TJ Hanretta is the owner of Playful Evolving Monsters, a Chattanooga-based company dedicated to nurturing community and personal wellbeing through art, puppetry, and play. She designs, builds, and performs puppets of all styles and sizes, from those as simple as sock puppet monsters, or rod puppet hummingbirds to 15 ft tall giant puppet dragons for parades and festivals. She also teaches others to design, build, and perform such puppets. She works regularly with the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera, the Creative Discovery Museum, ArtsBuild, and many other organizations, offering shows, puppet “playshops” (more fun than “workshops”), classes, residencies, etc.
Sample Programs Offered
Program Type: Arts Integration, Arts Appreciation
Program Description:
| In this 90-minute program for children ages 6-10, each student will create their own bird puppet as per the attached pattern and instructions, and learn to perform it. We will use the puppets to bring focus to questions surrounding the characteristics of birds and flight, and compare and contrast to the characteristics of humans. |
Lesson Plan Example: Download File
Program Type: Arts Integration, Arts Appreciation
Program Description:
Lesson Plan Example: Download File
