4301 Van Buren St.  University Park,  MD  20782      301-927-5599

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The first production "The Blue Suede Zoo" was an experimental adult production featuring 5 puppeteers and an 8 piece jazz band under the direction of musician/composer Jeremy Young. This began a collaboration between Michael and Jeremy of music, script writing and design that continues today. In 1976, Joe Pipik joined Michael as a performing partner and collaborator that lasted for the next 15 years, defining the performance style of the company. In 1980, Michael married artist/performer/teacher Judith Cayo who became a company collaborator and co-owner at that time.

By 1976, the company had two distinct performing branches: a school based educational theatre for children and a political satire oriented adult company that performed in clubs, theatres and as a street theatre. As a street theatre, it was a favorite of Washington D.C. audiences performing daily in Georgetown, Capital Hill and Farragut Square.

The company's first large scale school production was "Elementary My Dear Rufus", a dynamic performance that warned children of the abuses of watching too much television. This began the social issue based programming that has become the hallmark of the group.

By 1980, the company made a decision to devote its full energies to children and family venues with occasional forays back into the experimental adult material that first attracted Michael to the art form of puppet theatre.

1982 brought about two significant events: the first of a 15 year run as a resident children's theatre at Wolftrap and the corporate partnership of PEPCO. During that time, Blue Sky was in full production mode creating a dozen educationally based and fine art productions for the K-6th grade audience. In 1996, an important collaboration between the Prince George's Health Department and Public Schools and Blue Sky Puppet Theatre led to the development of "Building Bridges", the company's most requested performance on the topic of peaceful conflict resolution.

Cheri Fulton joined the company in 1988 in the role of business manger and continues in that capacity today. Anyone who has spoken with her will attest to her professionalism, energy, attention to detail and love of what she does.

Blue Sky partnered with the Title 1 Office of Montgomery Co. Public Schools to create our newest show "Sand Castles", a gender friendly look at how much fun, vital and important math can be.

Michael paints a President Jimmy Carter Puppet that was featured in art galleries nationally as part of a touring puppetry exhibit in 1980.

Although the company is educationally based, it attempts never to be didactic or heavy handed with the lessons, preferring everyone to have a lot of fun first, be inspired by the art work second, and get across important concepts third. The company looks forward with great anticipation to the years ahead, to the people we've yet to meet and the art work that's yet to be imagined.

1. Bring the highest possible level of children's theatre/puppet theatre to the public performance at all times. 2. To enrich the aesthetic, educational, and social lives of children and adults that we meet. 3. To treat every child and adult we meet with respect, interest, compassion, patience, and love.

4. To grow artistically and financially through constant study, practice, research, and implementation of innovative approaches, always depending upon common sense and professional advice for guidance. 5. To love and enjoy what we do, and communicating that enthusiasm to all around.

4301 Van Buren St.  University Park,  MD  20782      301-927-5599