Shadow Theater Workshop with Caryl Kientz

Take a deep dive into the art of shadow theater in this hands-on workshop. Guided by artist Caryl Kientz, this workshop reveals the process of building a shadow theater performance from the ground up. You’ll learn about each of the complex, handcrafted ingredients that are essential to shadow theater. Kientz, a teaching artist (and much more!) with ShadowLight Productions, will discuss creating papers screens, storyboards, and lights. She’ll then guide you as you create your own puppets, masks, and scenes, learning various design techniques and approaches. After creating your masks or puppets, you’ll have the opportunity to perform your own shadow theater show, experimenting with lights, backgrounds, and special effects.

Caryl Kientz is a writer, performer, theater practitioner, and visual artist living in Oakland, CA. Her practice includes performance, installations, puppetry, art direction, and props for film. Caryl has been working with ShadowLight Productions in San Francisco since 2008 on multiple productions as ensemble member, assistant director, shadow theater designer, and consultant. She has also worked with ShadowLight creating art installations; films; and teaching workshops and classes for adults and children in museums, arts organizations, and schools. In January 2016, she joined the Facing West Shadow Opera (art dir., Lydia Greer) to direct a shadow puppetry performance collaboration with live opera singers and projected stop motion animation.