Faire(s):
- King Richard's Faire (Kenosha, WI)
- King Richard's Faire (Carver, MA)
Groups/Characters:
Years:
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Memorial set for puppeteer, actor,
Raymond J Nelson, 46
A memorial service for Raymond J. Nelson, an actor
and award-winning puppeteer who founded Chicago's Puppet Place, will be
held at 6 p.m. Nov. 26 at the Organic Theater, 3319 N. Clark.
Mr. Nelson, 46, died of heart and
liver failure Oct. 6 at Borgress Hospital in Kalamazoo, Mich., said the
executor of his estate, Chris Sherbak. Burial was private.
In 1979, Mr. Nelson founded the family theater on
North Halsted when his puppet troupe, the Dark Theater of Chicago, merged
with two others. Puppet Place has staged theater productions for
children and adults, often incorporating live performers.
Mr. Nelson was noted for his puppet performances at
Urban Gateways, Orchestra Hall, and the Goodman Theatre. His many
awards included two local Emmyss he won in the 1980's while mater pupeteer
for a children's television program, "Magic Door," which was
sponsored by the Chicago Board of Rabbis.
John Byrne, managing director of Puppet Place, said,
"He was our mentor, our colleague and our friend. The spirit he
left will live with us."
Mr. Nelson left Puppet Place to live in Watervliet,
Mich., about 10 years ago, but he continued to serve as artistic director.
Today, the troupe operates as a traveling company.
A large, bearded man, Mr. Nelson was seldom seen,
because of his backstage work with his characters. But he was a
familiar figure to many people who visited the Bristol (Wis.) Renaissance
Faire every year. He played King Richard there until a few years
ago, then continued to serve as a storyteller and puppeteer. He also
had acting roles at the Goodman, Body Politic, and Organic theaters.
Mr. Nelson started his life's work during his
childhood. Inspired by Burr Tillstrom, the creator of Kukla, Fran
and Ollie, he used crude puppets to give backyard shows at his Homewood
home.
"When I first saw the show, I really freaked
out, and I thought that beyond that little stage, you know, the puppets
had a living room and a kitchen," he said in a Chicago Sun-Times
interview. "But when I found out that beyond the stage there
was nothing but a TV studio, that was OK, because that meant that I could
create this magic, too."
He eventually left Homewood for the Back of the Yards
area and later moved to the North Side.
Mr. Nelson was a member of the Puppeteers of America,
Actors Equity and U.N.I.M.A., an international organization of puppeteers.
He also belonged to the Chicagoland Puppetry Guils, where he was a past
president.
He leaves no immediate survivors.
Thanks to Diane Hayes (nee Rugger) for this
info.
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