fidgety. What really impressed me was the participatory learning at the end when two volunteer children were taught to express themselves with their bodies while wearing a sad mask and a happy mask respectively. I believe a lot of learning went on during that time, not only with the volunteers but with the other children. Please feel free to share this letter with the New York State Council on the Arts and your other sponsors. There should be more organizations like yours.
-Vincent Yeh, Weekend Activities Coordinator
The Harvard Club
The Rockland Community College community is delighted to hear that you are creating a new show, Ferdinand the Bull. Based on the many other outstanding shows produced by Hudson Vagabond Puppets over the years, Rockland residents are, once again, in for a real treat. Your company's colorful and creative artistic vision combined with your skillful professionalism continue to bring puppetry to new heights. At present, SUNY RCC is celebrating its 40th Anniversary. As we begin planning for the 2lst century, we have chosen to reach out to the whole community by revitalizing the College's cultural arts program. To accomplish this, we are planning to present a new performing arts series ande are refurbishing the College's theater, the Cultural Arts Center. This facility serves over 60 organizations and 35,000 regional residents annually. We are very interested in including a production of Ferdinand the Bull in our 200l-2002 Cultural Arts Series and, are certain that this show's content and artistry will have a wide appeal to audiences of all ages. On behalf of SUNY RCC, I am pleased to acknowledge Hudson Vagabond Puppets' unique contribution to the arts. We look forward to the possibility of your company's participation in the revitalization of the College's Cultural Arts Series in service to the wider community.
-Paul Shiffman, ED.D. Vice President for Institutional Planning and Advancement
Rockland Community College
Letters of Endorsement from Teachers
Excellent with no need for improvement. Such a wonderful show! So age-appropriate: cultural, educational, and entertaining. We loved it! The group was fantastic, the children’s attention was held from beginning to end. The explanation of the puppet workings was an added plus. A wonderful experience for children and teacher. It is a terrific introduction to theater and music. The children had a great time.
-Teachers and Students at East Elementary School in Brentwood, NY
The Cherry Lane Earth Day finale play by the sixth grades was an exemplary interdisciplinary project which connected ecology and the environment with mythology, drama, arts and crafts, and writing. The project was an excellent child-centered, authentic learning experience which connected the students' life experience and curriculum work. This project could not have achieved success without your encouragement, coordination and inspiration. These students will remember this for the rest of their lives. Our students' love of learning and, in partcular, their interest in the environment and mythology, was enhanced by your skillful master teaching. Congratulations on a great job! Great teaching!
-Roseann E. Needleman, Principal
Ramapo Central School District
From Luther Burbank Center For the Arts Performance
Evaluation form
Show: The Tales of Beatrix Potter
In your opinion, was the show grade-appropriate? Yes - Wasn't it impressive to see how captivated the audience was?
What was the quality of this performance? Excellent - It was perfect: in content, length, style, fun. It was especially nice to learn, after the performance, how it was done.
What was the overall response of your students to the show? Enthusiastic - They talked about it all day at school and wanted us to tell their parents to take them tonight.
How often do you attend a school show at the LBC? We try to schedule 1X each year.
What suggestions do you have for future LBC school shows? I don't know anything more enchanting than bringing stories to life. Circus, Music shows in which the performer sings and teaches songs to the audience.
-Shirley Schallon, Pre-K Teacher
St. Rose Preschool
In connection with "Mythically Speaking" presented by Friends of the Arts Arts-in-Education program:
This program ran very smoothly. It was appropriate and "on-target". The students loved the artistic instruction in making the masks and the theatrical experience of performing in skits. They learned a great deal about the myths. This was the best cultural arts experience I've had in 18 years. The kids totally enjoyed it and learned so much.
-6th Grade Teacher, Westside Elementary School
As you know, we at Lawrence were most pleased with the performances and workshops that you presented with the Lawrence School District. I serve on the District Arts-in-Education Committee and your name comes up as one of the most successful and well received performance groups. I know that several schools are making plans to have you perform this year.
I would be interested in pursuing with you, plans for extended workshops in addition to performances for next year. I have seen the work that you have done with the Hastings Creative Arts Council Summer Workshops as well as with CATS at SUNY Purchase and have been most impressed by the creative, multi-disciplined experience that was afforded the participants.
We have a special second grade enrichment program in puppet making which would be greatly enhanced by such a workshop. I would also like to consider doing an extended interdisciplinary English and Art Department program on the High School level, similar to the one that we did when you were last at Lawrence.
I will be in touch with you shortly so that we can work out the details.
-Natalie J. Schifano
Curriculum Associate for Art K-12, Lawrence Public Schools
Excellent with no need for improvement. Such a wonderful show! So age-appropriate: cultural, educational, and entertaining. We loved it! The group was fantastic, the children’s attention was held from beginning to end. The explanation of the puppet workings was an added plus. A wonderful experience for children and teacher. It is a terrific introduction to theater and music. The children had a great time.
-Teachers and Students at East Elementary School in Brentwood, NY
Letters of Endorsement from Parents
Last Saturday, my 9 year old daughter and I attended the production of The Snow Queen. It was delightful, really outstanding. The puppets were incredible with such presence! The music was melodic, beautiful; a rare treat these days. The troop kept the pace moving but not in any way hectic; they told this strange tale in simple, easy to understand language. The demonstration of the puppets was great fun as well as instructional. The cast was up-beat; their positive energy was contagious.
-Jan Rogoski
Centre East Performing Arts Center, Skokie, IL.
My family and I just saw the Mammoth Follies at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside, PA. This is actually the second time we saw it there and my son just absolutely LOVES this show. You deserve major laud for this production. To bring dinosaurs to life on stage in the educational and ingenious way you do is a Mammoth achievement!
I have one question, which I'm sure you get all the time. Is the music of this production available on CD, or this the production itself available on VHS or DVD for purchase? I truly hope so!!
Sincerely,
Peter Gagliardi