Puppetry
Chuck built his first puppet as a freshman in college in 1972. As a children's theater major in a small state college his first children's performances consisted of tours through rural South Georgia and North Florida. Chuck finished his college career in California touring inner-city schools in the San Francisco area. He felt there was a bigger need for his work in rural areas and started his first theater in the mountains of North Georgia doing both children's work and experimental adult and family theater. In 1978 Chuck started working with the internationally-acclaimed Bread And Puppet Theater on their Domestic Resurrection Circus summer festivals in Glover,Vermont. In 1986 he moved to Vermont and stated touring with B+P as a puppeteer and musician,performing at several international festivals including the LA Festival in Los Angeles, the Asia-Pacific Festival in South Korea, The Jim Henson Puppetry Festival in New York City, and the 4th Festival Internacional de Artes Cenicas throughout Brazil. It was during this time that Chuck learned the many different puppetry styles that he incorporates into his Red Wing shows today.
Music
Chuck started playing ukelele at age 5. On his 10th birthday he received his first guitar. Being in Macon, Ga. he naturally started with bluegrass, country and rockabilly, playing in his first professional band by the time he was 13. After a brief period of rock and roll work Chuck began his folk work while in college. With a repertoire of over 500 songs he continues to develop his style and has recently added ukelele and hammered dulcimer to his acts. Chuck performs in clubs, festivals and town halls around New England. Music is a big part of The Red Wing Puppet Theater's performances. Chuck particularly likes to play and sing traditional Appalachian children's tunes
Other Work
Chuck is the managing director of Vermont Stage Young Playwrights. He also has been the technical director for The Governor's Institute On The Arts since 1989. Besides his work with Red Wing, Chuck occasionally works with the Boston and New York City based Puppeteer's Cooperative. In August of 2004 Chuck performed at the Lincoln Center"s Out Of Door Festival with the Cooperative, narrating and providing puppet voices. (see photo)
For booking information or more info call (802) 472-3709 or e-mail chuckmeese@vtlink.net