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January 1, 2008

Contact: Michael Earl (in US)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AMERICAN PUPPETEER, MICHAEL EARL,
COMMEMORATES 30 YEARS WITH TEACHING TOUR

Four-Time Emmy Award-winner and former Sesame Street Mr. Snuffle-upagus, Michael Earl, began working with Jim Henson and the Muppets in 1978 on The Muppet Movie. For three decades, he has secretly entertained millions worldwide as a variety of popular puppet characters. Along the way, Michael Earl has pioneered a teaching technique that has helped create the Who’s-Who of Hollywood’s TV and film puppeteers. Next April, he will take that technique on the road in his first UK teaching tour. So how does one typically become a puppeteer?

EARL: People come to it often by accident, or through serendipity. An actor gets a part in a play, for instance, that utilizes a puppet as a prop in one scene, then catches the puppet bug. Or a dancer may be asked in the course of rehearsing a show to manipulate a giant pageant-style rod puppet, surprised by their growing desire to have another enjoyable puppetry experience. A voice-over talent may simply want to add to their skill set in order to create more work opportunities. And then of course there are the folks who were enchanted by the wonder of puppets as a child and never outgrew their love for them.

I knew since I was 5, seeing my first puppet show at a San Francisco street fair, that I wanted to be a professional puppeteer. Growing up I read books on puppetry, attended conferences, apprenticed, practiced and constantly performed—and at 19 was hired to replace the original Mr. Snuffleupagus (Jerry Nelson) on Sesame Street. Soon I noticed how many new muppeteers would come and go due to lack of training. I met with Jim privately to discuss the possibility of creating a teaching course to develop new muppeteers. Jim thought the idea was a good one, but was concerned there was not enough work at that time for those who already knew how. So Jim encouraged me to teach on my own, and said he'd visit my classes. I asked him not to, so as not to intimidate young puppeteers. We agreed if I found anyone of real talent that I would refer them to him.

And so began my career as an independent "Muppet-style" puppetry teacher. But there was just one hitch. No one had ever formerly taught the style before. Jim’s wife, Jane, had taught basic lip sync counting exercises to new hopefuls, but no one had yet pioneered the teaching of (as Jim and Frank Oz had pioneered the performing of) a TV and film puppetry learning technique. A step-by-step, how-to study -- much like a dancer, actor or musician undergoes. But how to create such a technique that could be studied and taught and passed on to future generations? For the answer, I looked to my own teachers.

I had studied piano, organ, trumpet, on-camera acting, voice diction, vocal technique and performance, sight singing, ballet, tap, acting technique, scene study, cold reading, improv and songwriting. Many of my teachers were gifted and I credit them for imparting to me the importance of laying a foundation. I believe and teach that discipline and simplicity are the proud parents of a strong technique.

Tricks of the trade are not where one begins. Muppet-style puppetry is typically full of shtick and broad comedy, the viewing of which can mislead the novice puppeteer into thinking the main requirement to do that style of puppetry is a quick wit and a few practiced "Muppet moves."

Several years ago I taught a workshop in Los Angeles full of young puppeteers who wanted me primarily to teach them tricks with little interest in technique. After months of training, I finally told them I was not the teacher for them, for that kind of undisciplined thinking goes against everything I believe and know about teaching and learning a performing art.

And so it is with learning the performing art of TV puppetry. Like everything else, you must start at the beginning. Not with a "move” but with a breath...for breath is the beginning of life...and life is what we seek to believably create.

For more information on attending one of the Michael Earl TV Puppetry Workshops or Lecture/Demonstrations, e-mail Mr. Earl at: info@teachingtour.com.

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