Marionette
Creating a Giant
Presented by the UMASS Amherst Professional Theatre Department
Over the course of a semester, I worked with a team of fourteen UMass - Amherst Theatre students to create a twelve-foot tall marionette inspired by the Royal Deluxe's production of marching Marionettes in Paris. During these three months, we proportioned, designed, mocked-up, and built a fully-functioning theatrical piece. Our marionette was made of carved wood and self-welded and shaped steel. Every piece on the Marionette was designed and built by us, including the truss system and rigging that suspended the Marionette - affectionately nicknamed "The BFP." It was completely mobile, and all the limbs were independently controlled by operators pulling on the rigging ropes using solely body-weight. The Marionette was moved along the roads and sidewalks of UMass Campus by pushing the wheeled truss system with another team of people, as the limb operators either rode on the system or walked alongside. The BFP premiered on UMass Campus during the annual founders day event, as strode through the crowd of students, waving and even high-fiving staff and students, and receiving a rose from the Chancellor. This project was an incredible opportunity to combine both the Mechanical Engineering and Theatrical aspects of my university career.
