Smiling Duck Puppet Troupe brings smiles to St. Luke Lutheran and beyond
The Smiling Duck Puppet Troupe will be hosting a “Carol with the Puppets” event at 7:30 p.m. this Friday, Dec. 4 at The Common Cup Coffeehouse at University Lutheran Chapel, 1511 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. The troupe invites kids and families to a sing-a-long of Christmas favorites followed by a meet and greet with the puppets. Free.
Photo by Sharon Kangas
“Kids always hit puppets,” Gordon explains. “It’s a universal phenomenon.”
Kangas started the Smiling Duck Puppet Troupe at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor in 2002, when the church received a large donation of puppets and supplies. At age 14, Kangas saw it as a challenge.
“I studied all of the best puppeteers - I was determined to make something of the opportunity,” said Kangas.
Within only a few short months he was able to build a team and create a ministry. The group, now going on its eighth year, has performed in a variety of settings from Vacation Bible School to schools in Costa Rica.
The puppets drew a crowd of curious on-lookers during a performance in a Costa Rican park
Photo by Gordon Kangas
“Puppets are great for missions - they create a stir.” said Kangas. “People open up to them and they cut through language barriers to make connections that can be difficult, person-to-person.”
Well, the person, to puppet, to person approach seems to be working. Aside from mission trips, the group has recently performed at Eastern Michigan University in a show called “SaturQuack,” and can be seen around town on “personal missions” in the form of puppet grams.
“We created the puppet grams to raise money for Costa Rica,” said Kangas. “It was so popular we kept doing it.”
At the request of a patron, a puppet (accompanied by a person, of course) will come to your home or place of business and deliver a customized message. The group has done puppet grams with topics ranging from “happy birthday” to “I’m sorry you broke your leg.”
“I’ve always wanted to do a break-up puppet gram, but it hasn’t happened yet.” Kangas laughs.
Joking aside the group is really all about getting a point across.
“Puppets are great for delivering a message,” said Kangas,
“The message that is…” said Fred… er…Fredistaire. “Ne-VAH hit a puppet.”
Carly Parker is the Communications Coordinator for St. Luke Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor. St. Luke is a multi-site community which includes St. Luke-Ann Arbor, Living Water and University Lutheran Chapel. Go to www.stlukeaa.org to read more.