Published Date: May 22, 2006
Madcap’s outreach program to schools featured over 100 performances in over four months. The Dater Foundation is a long-time supporter of Madcap.
Madcap Productions Puppet Theatre, the nation’s largest touring children’s puppet theatre, honored their late founder and artistic director, Jerry Handorf, by making performances in his at Cincinnati Public Schools. Jerry, a native of Cincinnati, built Madcap to provide original, entertaining and educational productions to elementary school audiences, and for families to enjoy together. A nationally recognized expert on children’s literature from around the world, Jerry studied puppetry in Japan (Banraku), Czechoslovakian Black Theatre in the Czech Republic, Ukrainian styles in Kiev, and Chinese shadow puppet techniques. He studied under Jim Henson of the Muppets and was part of the Sesame Street program. All of this knowledge and experience is found in Madcap’s shows, along with the fun and the “WOW factor” for which Jerry and Madcap are known. Jerry loved nothing more than to see the wonder and amazement in the eyes of children viewing a Madcap performance. Their laughter told him they were having fun as only a child can, and that he had succeeded in bringing a magical world to them. This is Jerry’s gift and what Madcap would like to bring to you in his memory.