Randy Ernst (TOON ASYLUM)

Bruno and Darlene Frascone (Mainstring Theatre)

Mainstring Theatre was founded in 1979 by Bruno and Darlene Frascone in the United States (Cincinnati, Ohio) before moving to France . The troupe has a solid reputation in marionette circles, with tours in Switzerland, Germany, Italy, the United States and extensive touring in France. They have been based in Angers, France since 1986 (situated in the Loire valley near the Atlantic coast). Mainstring Theatre presents family programs using string puppets, with very little or no words in their shows. The troupe also offers a travelling exhibit of their marionettes with stage sets and automata. In a effort to share their craftsmanship, Bruno and Darlene Frascone organize hands-on workshops in schools or on an individual basis, using a marionette "kit" that they invented. They have recently written and edited an manual that describes their technique ("The Art and Technique of Marionette Making").

Martin and Olga Stevens

Aretta Baumgartner

Aretta Baumgartner (B.A., M.A.; Performer, Director and Educator)

has been a professional performing artist for 15 years and is proud to have worked with everyone from the Muppets to the State Puppet Theatre of Stara Zagora, Bulgaria to Cincinnati-based group Madcap Puppets! Aretta has free-lanced as a mask, movement and puppetry specialist all over the country. She is the Great Lakes Regional Director of the Puppeteers of America, Inc. and has received numerous awards (including the Applause Applause Award from the Puppeteers of America and the Cincinnati Entertainment Award for Best Supporting Actress)

Aretta Baumgartner as Golum

The Festivals

Sally Sellers Hayes