The City of Chicago is contemplating a multi-million dollar buy of a large-scale marionette theater to play out on the streets of Chicago in Summer, 2016. Domestic puppeteers think the money should stay domestic, and the city should hire the work out here in the Good Old US of A. I agree.
Rick Lazzarini owns The Character Shop, one of LA's big animatronic and puppet shops. You've seen his work, from Budweiser commercials to the movie Aliens. Rick has started a change.org petition to get the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events to hire the work out domestically, and keep those hard-earned American tax dollars here in the US.
His rationale:
The City of Chicago is considering a multimillion-dollar deal with a French company featuring giant marionettes for the summer of 2016. DCASE Spokesman Jamey Lundblad said:"We've spoken with Royal de Luxe and believe their unique street theater productions have a positive social and economic impact on their host cities.”
I have an idea for an even more positive social and economic (and economically responsible) impact, and using the same idea: Use HOME-GROWN, local, and American talent to design, create, and perform a Giant Puppet performance event.
Artisans, Craftspeople, Technicians, Artists, and Puppeteers in the U.S.A. don’t get the respect or income they deserve. Why spend hundreds of thousands, or millions to ship, transport, and house foreign talent and tons of giant puppets and support equipment?
Why, indeed? Chicago has a chance to help its local economy, and the economies of other states, with a well-thought out project that could ultimately have more relevance and impact to the people of Chicago and the tourists who visit by the thousands.
This isn't just about spending money on large-scale marionettes. It's also about supporting artists, writers, musicians, and performers - US citizens, all! I think it's a great idea, and I hope you will, too.
Please sign Rick's petition and get the word out: Come on, Chicago. Buy local!