Kid Works Puppet Theatre

Kids Works provides health and safety information to youth using life-sized puppets to convey important messages in a way that students understand. The presentations are designed to heighten awareness by diffusing the myths and stereotypes surrounding disabilities, social issues, and individual differences. Kids Works performs for over 30,000 students each year. These students learn about topics ranging from drugs and "stranger danger" to living with diabetes and blindness.

Performances are presented in the traditional Japanese "Bunraku" method of puppetry with the use of large puppets, and puppeteers are draped in black with a black background. Presentations feature those puppets most suited to the children and needs of the group. The presentations may be tailored to serve the individual needs of a site. The programs are very interactive, with many opportunities for audience participation.

Grants, agreements for service, fundraising and donations provide support for Kids Works. Each puppet "kid" has a distinct personality and background history, and is available for annual adoption by individuals and organizations. Annual adoption helps keep the program costs low and accessible so Kids Works can continue to serve the children of our communities.

For more information about Kids Works, please call us at (209) 579-9115.

Program Topics

Personal Safety (Pre K - 3rd grades)
Water Safety (Pre K - 3rd grades)
Ageism (K - Adult)
Coping with Crisis (Terrorism/War) (K - 8th grades)
Tobacco Education (Pre K - 3rd grades)
Disabilities & Differences (Pre K - 5th grades)
ADHD/Mental Health (3rd - 6th grades)
Dental and Physical Health (1st - 3rd grades)
Body Image and Weight (K - 8th grades)
Cultural Awareness (K - 8th grades)
Respect/Violence/Prejudice (K - 8th grade)
Substance Abuse Prevention (4th - 8th grades)
Teen Pregnancy Prevention (6th - 8th grades)
AIDS/HIV/STD (6th - 8th grades)
Bullies & School Safety (K - 6th grades)

Fee Schedules

Stanislaus County:
1 program - $150
2 programs - $280 ($130 for 2nd program)
3 programs - $380 ($100 for 3rd program)
4 programs - $480 ($100 for 4th program)

Surrounding Counties (San Joaquin, Merced, Tuolumne):
1 program - $175 (includes mileage)
2 programs - $325 ($150 for 2nd show, includes mileage)
3 programs - $460 ($135 for 3rd show, includes mileage)
4 programs - $595 (135 for 4th program, includes mileage)

100 Students MAXIMUM per program. Comfortable assembly size = 60-80 students.

Note: This fee schedule is per program at the same site and on the same topic. You cannot receive the discounted prices with combined topics/sites, due to time and materials constraints.

Student Puppeteer Teams

Student Teams are one of the ways that Kids Works reaches out into the community. In training student puppeteers and having them perform the programs in their area schools, youth see their peers modelling correct behaviours. The team learns community involvement, as well as how to be good role models. The cost to train a student team of 5-7 student puppeteers is $1,000.

Training fee includes:

30 hours of staff time per team (includes school meetings, auditions, contacting students prior to each program, training, correspondence)
T-shirts for performances
Food/snack for training days
Materials for puppeteers (includes printing, coping, postage, program folders)
Mileage

All that is then required of the school is that they furnish a practice area. The usual arrangement is a classroom with a teacher's consent. Kids Works would need to utilize this space before or after school once each week for their team practice. The team of 5-7 students will be chosen by audition, and will generally practice one hour for one day per week until they are "trained." Training usually takes one to 1½ months. The team is then taken to different school sites one school day each month, and the students perform the program that they have learned for local school students.

DMC Foundation - 730 McHenry Avenue, Modesto, CA 95350
Monday through Thursday: 8:00am to 5:00pm, Friday: 8:00am to 3:00pm
Ph: (209) 527-3412
Fax: (209) 527-1512
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