The following article first appeared in the April issue of Illuminating, the online newsletter of the College of Humanities & Fine Arts.
The full issue of Illuminating is available at http:www.umass.edu/hfa/illum/April06
Marta MacRostie '07 is a puppeteer. A music/puppetry major, Marta, who says that puppets can reach and touch people in very special ways, ("they can serve as a kind of cute and fuzzy Trojan Horse into the hearts and minds of an audience,") would like to use her art to better the communities in which she works. Marta will graduate in February '07, after which she plans on moving at least temporarily, to New York. IIluminating interviewed Marta recently to ask her what she has learned at UMass Amherst, and what she plans to do as a professional puppeteer.
Illuminating: Puppetry isn't well known as a "major;" what led you to your course of study?
Marta: I grew up with theater, martial arts, and dance. I left high school at 16. I knew that I had to find a path and I became interested in a career in the circus arts. Then I discovered that this was going to wreck my body and that there was really something missing in circus; it was too empty. Around this time I happened to catch a performance of the incredible puppetry and mime duo, Teatro Hugo y Inez. I haven’t looked back since. I left the theater with a better feeling than when I walked in. I saw that in puppetry the audience can stand as equals with the performers, they can see themselves mirrored back from the stage. In circus, the performers are put up on pedestals and the audience looks up to them. They think, “I could never do that.” Since then I have been inspired to create puppet theater that helps people think, “I can.”
I: How have you found the experience of being at UMass Amherst valuable; when you leave, what will you take with you?
M: Of my many gratifying experiences as an undergraduate, two stand out in particular. In fall of 2004, I remounted Boy in a Barrel (an original puppet production created in Spring '04 by Professor Miguel Romero), and brought it on tour to five local elementary schools. As director and producer I was responsible for all aspects of the show, from auditioning puppeteers, to booking performances and publicity. This project was an invaluable experience because I learned hands-on what it takes to run a company. In the process, I developed my skills in self-promotion, finding resources, and working with others. I also increased my technical knowledge of theater, as well as my confidence as a leader.
In the spring semester of 2005, I worked in Spain as an intern for a well-known puppet company, Los Titiriteros de Binéfar. This company performs at schools, theaters and puppet festivals all over Spain and internationally. Besides working as a singer, puppeteer, and puppet builder, my responsibilities included music composition and English translation of correspondence and promotional materials. This internship was an incredible chance to observe the workings of an established and successful company in my chosen field, and a life-changing opportunity to live and work in a foreign country.
I feel very lucky to have such concrete, challenging goals, and to really love what I do. I know I’ve been really fortunate here at UMass Amherst because I’ve shaped my education to mirror my own passions and concerns. Though unconventional, each special project and interest I have pursued has given me valuable skills and experience in my particular field. Even the challenge of carving out my own program through BDIC has been a great learning experience on which to cut my administrative teeth. I feel well prepared for success after graduation.
I: One of the themes that we like to emphasize in Illuminating is the validity, the value of the arts and humanities in the 21st century. Why is what you do meaningful in our culture?
M: I am working towards a double major in Puppetry (BDIC) and Music. You may ask yourself, Puppets? What does that have to do with the world? Or even higher education for that matter? My answer is this: puppets have an ability to reach people in a way that ordinary humans cannot. Many puppets are approachable because they are small, funny, and harmless. They can serve as a kind of cute and fuzzy Trojan Horse into the hearts and minds of an audience. There are other puppets that work more as symbols. Larger than life, they express emotions and ideas that we all understand regardless of language or culture. It is my goal to use puppetry as a means to educate, inspire, and comfort others. I am interested in working within schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and prisons. Ideally, I will create theater that involves and connects these sometimes isolated spheres of society with others. I am especially interested in building connections between youth and the elderly. An example of how this might be done would be to bring a sixth grade class to interview the elders of their community at a nursing home, then help the students to develop the stories they had gathered into puppet shows to be performed at a community event.
M: I have to say that I object to both the lousy content and to the medium. I can’t say I would never work in television if the content was decent, but I believe that what this culture really needs is more quality live entertainment for adults and children. When I was in Spain I had many interesting conversations with my boss, Paco Paricio, about this. One of the company’s shows is a concert of songs and games for children. Of course this was tons of fun, but it also had a theory behind it. Paco felt that in our modern culture we are far too separated from each other. These concerts got kids out of their homes and playing with each other. I really agree with his feelings on this.
M: I am sure that I will be in puppetry for at least the next 10 years. My goal is to have amassed the experience and resources necessary to start up my company in the next five years, and then take another five years to see where I can take it. The company I worked with in Spain has been in the business for 25 years, and become a really loved and respected part of their regional community. (They also have an international reputation in puppet circles). This has been a real inspiration to me. I would love to create something like that. I expect that I will be based in the Pioneer Valley, but I’ll know that better in five years time.
M: In terms of what puppetry has taught me that applies to other arts/activities, it has taught me much about focus during performance. You have to get into a flow, let your mind relax and just give of yourself to the audience. I think that applies to many things in life. Visually/artistically, I have learned a lot about simplicity of form. I have Professor Miguel Romero of the UMass Amherst Theater Department to thank in particular for that.
