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Mayo Street Arts

Hobey Ford’s “Animalia” explores the world of animals through movement, music and visually stunning puppetry. Breaking out of the traditional puppet theater booth, Hobey Ford turns the whole theatre into his performance stage to the delight of audience members of all ages.

The performance includes a magnified look at butterfly and frog metamorphosis, the world of birds and a classic undersea ballet of whales, frolicking dolphins and otters.

There is a special kind of magic in Ford’s beautiful, animated, carved foam puppets, each one a work of art. In creating these “Foamies,” he carefully studies each animal’s characteristic movements before designing various control mechanisms to make the puppets move in a life-like manner.

Ford is the winner of puppetry's highest honor, the UNIMA Citation of Excellence, and recipient of three Jim Henson Foundation grants. He is known for excellence in puppetry performance and craft.

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Puppets in Portland
September 18-27, 2026
www.PuppetsinPortland.org

A biennial city-wide festival of international puppetry produced by Mayo Street Arts

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Performing Arts

“Animalia” by Hobey Ford's Golden Rod Puppets

Portland Public Library

“Animalia” by Hobey Ford's Golden Rod Puppets

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