Spiral Q Puppet Theater facts for kids
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| Nonprofit | |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Headquarters | 3114 Spring Garden St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
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Key people
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Tracy Broyles, Executive Director Christina Cantrill, President |
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Number of employees
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Approx. 25 |
Spiral Q Puppet Theater is a special puppet group that started in 1995. It was founded by Matthew "Mattyboy" Hart in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Matthew Hart was inspired by street performances he saw while traveling. He especially liked how groups used puppets and shows to share important messages. When he came back to Philadelphia, he created Spiral Q. He wanted to use puppets, street theater, and big parades to help make good changes in the community.
The Story of Spiral Q
When Spiral Q first began, it was a shadow puppet theater. They put on shows all around the community. Different community groups asked Matthew Hart to create puppets and props for their events. These events helped teach people about important topics. Spiral Q became known for working with groups that wanted fairness and health for everyone.
In 1997 and 1998, Matthew Hart organized the Full-On Puppet Festival. This was a week-long event in Philadelphia. It showed off puppet artists from all over the country. Spiral Q also organized an annual Day of the Dead parade. This parade took place on South Street until 1999. Both the festival and the parade were stopped so the group could focus more on community work.
Puppets, Parades, and Community
Working with a local children's garden gave Spiral Q a new idea. They started making giant puppets with children and adults. These puppets were then carried in parades and big community shows. In 1996, Spiral Q started an annual citywide parade and pageant. It was first called "the Day of the Dead: Celebration and Parade." In 2000, it was renamed "Peoplehood: An All City Parade and Pageant."
Every October, the "Peoplehood" parade begins at the Paul Robeson House. It then ends in Clark Park. Besides these big neighborhood parades, Spiral Q also has other programs. These include their Justice Works Program and Education Initiatives. These programs help people learn and work together.
Since 2000, the theater has been located in the East Mantua area of West Philadelphia. Matthew Hart left the company in 2003 to work on other projects.
Images for kids
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A performer from Spiral Q in the 2007 Peoplehood Pageant
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"The Sleeping Giant" from Spiral Q's 2007 Peoplehood Pageant
