In-Person and Virtual Programs
Firelight has recently presented programs for communities in California, Canada, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. Contact us to book YOUR community over the coming year!
In-Person and Virtual Assemblies
Shadow puppetry is an age-old art form that features the shadows of two-dimensional puppets cast upon a backlit screen. With its bold shapes and dynamic movement, it’s a magical medium that’s perfectly suited to bring best-loved stories to life for young audiences.
Firelight Shadow Theater is now offering both in-person and virtual (live and pre-recorded) assembly programs. Each assembly features a mixture of interactive segments interspersed with versions of shadow theater performances. Best of all, at the end of each assembly, Daniel provides a step-by-step demonstration for creating shadow puppets from scratch, as well as free online access to downloadable puppet templates and scripts.
“Spin Me a Shadow, Tell Me a Tale"
SFPL SWANA Assembly
(5-12 year-olds, 45 minutes)
Help SFPL celebrate Southwest Asian and North African Heritage (SWANA) stories and discover the magical world of shadow puppetry with Daniel Barash of Firelight Shadow Theater. In this program, after first introducing audience members to the art of shadow puppetry (including numerous puppets from Southeast Asia), Daniel will share fast-paced shadow puppetry versions of best-loved folktales from around the world, including the SWANA region. At the end of the assembly, Daniel will teach audience members how to create shadow puppets from scratch, and provide free online access to puppet templates and a story script, so families can continue the fun at home.
*Please see an intro video to the right, and please note that although SWANA stories are not present in this video, there will be featured stories in the SWANA assemblies.
"Assembly Overview"
"Gecko"
Workshops, Residencies & Special Events
With over 20 years sharing shadow theater in classrooms around the country, Firelight’s Creative Director Daniel Barash is now offering both virtual and in-person workshops, residencies and special events that are perfect for families, schools, libraries, rec centers, scouts, and even special events.
Make shadow puppets, learn performance techniques, rehearse behind the shadow screen, dim the lights, and share your performances!
A workshop is one session, while a residency unfolds over a multi-session schedule.
Multi-session residencies allow students to delve deeper into the worlds of both shadow puppetry and curricular content. Modeled on an Arts Integration approach to teaching and learning, participants first practice shadow theater techniques, which they then use to create performances that demonstrate their understanding of specific curricular content.
Part 1: Daniel will introduce the history and art of shadow puppetry to the class, including foundational shadow theater techniques.
Part 2: Daniel will help students create shadow puppets that can be used to explore a pre-determined curricular area that students are learning about in class.
Part 3: Daniel will introduce the rehearsal process to students so that they can bring this curricular area “to life” behind the shadow screen.
Part 4: Daniel will facilitate small-group rehearsals, helping students to practice their shadow puppetry presentations.
Part 5: Daniel will facilitate in-class sharing of student performances, and then brainstorm with students other areas of the curriculum that could be explored using shadow puppetry.
As shadow puppetry is a highly accessible art-form that appeals to both teachers and students, it is very likely that this “taste of shadow puppetry” will lead to many more explorations long after the formal mini-residencies have concluded.
Workshops, Residencies, & Special Events
"Making Puppets"
"Behind the Screen"
"The Rehearsal Process"
"Gecko"
Professional Development
Negotiated Fees
Daniel Barash, Director of Firelight Shadow Theater, has been a Kennedy Center Teaching Artist since 2010. In this capacity, he has traveled throughout the country training educators how to use this magical medium with their learning communities. Currently a National Consultant with Focus 5, Inc., a leader in the field of Arts Integration, he conducts in-person and virtual Professional Development workshops for individuals and groups. Contact Daniel to discuss trainings in your community!