(Updated September 30, 2007). 2007 has been a very exciting year so far (although I may want to tweak my gigs a bit more to enjoy better weather)! I was in Iowa teaching Object Theatre at the University of Northern Iowa January and February. I left affirmed that the work is as exciting, challenging and relevant as ever. It was back to North Carolina for some performances of Rapunzel and an elementary school residency in Boone in March and April. Then, back to Iowa to direct university theatre and art students in "The Anatomy of Melancholy". None of these students had ever puppeteered before, but were committed to and achieved excellence in a mere 4 weeks of rehearsal. What a fabulous experience! The month of June was spent in Louisiana touring libraries with my favorite summer show "Vasalisa". Meanwhile, it has been announced that p. o'connor puppets has been awarded funding by the Media Arts Advantage Fund for the development of "Allegory of the Cave" - a multi-disciplinary theatrical installation in a temporary cave environment to stage Plato's teaching which deals with perception and 'reality'. I am very excited about this piece and the dialog I know it will create amongst the attendees. This will be presented next summer in Asheville. The specific dates are not set..

I will be teaching Object Theatre this January and February at UNC Asheville. Then, co-directing a version of "The Tempest" with Laura Facciponti using puppets, objects and shadows.

Meanwhile, I'm having great fun launching my new children's book "The Little Cloud in the Crowd". Since our first meeting, visual artist/sculptor Eva Scruggs and myself had been looking for a project to do together. This story became that project. I showed it to Eva, she fell in love with it, and poured her heart into the drawings that make this story come to life. I am eternally grateful to her. We are doing two book signings in the next two months!