Prof. Bart Roccoberton

Direktor des Puppet Arts Program
an der State University of Connecticut


Meine Damen und Herren, liebe Freunde!
Hochverehrte Gäste! Guten Abend!

Mein Name ist Bart Roccoberton. Ich bin Professor und Direktor für die Ausbildung der Puppenspieler an der Universität von Connecticut. Ich bin glücklich hier zu sein, aber mein Deutsch ist nicht so gut.
Können Sie mir verzeihen, I will speak in English.

My relationship with Albrecht Roser started some 25 years ago. I was a student at the University of Connecticut. I was given the privilege of working on a residency by Albrecht Roser and Ingrid Höfer. It was the first time that Albrecht taught and it was in a language that was not his own. We learned very quickly that we had a teacher, who wanted to give us everything he could. He wanted quickly bring us to understand his level so that we could go beyond it. At the same time that he gave us many gifts he challenged us to think. My relationship has continued with Albrecht and he has been my guide and a constant companion in my career. He has guided me as a performer and as a puppeteer. Through his effort I become a teacher. He has helped me to shape the puppetry of America. But he would let me stay in America. He instisted that my work should be international.
My first trip to Europe was in 1992 just after Slowenia had broken away from Jugoslawia. I was supposed to go to an International Meeting in Ljubljana. Our television news was showing terrible things of Jugoslawia. I was afraid. Albrecht said to me: Come, but come to Stuttgart first. You'll understand and you will feel better. And he was right. In these days, when many Americans were not thinking of travelling, when I realized I was coming to Stuttgart, I had no hesitation.

My work has brought me to Europe, South America and Central America. I have learned that in all these places I can gain friends in a moment by saying one word: Roser. The name stands for quality, for a vision. And I have learned that he has many students around the world, and I have a very big family.
My work has continued to bring me on to Asia and I have had the honour to work with the Ming Ri Theatre in Hongkong. The director of this theatre is Simon Wong and he is here tonight. You would stand up Simon. (Applause). Simon and I are very good friends and we laid a plan to bring together the best puppeteer in the West with the best puppeteer in the East. Two years ago I had the privilege to travel with Ingrid and Albrecht to Taiwan, Hongkong and Kanton. And Simon Wong had arranged
for Mr. Huang each way to be there and Mr. Huang each way is here tonight. (You would stand up Mr. Huang). Simon and I had the pleasure to watch the two men together, to see two men who had been separated by distance and history become brothers. It was a very special time and you will have the opportunity to see this yourself tomorrow.

I also carry a message with me from the two national organisations of puppetry of the United States. I must say this is the first thing in 60 years that the two organisations have done together.

Proclamation


WHEREAS
Albrecht Roser and Gustaf are celebrating their 50th anniversary (What a surprise!);and

WHEREAS
Albrecht has been a major influence on American puppetry
for twenty-five years through stunning artistic example and as a compassionate and inspiring teacher (In Granny's own words, "Learn, learn, learn!"); and

WHEREAS
through his amazing almost mystical powers of observation
he knits together portraits of human life that touch our souls; and

WHEREAS
Albrecht lifts us gently from our center of gravity and plays on our emotions like a symphony; and

WHEREAS
through Albrecht we have been blessed with the kindness,
grace, and humor of Ingrid Hofer; and

WHEREAS
Albrecht continues of apply his artistic and technical genius to extend puppetry into the future while preserving the integrity of tradition;

THEREFORE, the joint Boards of the Puppeteers of America, Inc. and UNIMA-USA hereby proclaim Albrecht Roser our honored professor, esteemed artist, and treasured friend.

This was the first ever joint proclamation issued by the two
U.S. Puppetry Organizations.



(Albrecht Roser Lauded by US Puppetry Organizations:The Boards of Puppeteers of America and UNIMA-USA unanimously approved the following Proclamation:.
Presented first in Tampa, FL July 13, 2001
read by Randel McGee, President UNIMA-USA and
Steve Abrams, President, Puppeteers of America )





Program for the
50th Anniversary of GUSTAF AND HIS ENSEMBLE


November 10 at 7.30 p. m.
GUSTAF AND HIS ENSEMBLE, Albrecht Roser,
Scenes for string puppets
(Schauspielhaus, Stuttgart)

November 11 at 11 a.m. Matinee
Scenes for string puppets:
Albrecht Roser and Yi-que Huang
(Schauspielhaus Stuttgart)

November 11 at 8 p.m.
Yi-que Huang, China
Soloprogram with string puppets,
(Theater im Depot, Stuttgart)

November 16 at 8 p.m.
FLAMINGO BAR,
figurentheater tübingen; Frank Soehnle,
(Theater im Depot, Stuttgart)

November 17 at 3 p.m.
THE STRING PUPPET -
WORDWIDE TRADITION AND INNOVATION ON STRINGS
(Linden-Museum, Stuttgart)
Presentation of scenes of string puppets by
Yi-que Huang, Prof. Roser, Frank Soehnle,
and an international discussion with participants from China, USA, Poland, France, Germany,
Evelyn Lattewitz, SWR will lead the discussion.

November 17 at 9 p.m. METAMORPHOSEN,
Theater MESCHUGGE, Ilka Schönbein,
(Kammertheater Stuttgart)

November 18 at 3 p.m.
Yi-que Huang, China
Soloprogram for string puppets,
program for the whole family
(Lindenmuseum Stuttgart)

November 18 at 6 p.m. METAMORPHOSEN,
Theater MESCHUGGE, Ilka Schönbein,
(Kammertheater Stuttgart)