Mission Statement
To entertain and educate, using the highest skills of the art of puppetry to stimulate individual imagination and to create an enthusiasm for live performance art.
Jim Gamble Puppet Productions
is a Southern California-based company that performs throughout the nation and around the world with a repertoire of original state-of-the art productions. Each show is comprised of unique puppet characters and staging and may include various puppetry styles - marionettes, rod puppets, life-size Bunraku-style puppets, hand puppets or shadow puppets. Innovative performance techniques as in Eastern Europe’s "Black Theater" enhance creative rod puppet performances. Unique control mechanisms allow refined manipulation of marionettes.
Over 1800 performances are presented annually in venues ranging from large theater venues to private events. Educators and students from hundreds of schools each year give enthusiastic reviews as they enjoy and learn from the Gamble programs. Art and music festivals spotlight JGPP shows as an enjoyable experience for family audiences.
Since all productions require a high degree of performance skills, each JGPP puppeteer maintains proficiency by performing multiple productions in an active schedule of shows. Constant rehearsal and performance insure the high quality required by the company and presenters of the work. Nationally known artists consult on scripts and set design while office staff oversees sales, marketing, publicity and maintenance of puppets.
JGPP has been touring for more than 40 years and is known for reasonable analysis of travel costs. Productions are designed for fast set-up and strike times, allowing for multiple venues in a single day. All are designed to travel by commercial air or van. The company is a touring artist for the California Arts Council, Los Angeles Music Center Education Division, Orange County Performing Arts Center and Young Audiences of the Bay Area.
Artists Awards and Honors
1993
5 Film Advisory Board Awards for Excellence for videos of puppet productions.
1992
Parent's Choice Award, National Education Film & Video Golden Apple Award
1991
President's Award for Contributions to the Art of Puppetry by Puppeteers of America.
1990
California Assembly Special Resolution in recognition of "extensive contributions to the goals of the Education Division of the L.A. Music Center."
1989-90
"Citation for Excellence in Puppetry" Award by Union Internationale de la Marionette for JGPP production of "Peter and the Wolf."
1988
Special invitation by UNIMA-Nihon Festival Organizing Committee, to perform at World Puppet Festival Nagoya, Iida, & Tokyo (one of two American companies selected.)
1988
First American invited to perform in Iran since Revolution 1979.
1999
Grand Prix International Theatre Festival, Brest, Belaruse.
2000
Grand Prize for Puppet Design and Performance, Serbia, Yugoslavia.
2000
KIDS FIRST! endorsement for video, "Hansel and Gretel. "Commendation by LA County Bd of Supervisors for contributions to cultural enrichment for students.
Tours
California
California Center for the Arts, Cerritos College Lancaster Performing Arts Center, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, Open House at Hollywood Bowl, Sacramento Center Library, Saddleback College, San Diego Children’s Festival, Santa Monica College, Tahoe Arts Project, Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center, Stern Grove Festival, Villa Montalvo Performing Arts Center
National
Detroit Institute of Arts, Fairfield University, Connecticut, Kahilu Theater, Hawaii, Kennedy Theater, Honolulu, Kentucky Derby Festival, Maui Philharmonic Society, Missoula Valleyoop Festival, Oregon Bach Festival, Pittsburgh Children’s Museum, Stanwood-Camano Island Fair
International
Hong Kong, Macau, Italy 2004 - Herzcegovina, 2003 - Italy, 2002, 2003 - Serbia 2000, 2003 - Israel, Russia, Belarus, Yugoslavia, 2001 - Serbia 2000 - France 2000, 2002 - Belarus, Bulgaria, 1999 - Japan, 1999, 1996,1994, 1989, 1988 - Singapore, Iran 1998 - Hong Kong/ New Territories - 1997 - Taejon, Korea, EXPO ’93 - Mexico, 1992 - Micronesia, 1975-77 - Fiji, 1973
