Clinton Park Awarded Grant for Puppet Arts Theatre

Kindergarten and first-grade students are in for a treat this school year.
Clinton Park Elementary is the recipient of a $1,000 grant by the Mississippi Arts Commission to present Puppet Arts Theatre for its students. The grant is a portion of the $1.5 million in grants the commission will award this fiscal year.
“We’re excited about this program,” said Suzanne Hollingshead, principal at Clinton Park. “This presentation will be a unique way to capture students’ attention with new as well as familiar stories. The Puppet Arts Theatre has a reputation for excellence, so we know it will be a great show.”
Puppet Arts Theatre is a professional touring company that introduces children of all ages to classical music, theater and puppetry. Each show in its repertoire is presented in a different style.
Members of the Mississippi Puppetry Guild encourage audience participation in their shows. Children are selected from the audience to join the professional cast on stage, and perform with the puppets made by the company. 
The group also offers teachers’ guides to accompany its presentations.
While The Puppet Arts Theatre has not yet announced its complete 2009-2010 schedule, more information on the group can be found at www.mspuppetry.com.
“For students in kindergarten and first grade, shows like this have a certain magic,” said Dr. Phil Burchfield, superintendent of schools. “This is something they will enjoy and remember long after it’s over. We appreciate the Mississippi Arts Commission for making this possible, and we know our students will as well.”