Category Archives: On Stage

Westwood – Madcap Productions Puppet Theatre is excited to announce their 2016-2017 Hats Off Season. Under the leadership of Madcap Productions’ new Artistic Director, Dylan Shelton, the 2016-2017 Season includes classics from Madcap Productions past and a new symphonic work.

The 2016-2017 Hats Off Series will continue to be in residence at the Cincinnati Art Museum (23^rd season) and the Clifton Cultural Arts Center (6^th season). The season begins in November with a Madcap Puppets classic Monkey See Monkey Do. In January, Madcap will perform Jumping Over the Moon (A Puppet Musical) written by Jerry Handorf (Madcap Productions founder) and Scot Woolley. In March, Madcap Puppets will finish its season with a brand new addition to its concert series, Camille Saint-Saens’s Carnival of the Animals.

Monkey See Monkey Do
There’s no business like monkey business! Max and Vinnie are expert zookeepers, but keeping the rascally monkeys from getting into trouble is easier said than done. When Mr. Cleaver, the zoo manager, decides to send one of the monkeys to another zoo, it’s time for their great escape! Go with the monkeys as they explore new exhibits at the zoo. Each one is a backdrop for exciting stories from around the world.

Jumping Over the Moon (A Puppet Musical)
The creepy party guests (the audience) have already arrived when two vaudeville actors, Sigmund and Alex, enter a mysterious old house to perform at a birthday party. They’re astonished to discover the party is for a baby monster! Thinking fast on their feet, they entertain with twists on traditional rhymes fit for a monster party.  The audience helps Sigmund and Alex with their hilarious musical numbers to appease the mischievous child in all of us.

Carnival of the Animals
Madcap presents a brand new addition to its concert series, Camille Saint-Saens’s Carnival of the Animals. Did you ever want to see an elephant ballet? Encounter giant sea creatures in a submarine? Or, run from a dinosaur skeleton that’s come to life? Using mostly the art of shadow puppetry, Madcap brings this popular musical suite to life with vibrant colors and comical characters. Hold on to your seats as one giant puppet escapes the boundaries of the shadow screen and gets up close and personal with the audience!

About Madcap:
Cincinnati-based Madcap Puppets is a non-profit company combining giant puppets with professional actors to create an innovative and exciting concept of puppetry that allows all the elements of theatre to be combined in an artistic and educational performance. Formed over 35 years ago, Madcap is known throughout the country for exciting productions and giant puppet characters. Each puppet play is developed from an original and highly creative script, rich in cultural content and enhanced with innovative and colorful sets and props that young audiences love. Performances bring to life children’s literature and fables from around the world.

Madcap believes that participation in and exposure to the arts is an integral part of a child’s complete education. As funding for the arts declines, many schools and teachers must look to outside organizations like Madcap to provide the creative, educational and cultural opportunities that they can no longer afford to provide to the students.

THE WIZARD OF OZ
Town Hall Theatre
May 6-22
Centerville

Official cast list |

A young girl from Kansas learns there’s no place like home after a fateful twister sends her on an incredible adventure over the rainbow! Recommended ages 4 and up.

• Fri, May 6 at 7pm
• Sat-Sun, May 7-8 at 3pm
• Fri, May 13 at 7pm
• Sat, May 14 at 11am & 3pm
• Sun, May 15 at 3pm
• Fri, May 20 at 7pm
• Sat-Sun, May 21-22 at 3pm

Official page |

Dylan Shelton.

Westwood – Madcap Productions Puppet Theatre is excited to announce as Artistic Director, effective immediately. As Artistic Director, Shelton says, “Puppetry as a theatrical art form and as a tool for education can have such a positive impact on children. I can’t wait to see Madcap’s influence grow in our own community in Cincinnati and around the nation.”

Dylan Shelton graduated from Wilmington College with a BA in Theatre and earned an MFA in the Professional Actor Training Program at Ohio University. Shelton began his career at Madcap Productions Puppet Theater as an actor in 2002 and trained with Jerry Handorf, the founder and visionary leader of Madcap. Shelton began managing Madcap’s Puppet Studio as the Creative Director in 2006. As Creative Director, he has been training new puppeteers, writing and directing shows, designing and building puppets, and performing in numerous productions across the country and internationally. As an educator in the arts, Shelton has enjoyed teaching many classes, including Improvisation at Xavier University, Acting at Ohio University, and puppet workshops at Northern Kentucky University.

About Madcap:
Cincinnati-based Madcap Puppets is a non-profit company combining giant puppets with professional actors to create an innovative and exciting concept of puppetry that allows all the elements of theatre to be combined in an artistic and educational performance. Formed over 35 years ago, Madcap is known throughout the country for exciting productions and giant puppet characters. Each puppet play is developed from an original and highly creative script, rich in cultural content and enhanced with innovative and colorful sets and props that young audiences love. Performances bring to life children’s literature and fables from around the world.

Madcap believes that participation in and exposure to the arts is an integral part of a child’s complete education. As funding for the arts declines, many schools and teachers must look to outside organizations like Madcap to provide the creative, educational and cultural opportunities that they can no longer afford to provide to the students.