Puppeteers' Happy Hour feat. Susan Linn
Saturday, April 5 at 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, 120-minutes
Free by donation
Restricted to 18 +
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It’s not me! It’s him!
Puppets as tools for helping children cope
A Conversation with Susan Linn, EdD
Like all creative playthings, puppets reside at the intersection between the inner world of fantasy and emotional experience and the world outside that exists in time and space. When we play, we don’t just fantasize inside of our heads, nor do we function completely in the external world. Creative play allows us to bring to light hopes and fears which, once they are no longer locked inside of us, can be looked at, reflected upon, wrestled with and altered by someone else’s input.
In the hands of a child, puppets can simultaneously be vehicles for self-expression and for gaining a sense of mastery over challenging feelings and experiences. In the hands of an adult in relationship to that child, puppets can become a means for modelling healthy behaviors.
Dr. Linn will share her experiences with, and philosophy of, using puppets to help children cope all sorts of life challenges. These can include “ordinary” day to day struggles with cooperation, sharing, and managing feelings to struggles with more extreme challenges such as surgery, illness, death and loss, and more.
For more information about her performances of "What the Duck?" on April 4th at 10 AM and 7 PM click here
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Susan Linn, Ed.D. Bio:
Research Associate Boston Children’s Hospital
Lecture on Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Susan Linn, a psychologist, an author, and an award-winning ventriloquist, is a world-renowned expert on creative play, and the impact of tech and commercial marketing on children. A passionate advocate for children, Dr. Linn was Founding Director of Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (now called Fairplay) from 2000-2015. She has lectured on the importance of creative play, the impact of tech, media, and marketing on children, and on puppetry as a therapeutic tool, throughout North America, and in South America, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia.
Dr. Linn is internationally known for her use of puppets as therapeutic tools for children. She pioneered this work at Children's Hospital Boston and the Children’s AIDS Program, where she used puppets to help children cope with illness, hospitalization, death, loss and other life challenges. Dr. Linn and her puppets appeared in several episodes of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. She has written and appeared in a number of video programs designed to help children cope with issues ranging from racism to death and loss and, various stresses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. She is currently working with the Brazelton Touchpoint Center to create videos designed to help adults talk with kids about difficult issues.
Among other honors, Dr. Linn received an UNIMA-USA citation for excellence, a special award for puppet therapy from Puppeteers of America; A Champion of Freedom Award from the Electronic Privacy Information Center; The Creative Leadership Award from the Puppet Showplace Theater: and a Presidential Citation from the American Psychological Association for her work on behalf of children. In addition, her books have been praised in publications as diverse as The Wall Street Journal and Mother Jones. Her most recent book, Who’s Raising the Kids? Big Tech, Big Business and the Lives of Children received a rave review from The New York Times, which called it “engrossing and insightful.”
Funded in part by the New England States Touring program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program and the six New England state arts agencies.
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PAY WHAT YOU CAN
No one will be turned away from MSA events for lack of funds; please contact us at 207-879-4629 or info@mayostreetarts.org to learn more and reserve tickets. Our box office staff are also happy to help.
EVENT PARKING
Free on-street parking is available in Mayo Street Arts’ neighborhood.
There is one paid parking lot conveniently located a six-minute walk from the venue: Top of the Old Port Parking (119 Pearl St, Portland ME 04101)
Mayo Street Arts is accessible by Greater Portland Metro bus routes with nearby transfer points 7, 9A & 9B. Click here to learn more.
ACCESSIBILITY
All performances and most other events held at Mayo Street Arts are wheelchair accessible. There are two accessible spots directly in front of our building, however there is not yet a curb cut out at that location.
If you would benefit from additional information or accommodations, we invite you to contact us at info@mayostreetarts.org or 207-879-4629.
COMMUNITY HEALTH
Audience members — in addition to artists, staff & volunteers — who feel sick or exhibit symptoms of illness should stay home out of respect for others.
SEATING POLICY
We will save your reserved seat until showtime, at which point any unclaimed seats may be offered to other people. Please call our box office at 207-879-4629 if you are running late.
CANCELATION POLICY
MSA has a no refund policy for all reservations. In the event that MSA is forced to cancel an event due to weather, illness, etc., refunds will be offered via the Ticket Tailor platform.