Puppet Theater On The Prairie

Michael J. Vetere III and Samantha Anne Maggio, founders of Suspended Belief Theatre.

The magic of theater and puppetry for children, the art of puppetry and creative dramatics, the power of dramatic storytelling, the conveyance of life skills to children through drama, it all happens courtesy of SUSPENDED BELIEF THEATRE. Founded in 2013 by Samantha Anne Maggio, who apprenticed under Steven Overton of Olde World Puppet Theatre, and Michael J. Vetere III, who adds teaching into his mix of talents with puppets, this organization is based in Bloomington, Illinois.

The very first production of this fledgling group was Out on Our Own...The Story of the Three Little Pigs: A Puppet Show, which challenged that familiar fairy tale with the lessons of hard work, dedication, and commitment to learning. Samantha said, "We value these traits as components of a foundation of community, social awareness, and actively compassionate citizenship."



Recently, Suspended Belief Theatre appeared at SUGAR GROVE NATURE CENTER in Funk's Grove. The day was Sunday, Sept. 11, cooperative weather, with blue skies and low humidity. Families rushed to enjoy the day hiking, bird watching, and playing in the Nature Center's Imagination Grove.

But the biggest attraction happened to be Pigs On The Prairie, an immersive experience by Suspended Belief Theatre that combined ecology and art. Upon entry to the area, visitors received a map of the grounds and urged to collect the stamps available at each center when they completed the activity. At the Snout, Masks, and Muzzles table, guests could choose whether to be one of the three pigs or the big, bad wolf. When they reached the corn crib, they had the chance to pose with one of the two pigs stationed there. Then on to the outdoor stage where there were three child-sized houses. Two small houses were made of straw and sticks, respectively, and a bigger one made with bricks. Here you had to use some imagination because all were really made with cardboard. Kids could play in each one. Then on to another station, where guests put on hardhats and made their own miniature pigs' houses. Then they got to test them with natural disasters, such as tornadoes. A blow dryer provided the wind.

The three pigs' houses, all lined up.

Then came the main event on the puppet stage, Out on Our Own...The Story of the Three Little Pigs: A Puppet Show, their original debut production. But at the end, the big, bad wolf didn't get cooked in a pot of boiling water. Instead, the three pigs and the big bad wolf went into business together, opening a restaurant that featured their vegetable stew recipe, which made up the dinner in the brick house, to the smiles and cheers of children and their parents.

A few of the scenes at Sugar Grove Nature Center.

In such types of presentations, Suspended Belief Theatre has become an important part of the community's entertainment for children. For more of their activities, you can visit their link above.

Thanks for information in this article from Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/samantha-anne-maggio-and-michael-j-vetere-suspended-belief-theater/; this article on Illinois Prairie Community Foundation: http://www.ilprairiecf.org/pigs-on-the-prairie-draws-enthusiastic-crowd/; and the above links.

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