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Up To Date

Mesmerized By 25 Years Of Paul Mesner Puppets

At a recent Paul Mesner Puppets performance of "Martha Speaks" (based on the book by by Susan Meddaugh), puppeteers Mike Horner, Erika Baker, and Finoula Emmons worked their magic behind the scenes.  Operating multiple puppets from below the stage, the three brought to life the story of a dog who let a bowl of alphabet soup go to her head.

Friday on Up to Date, Steve Kraske talks with Paul Mesner about his 25 years of puppet magic, which translates to 100,000 kids and adults each year, a slew of characters from a whole host of great children's books, and a journey that's taken him from the icy roads of Minnesota to, well, the icy roads of Kansas City.

Julie Denesha is the arts reporter for KCUR. Contact her at julie@kcur.org.
When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
Stephen Steigman is director of Classical KC. You can email him at Stephen.Steigman@classicalkc.org.