StoneLion: A Narrative of a Kansas City Puppet Theatre

Abstract

StoneLion: A Narrative of a Kansas City Puppet Theatre documents a vital Kansas City, Missouri, non-profit arts organization from its inception to the year 2014. The thesis includes the company’s mission, its evolution from a profit to a non-profit theatre, the process of building and booking performances, and audience’s response. I also interviewed three members of the StoneLion personnel. These were Heather Loewenstein, the founding and artistic director, Tim Cormack, senior head puppeteer, and Taylor Gass, puppeteer and office manager. Lastly, I incorporated my personal experience in a case study when I worked with StoneLion both building and performing their 2012 Mother’s Day for Mother Earth performance of Spirit of the North. Through these interviews, personally archiving documents that feature the StoneLion Puppet Theatre and members of the company, and my first-hand experience working with the company, I was able to address the importance of StoneLion Puppet Theatre’s role in the Kansas City community.