Broadway Bears 2008 Edition

[puppetmaker]

We go to Broadway Bears every year. We admire the bears and compliment the people who work on them because each and every one is a work of art. And the designers keep trying to out do themselves and their fellow bear artists. It is an interesting mix of Broadway costumer designers, doll makers, and fiber artists. The past couple of years the date had gotten changed due to snow and ice but not this year. Just a bit of rain which was manageable.

This year had a lot of stunning bears. Ariel is visiting her friend Rina and for the first time in a long time was not at the auction. Which was commented on by several of the regulars who are use to seeing her and catching up on a years worth of news in under 5 minutes. They were also amazed at how tall Caroline is getting and that this year she was willing to hold a conversation with them.

One set of special bears that were created for this year were the Bad Idea Bears from Avenue Q. They even had a sound chip in each that if you set it off right, they would talk to each other about buying beer and what a good idea that was. (This is much funnier if you have seen the show). Rick Lyons built them and Jennifer Barnhart and Rick, who were the original Bad Idea Bears, signed them. They were beautiful to behold and went for a very nice amount of money to a really big Avenue Q fan who had put aside quite a bit of money to make sure that they got them.

After the show I saw Jennifer, who I have met, and Rick standing to the side. Jennifer was trying to convince Rick to go on stage and get his picture taken with the rest of the designers. Rick didn't want to. I went over and reintroduced myself to Jennifer who, once I told her the context of where we met, remembered me. She introduced me to Rick who is one of my idols. I love his puppets a lot. We talked about puppets and puppetry for a bit and then they got pulled off. Later I gave my card to Rick since I was telling him about the Doctor Who Puppets and the costumes for the puppets. So I was floating after that chance meeting.

I am grateful that we went to see the Broadway Bears this year.

Comments

[nux-vomica.livejournal.com]

caroline is really lucky to have these experiences in her childhood.

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I am trying to make her early childhood interesting but considering the wacky life we lead, it is not that hard. *grin*

[nux-vomica.livejournal.com]

i am currently writing a short essay for my english class about that sort of thing; the topic is commercialism and consumerism. it's too long to post in your comment file but mebbe i do it in my LJ.

[hergrace.livejournal.com]

That sounds so cool! Jennifer is nice, isn't she? Also fab to get to meet and chat with someone whose work you admire so very very much. I saw your icon and went "woot! Avenue Q" :-D

[caitriona27.livejournal.com]

Jeff would have killed for the Bad Idea Bears!! I haven't been able to get him to stop saying "A six pack makes me sad".

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

When Rick and Jennifer came on with the puppets and they started ripping on the stuffed bears I could not stop laughing. I will be making a Bad Idea Bears Icon.

[caitriona27.livejournal.com]

Can you explain why they did puppets with the hand sticks (like Kate Monster, or Rod) , but Trekkie Monster and Nicky had to have 2 puppeteers?? I can kind of see it for Trekkie because he's so big (and I'd love a Trekkie of my own!) but I didn't get the whole thing with Nicky.