/- Thumbs Up '6' ... to the 1997 Michigan Festival, a family extravaganza celebrating the performing arts and our state's cultural heritage. SUZANNE CHESSLER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS T `The wonderful thing is that I can be all of the characters. I do all of the voices and sound effects. There's a lot of slapstick, silliness and variety." Katz's puppetry interests started out- side the United States. "I lived in England for a time and used to watch the 'Punch and Judy' shows," she explained. "The British kids loved them, and I loved them. When my daughter had her sixth birth- day, I asked a neighbor to make me a stage so I could do a puppet show for her party." Katz went on to do birth- day celebrations for other youngsters, getting information before- hand and tailoring each skit to the child with the birthday. "I was used to reading to kids in different voices so I could change my voice for the pup- pets," said Katz, a member of the De- troit Puppeteers Guild and the Pup- peteers of America. Formerly a French teacher, Katz decided to ex- pand her theatrical originals as a consistently good way to earn money and take care of her own youngsters at the same time. Soon, her son and daughter, now grown, be- came assistants when Katz went into synagogues to en- hance holiday celebrations. "I used to do a Chanukah Beth Katz comes out of her stage setup to show off a favorite puppet. show, 'Why the Dragon Stole An annual family extravaganza to cel- Mrs. Froglady's ebrate the performing arts and Michigan's Menorah,' and cultural heritage, this year's festival com- moved into the memorates the 100th anniversary of the secular world with presentations such Oldsmobile. Puppeteer Beth Katz brings her walk- as 'The Frilly Frog ing stage to the festivities, introducing Show,"' explained some new twists to interactive skits aimed Katz, who stream- lines productions at young audiences. "I'm a one-woman puppet theater," said according to the Katz, who has been creating these shows audiences she will for 19 years. "I use a funny stage, which be entertaining. The puppeteer keeps me hidden inside a huge contrap- tion; its openings let me move puppets in added to Her repertoire by de- I and out of different sections. en days packed full of entertain- ment — international music stars, children's programs, an In- dian heritage celebration, parade, chefs' challenge, displays and much more — make up the 1997 Michigan Festival scheduled Aug. 14-24 on the campus of Michigan State University (MSU) and in downtown East Lansing. /7) veloping more academic programs for el- Katz mixes the academic with pup- ementary schools, and in addition to show- petry by rotating her 300 hand-fitting casing commercial puppets, she crafted dolls for library presentations. more and more from recycled "Since I write my own materials. scripts, I have a lot of Building on school experi- space to improvise," she said. ences, she devised teacher "This summer, the audi- workshops on how to use recy- ences, puppets and I will cled materials in the classroom. find fun ways to celebrate "Somebody would call and Michigan." El ask if I had a show on a certain topic," she explained. "I would 1' Beth Katz will be on the say 'yes' and make one up." 1997 Michigan Festival Her most far-reaching school Children's Stage (Old Col initiative has been a teacher lege Field at Michigan State workshop on how to enhance Randy Travis University) at 12:15 and writing skills in various ject sub 2:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15. For information, call 1-800-935-1eEST. areas. Michigan Festival Events There are many entertainment styles booked for the 1997 Michi- gan Festival. The Main Stage lineup ; on the Michigan State Uni- versity campus at the corner of Mount Hope Road and Farm Lane, starts at 8 p.m. every day except for the Aug. 23 show, which starts at 7 p.m. Some of the programs and dates are listed below. To check oth- er events, times and places, call 1-800-935-FEST. Sheryl Crow OLDSMOBILE MAIN STAGE LINEUP Aug. 15: KC & the Sunshine Band Aug. 16: Rosemary Clooney Aug. 17: Daryl Hall & John Oates Aug. 18: Lonnie Brooks Blues Band Aug. 19: Lansing Symphony Broadway Night Aug. 20: Little Richard Aug. 21: Steve Miller Band Aug. 22: Sheryl Crow Aug. 23: Randy Travis, Tammy Wynette, Deana Carter & Daryle Singletary Tammy Vtlyilefte OTHER STAGES Aug. 14-17: MSU Museum Festival of Michigan Folk-life "Car Culture/Workers Culture" Aug. 15-17: Children's Festival Aug. 15-17: MSU on View (Singers, Musicians, Dancers) Aug. 16: Michigan Writers Day (Readings About the Auto Industry) Aug. 16-17: Daytime Music Stages Aug. 17: Chefs' Challenge Micro- brewery/Homebrewers' Competition Aug. 20-23 Oldsmobile's 100-Year Celebration (Parade, • Display, GM Plant Tours, Future Exhibit, Birthday Party) Aug. 2.3-24: .MSU American Indian tierita e Pow Wow'