FULL MOON PUPPET ARTS: Workshop

Engineering with Feeling

September 14, 2025

Taught by Tyler Stuart

In this class we will discuss methods to approach mechanical challenges often faced in puppet design and how to approach common movements such as eye, leg, and arm mechanics through creating simple mock-ups. Through this same approach, you can discover not only the answer to your problem but potential uses and inspiration for future creations. 

Engineering with feeling is a way of describing my own approach to designing puppets. The idea of engineering often conjures up math equations and complex three-dimensional models. But in puppetry, engineering goes beyond precision levers, pivots, and rotations—it involves movement, gesture, and feeling. In this class I hope you will find an enjoyment in the mechanical design process and use feeling as a part of the equation.

  • REGISTRATION

    $30

    AGE LIMIT: 13 and up
    MAX PARTICIPANTS: 20

    Please note that once your registration is complete, FULL MOON Workshop fees are non-refundable unless the workshop is canceled.

  • DATE, TIME & LOCATION

    September 14, 2025
    1:00 – 4:00pm Central Time

    ONLINE: Workshop sessions will be held on Zoom.

  • MORE INFO

    ACCESSIBILITY: Contact Open Eye at boxoffice@openeyetheatre.org or 612-874-6338 for accessibility information and requests.

REGISTER

If you have questions about this workshop, please email 
thefullmoonpuppetshow@gmail.com.

Required Materials

Please be sure to assemble this list of materials in advance of the scheduled workshop session.

  • String

  • 3-4 large beads or balls with holes through them

  • Tubes of various lengths (plastic or metal tubing is just fine)

  • Elastic cording (bungee or rubber bands)

  • Roll of tape (duct, gaff, or gorilla tape work great)

  • T-pins or thumb tacks

  • Cardboard or foam-core sheets 

  • Needle nose pliers

  • Scissors

  • Drill with drill bits (if available)

  • Hole punch (if available)

  • Wooden sticks (popsicle sticks, dowels, or paint sticks are great) 

Teaching Artist Bio

Tyler Stuart is a visual artist, designer, fabricator and performer from Portland, Oregon who has worked within the entertainment industry for over two decades creating and performing puppets of various sizes and styles. He has worked for the theatrical design company Michael Curry Design, creating large scale costumes, puppets, and props for clients such as Disney, Universal Studios, and Broadway venues.  More recently Tyler has ventured into the world of stop-animation on film productions such as Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio and the television series Tiny Chef and In The Know. Learn more at tylerstuart.com. 

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FULL MOON PUPPET SHOW is supported by:

FULL MOON funders

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.