Puppets and Magic Will Come to Life at Local Library

is hosting another free, family-friendly event this Saturday. 

The National Day of Puppetry Festival runs from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., and will include puppet shows and puppet crafts at the library, 2902 W. Bearss Avenue.

Each year, Hillsborough media specialists, teachers, youth leaders and parents gather together for the annual Storytelling Festival, produced by the Tampa-Hillsborough County Storytelling Festival Committee, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System and City of Tampa Recreation department and Creative Arts Theater.

In an effort to renew and promote the art of storytelling for both youngsters and adults, this year’s day-long celebration was held on April 16 at Hillsborough High School.  Since puppet shows are a form of storytelling, Jimmie B. Keel will often host a program around the same timeframe. 

“National Puppetry Day has proved very popular with our younger customers and their parents," said Tina Russo, branch manager for the Keel library. "Many people think books and films are the only way to tell a story, but puppetry helps add other elements - visual, auditory, use of imagination - to the role of storytelling, and entertains children and parents alike."

The event is co-sponsored by the Puppeteers of America, Inc. (a 75-year-old national organization of puppetry) and the Florida Suncoast Puppetry Guild (the local chapter that is chartered by P of A). 

Guild members Jody Wren and Priscilla Lakus will be on hand conducting the Make-and-Take workshops. 

“The imagination of young children is so wonderful," said Wren, guild president. "Puppet characters are presented in a non-threatening manner, so kids interact with them without even thinking twice.  We have partnered with Jimmie B. Keel for several years now, and we see it is a win-win situation; it enables us to give back to the community while promoting the art of puppetry."

In addition to booking private parties, Lowell Tauszik of Razzmatazz Entertainment Company has performed at venues throughout the Tampa Bay area for decades, including schools, churches, city and corporate events, recreational centers, assisted living facilities, retirement communities, day care centers, and after-school programs. 

A member of both the North American Association of Ventriloquists and International Brotherhood of Magicians, Tauszik will be on site performing two of his specialties: ventriloquism and magic.

“This is the first time I will be participating in this event," Tauszik said. "Like puppetry, ventriloquism is also a performing art, and I look forward to any opportunity where I can entertain children and interact with the audience."

Katie Adams, Tampa resident and professional puppeteer since 1986, will be performing Johnny Appleseed, which she describes as a “fun, creative, and educational show which incorporates puppetry, storytelling, American folk arts, and a story quilt."

Adams, who formed her own company, Make Believe Theater in 2000, is a member of both the Puppeteers of America and the National Storytelling Network.  She creates and tours her original puppet shows to theaters, schools, libraries, museums, and festivals throughout the southeast and beyond. 

“The National Day of Puppetry is a day to connect with the community and with other puppeteers, and share the excitement and inspiration of our art form," Adams said. "Puppeteers all across the United States participate.

"The puppetry celebration at Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library is going to have great puppet shows and puppet crafts all free to our community. We hope to see lots of people there."

The schedule (subject to change) is below:

11 a.m.- 11:40 a.m., Make-n-Take puppet crafts with members of the Florida Suncoast Puppetry Guild

11:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., Ventriloquism and magic performance by Lowell Tauszik of Razzmatazz Entertainment Company

12:20 p.m.- 1:10 p.m., Make-n-Take puppet crafts with members of the Florida Suncoast Puppetry Guild

1:15 p.m. - 2 p.m., Puppet show performance of “Johnny Appleseed” by professional storyteller & puppeteer Katie Adams