Puppet show mixes magic, special effects

Sunday, April 03, 2005

Kelli Moore

What do you call a show that combines puppets with pyrotechnics, magic tricks and other special effects?

"It's a blast," said puppeteer Ryan Ballard, director of Razzamataz Productions, a puppet troupe that will host a benefit performance at the UCM Museum in Abita Springs on Saturday. "It's so much fun."

A talented visual arts teacher in New Orleans, Ballard formed the puppet troupe about a year-and-a-half ago. Since then, he and six fellow puppeteers have developed a repertoire that appeals to children and adults alike.

As an artist who studied sculpture in his hometown of Kansas City, Mo., and with experience in musical performance, Ballard described puppetry as a "natural evolution of my love of sculpture, performance and pyrotechnics."

What started as a hobby is quickly becoming something more: a nonprofit organization that helps at-risk children through the art of puppetry.

In addition to performing educational shows for children at schools in the New Orleans area, Ballard and his troupe have performed puppet shows to benefit nonprofit organizations that help families and children, such as the Green Project and Covenant House. In addition, proceeds from ticket sales to Saturday's show will benefit My House Center for Learning, a nonprofit neighborhood center in New Orleans that helps children from low-income families by providing services -- such as after-school tutoring -- to help them grow intellectually, socially and emotionally.

Ballard said he plans to use the proceeds to host a puppet workshop for children at the center in May.

Razzamataz Productions will perform at the UCM Museum from 2 to 10 p.m., with puppet stages set up throughout the facility. Performances include "The Sad Tale of Marlboro Karl," an anti-smoking show aimed at children, and "Razzamataz the Stupendous's Mystically Murderous Medicine Show," which is geared for all ages.

Unique to Razzamataz Productions is the exciting array of special effects, magic tricks and illusions, coupled with doses of improvisation and audience interaction. Audience members should not be surprised to see bubbles, smoke, spraying water and miniature explosions during the performances.

"It's pretty wild. We have a good time. It's like our own miniature circus," Ballard said.

Supplementing the puppet shows will be live music by several musicians and bands from the New Orleans area, including Michael Hornsby, Mike Mido of Salma Veda, Brian Arnold and the Bling, Le Monster, Narcissy with Special Guests, and "several secret special guests from across the nation," Ballard said.

John Preble, director of the UCM Museum, said he is looking forward to the event.

"We are very pleased to bring to the north shore community a show that people in New Orleans have been raving about," Preble said. "When I first met Ryan, I was impressed with his commitment to putting these shows on. He tells me they will be appropriate for all ages and, from what I hear, they are a hoot."

The UCM Museum is located at 22275 Louisiana 36. For more information, call the museum at 892-2624 or log onto www.razzamatazproductions.com.

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Kelli Moore covers community cultural arts in western St. Tammany. Send news about community art and music events and people to her at pnkmoore@bellsouth.net or 1001 N. U.S. 190, Covington, LA 70433.