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BY ALANNA GROSS
Times Correspondent | Sunday, March 26, 2006 | (No comments posted.)
CALUMET CITY | Marilyn Price, a nationally known puppeteer, storyteller and educator, will perform "Into the Rainforest" on Monday at the Calumet City Public Library.
The library program, which already is full, will involve a show geared toward children 5 and older. Price will feature stories on the environment. She will perform "I Shot My Arrow in the Kankan Tree," along with other tales centered around the rain forest.
"The story is about a boy who lives on the edge of the rain forest," Price said. "He goes to get a job in the city, and along his way interacts with many interesting characters. The story is to make children realize that you always have something, even when you think you don't."
Price has been telling stories and teaching for more than 30 years. A friend asked the former management consultant if she would be interested in helping her perform with puppets.
"I knew nothing about puppetry back then," Price said. "We just worked behind an upright piano."
Price, who now makes all of her puppets, said she taught herself along the way. Over the years, Price and her puppets have traveled across the country using her original scripts and stories fitted to her characters and style.
She teaches and performs to children, teachers, librarians, parents and other professional puppeteers and storytellers.
"Marilyn appeals to audiences of all ages," said Barbara Christopher, librarian at Neil Armstrong School in Richton Park.
For more than 25 years, Christopher has had Price perform for the students at the school.
"Continuity and similarity with kids is important, and Marilyn displays that talent really well," she said. "I think if you can teach literature through a storybook or by using puppets, you've given that child a gift."
Another of Price's specialties is her workshop series for teachers. During these workshops, Price works one-on-one with teachers on the benefits of teaching through puppetry.
"I've seen amazing differences in the classroom because teachers have implemented Marilyn's learning techniques," said Marilyn Peterson, who works at the Department of Education's Community Partnership Program in Chicago. "Marilyn is a master at bringing out the meaning of language and literacy skills through her puppets."
Price creates her puppets with basic household items such as thread, nylons, paper and Nerf balls.
"When you teach through puppets you are giving children something to remember the story with," Price said. "A milk carton, for example, can be used as a puppet. When a child sees a milk carton, it triggers something, and they will remember the story and the value behind it."
Price sat on Evanston's Arts Council and helped design the Ethnic Arts Festival.
"Marilyn is very interactive with her groups and you can tell how much the kids connect with her," said Patti Battaglia, program manager of Cultural Arts Division at Evanston's Cultural Arts Center. "The kids and families are very receptive."
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