In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre

In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre (also known as Heart of the Beast or HOBT) is a puppet company and nonprofit organization from Minneapolis, Minnesota.[1] The company has written and performed scores of full-length puppet plays, performed throughout the US, Canada, Korea, and Haiti and toured the Mississippi River from end to end. The theatre is best known for sponsoring the annual May Day Parade and Ceremony that is seen by as many as 50,000 people each year.[2][3]

Theatre entrance and marquee.

History

HOBT began in 1973 as Powderhorn Puppet Theatre, named for a neighborhood park and lake in Minneapolis.[4] In 1975, the theatre organized their first May Day procession and event.[5]:50–51 About 50-60 people and a few puppets marched, raised a maypole in the park, and had some speeches. In the next years, the event grew and evolved into a way to celebrate community builders.[5]:51

In 1979, the theatre changed its name[6] based on a suggestion by poet and theatre member Steven Lisner.[5]:45 In 1987, they moved into the Avalon Theater, a former cinema originally built in 1909 as the Royal Theatre.[7] HOBT purchased the Avalon Theater in 1990 for the building and staging of productions.

In 1999, the Weisman Art Museum at the University of Minnesota exhibited Theatre of Wonder: Twenty-five Years In the Heart of the Beast, celebrating the works and productions by the theatre.[5]:1

In 2017, the theatre received $275,000 from the will of Sarah Bowman, a performer and longtime supporter of the theatre. The funds are planned to be used in upgrading the theatre building.[8] In 2018, the organization was awarded a grant by The Jerome Foundation.[9]

Productions

Over the years, productions have used various styles of puppet and mask performances, including bunraku and larger-than-life puppets.[5]:11–12 These include:[5]:102–131[10]

May Day Parade and Tree of Life Ceremony
Larger-than-life puppet held up by numerous volunteers at the 2018 Tree of Life Ceremony.
HOBT May Day Tree of Life Ceremony in Powderhorn Park.

The annual parade hosted by In the Heart of the Beast Theatre draws large crowds and showcases large puppets and floats and entertainment by performers.[15] Each year's parade/festival has a theme, ranging from Spring and environmental topics to social topics like peace and racial justice.[16] The event also features a festival in Powderhorn Park and a Tree of Life Ceremony involving more than 300 performers.[2]

On January 9, 2019, the theatre announced that the 2019 May Day parade would be the last one they could sponsor on their own due to high costs of organizing and running the event.[17]

In March 2019, a short documentary entitled "Children of Spring" premiered. The documentary focuses on the children involved in the May Day parade and festival.[18][19] The film premiere helped raise $15,000 for May Day.[20]

See also

References
  1. "In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre". Propel Nonprofits. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
  2. "44th MayDay Parade, Ceremony & Festival set by Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre". Asian American Press. April 13, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  3. Melissa Walker (April 5, 2018). "Family fun: In the Heart of the Beast May Day prep". Star Tribune. Retrieved July 16, 2018. (subscription required)
  4. "About Us". In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  5. Sheehy, Colleen J., ed. (1999). Theatre of Wonder: 25 Years in the Heart of the Beast. University of Minnesota Press. ISBN 978-0816634200.
  6. "About Our Name". In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  7. Sean Ryan. "Avalon Theater in Minneapolis, MN". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  8. Chris Hewitt (August 7, 2017). "Late Heart of the Beast theater supporter/performer's gift will fund big things". Pioneer Press. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  9. Basil Considine (June 15, 2018). "NEWS: Jerome Foundation Announces Inaugural Organization Grant Recipients". Twin Cities Arts Reader. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
  10. "Main Stage Productions". In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
  11. John Townsend (June 19, 2018). "Flying Sorcery – A Stirringly Mythical 'The Minotaur or: Amelia Earhart is Alive and Traveling in the Underworld'". Lavender. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
  12. Chris Hewitt (February 2, 2018). "Heart of the Beast puppet theater invites you to Mr. Rogers' neighborhood". Star Tribune. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
  13. Euan Kerr (February 17, 2016). "At Heart of the Beast, a children's book grows up". MPR News. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
  14. "Queen". In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre. 2016. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  15. Xavier Wang (May 9, 2017). "In the Heart of the Beast Theatre's MayDay Parade". Star Tribune. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  16. Sandy Spieler. "The Themes of the 41 Years of MayDay!". Retrieved July 15, 2018.
  17. Sheila Regan (January 9, 2019). "In the Heart of the Beast to host its final MayDay Parade this spring". City Pages. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  18. Jenna Ross (March 28, 2019). "New movie shines light on MayDay Parade as it struggles to stay afloat". Star Tribune.
  19. "The Joy of MayDay". hobt.org. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  20. "We love MayDay. We are so touched by how..." Facebook. MindTwist Studio. March 30, 2019. We love MayDay. We are so touched by how many people chose to come and watch our film ‘Children of Spring’ last night, and even more by all the heartfelt feedback wereceived after the screening. A big shout out to The Changeups for the music; and Liz Howls and Steve Ackerman for the wonderful whimsical Puppet Shows that closed the evening off. We are so glad that our film was able to help raise $15,000 for MayDay Parade and Festival last night.

Further reading
  • Sheehy, Colleen J., ed. (1999). Theatre of Wonder: 25 Years in the Heart of the Beast. University of Minnesota Press. ISBN 978-0816634200.
  • Griffith, Christopher (2000). Puppet Cookbook: Recipes for Puppets From In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre. Minneapolis, Minnesota. ISBN 9780967677606.
  • Sandy Spieler: 2014 Distinguished Artist (PDF). The McKnight Foundation. 2014. Retrieved August 7, 2018. Also available in print.
  • Higgins, Nadia (2015). What's great about Minnesota?. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications Company. pp. 8–9. ISBN 978-1-4677-3388-5.

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