Everestg Academy students heartily laughed and giggled as they enjoyed their recent Day at the Circus with Dave Herzog's Marionette Show
It was truly a special treat for the children to experience a live marionette performance. I thoroughly enjoyed being surrounded by gleeful children who were experiencing so much fun and joy!
Lemont, IL (PRWEB) June 03, 2014
Students at Everest Academy of Lemont in the three and four year old preschool program and in the kindergarten classes were tickled and delighted recently by the talented David Herzog and his troupe of lively marionettes that transported the lower school of students from the Everest Knight’s gymnasium to the days of the circus. Spirits were high as the students enjoyed the “in-field” trip.
Ring Master Sir Percy Pearly led a cast of characters featuring Suray Bonilay the Olympic figure skater, Senor Froggy the amazing juggling frog, Harlequin the death defying tight rope walker and many more. The children laughed with delight as each character came to life and displayed their talents in the center ring, not realizing the craftsmanship involved in the puppet show’s creation and the precision and skill involved with its execution.
The marionettes are created by hand by the master puppeteer, Dave Herzog, who sculpts the characters bodies out of wood and makes the puppets heads from a rubber material. All are beautifully painted and dressed in lifelike colors and luxurious fabrics. The levers and pulley systems within are well concealed but apparent in the marionettes ability to move. Strings are attached not only to hands, legs, and head, but also eyes, eye lashes, lips, fingers - all adding movement and personality to the wonderfully choreographed circus acts.
Mrs. Mary Ann DeBiase, a prekindergarten teacher, at Everest Academy, commented on how the children loved to watch the tricks the puppets performed, from the acrobats swinging to the ice skater gracefully gliding. “I am not sure who had more fun the students who laughed as they watched a puppet blow up a balloon, only to see it deflate and who clapped and kept to beat of the music as the tight rope walker performed his act, or me as I thoroughly enjoyed being surrounded by gleeful children who were experiencing so much fun and joy!”
Mrs. DeBiase continued, “At the end of the show, Dave Herzog did a great job explaining and demonstrating how he operated the puppets to make them move. Many of the students thought the cobra snake was alive! So Mr. Herzog’s explanation reassured them it was just a puppet on strings. It truly was a special treat for the children to experience a live marionette performance.
Everest Academy is an independent Roman Catholic school in Lemont educating children from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The teachers and staff are dedicated to forming the whole child by providing the highest level of academics, by building strong character, and by preparing generous leaders ready to serve the community. To learn more about Everest Academy’s approach to education, please contact KC Wollenberg at 630-243-1995 or visit http://www.everestadvantage.org.
