Rebekah Lane, Myths of Creation mud man Puppets.
Finding the Life:
Puppetry
Fundamentals
for the Working Actor
with Rebekah Lane
Many professional actors find themselves cast in puppetry roles with little more than good instincts to guide them. Imagine having the skills and know-how to walk into any puppetry situation, make it work, and make it look good. This intensive gives you the foundational principles that turn capable into skilled. Over five days, participants will be introduced to four distinct forms of puppetry - object, bunraku-style, arm and rod, and marionette - build a basic puppet in each form, and then learn to bring an object to life. The work is rooted not in choreography, but in understanding: how does this object breathe, how does it want to move, and what draws its curiosity?
Each day closes with material that feeds into a final sharing on Day 5. An optional Saturday extension invites local participants and those with an appetite for large-scale work to explore parade puppetry. Participants will explore existing parade puppets housed by local vendors. These puppets will find their way into the Annie and Mary Day Parade on Sunday, August 9, 2026.
Dates: August 3rd-7th
option for parade puppets August 8
Annie and Mary Day parade participation on August 9
Schedule & Classes
30+ hours of instruction time, plus a few hours for rehearsal outside of class. A sample day runs from 9am–5:30pm with a 90 minute lunch. Students are encouraged to spend free time exploring the forests, coasts, rivers and mountains of Humboldt County or attending some of the Baduwa’t Festival.
Who Should Apply?
Professional actors at any stage of their puppetry journey — especially those with a background or interest in dance, physical theatre, or object work. No puppetry experience required. No prerequisites.
Fees
$527 — 15% off Early Bird Tuition (by 6/22/26)
$620 — Regular Tuition
Rebekah Lane
Faculty
Rebekah Lane is a theatre professional and educator with two decades of experience creating collaborative theatrical work. Her love of crafting movement for the stage led her to specialize in devising, puppetry, movement theatre, and intimacy direction, One of her greatest joys is teaching actors how to bring an object to life. She began her puppetry journey with MicheLee Puppets, where she worked as an actor and puppeteer for seven years, and later served as Director of Puppetry for ensemble theatre troupe Phantasmagoria. Puppetry has since become a touchstone of her directing practice and a subject she has taught at colleges across the country and at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta.
REFUND POLICY
This policy is in place to ensure our ability to continue offering high-quality programs to performers near and far. Registered students faced with the unfortunate need to withdraw from a course for any reason may request a refund of tuition paid based on the following timeline:
Early Withdrawal (45+ days out): Requests made more than 45 days before the course start date are eligible for a full refund, minus a $50 processing fee.
Standard Withdrawal (44–15 days out): Requests made between 44 and 15 days before the course start date are eligible for a 50% refund of the tuition paid.
Final Deadline (14 days or less): No refunds will be granted within 14 days of the start date or once the course has commenced.
All refund requests must be submitted via email or in writing to the program administrator. schooladmin@dellarte.com
Exceptions may be made for documented medical emergencies or visa denials at the discretion of the School Director. In these cases, we may offer a tuition credit for a future intensive instead of a cash refund.
A note about our Ticketing Service Provider: Zeffy
We use Zeffy because it is entirely free for organizers and patrons, meaning more money directly supports the artists. Zeffy asks for a contribution towards credit card processing fees. They automatically suggest a 17% fee, but you can select "other" and enter any amount, or none at all.