Puppetry and Public Spectacle

Flight of the Phoenix, a puppet pageant at Northwestern University, became more than way to perform despite safety restrictions – build also valuable create community during ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The shared project bringing puppets life through simple techniques that invited hands-on participation, helped artistic come together again as we emerged from extended isolation. spark project––that began with proposal fly bird down lakeshore––brought team designers, makers, directors, puppeteers, and filmmakers, all whom were excited contribute their unique ideas skillsets. As grew in number, scale, complexity, event called for growing cast volunteers capable bigger version final into being. I interpret corresponding process expansion what director puppeteer Jim Lasko calls “radical listening” his essay “The Third Thing” (2014). finished work public spectacle reached out an even wider it captured attention university students, staff, faculty citizens Evanston who surprise witnesses birds’ triumphant flight. performance’s wordless grace made space everyone involved find themselves reflecting on performance they release grief, migrate after time stasis, collectively celebrate re-emergence.