April 14, 2014

FestiFools 2014

After the crazy-long winter — and FoolMoon’s frozen precipitation — we so appreciated the beautiful spring weather we got for FestiFools. I don’t know if we had a record-sized crowd, but it sure seemed like it. Keeping everyone’s hips shaking were THREE different drum troupes: FestiFools veternans U-M Groove was back again this year. Samba maestros Magali and Philip Galinsky led the U-M Vencedores Band. And Clague Middle School sent a group that looked and sounded totally professional. Ba-da-boom!

I rarely get to see, let alone photograph, Max and Rich’s Foolish antics — they’re just too fast! This year, I sorta cheated by insisting that they hold a pose for me. Thankfully, a talented videographer was impressed by my boys and captured them in action for me to watch over and over and over again. Thanks, Ryan!

Roll tape…

Commence. Robot. Invasion.

FestiFools 2014 | So happy that a herd of young, fashionable water buffalo managed to find FestiFools. | This monstrous puppet, aka The Monster, was created by U-M students Will Hammond and Vedant Dalmia.

So happy that a herd of young, fashionable water buffalo managed to find FestiFools. | This monstrous puppet, aka The Monster, was created by U-M students Will Hammond and Vedant Dalmia.

Frog King puppet created by U-M student Breanna McCarthy.

Volunteer/referee Eric Bassey is on the job at Festifools central.

Me. So. Love. Robots.

FestiFools 2014 | I have it on good authority that local balloon artist extraordinaire Carolynn Hayman, of POP! Designs & Creations, LLC, is ready for rapid deployment as a balloon-lobster — anytime, anyplace, and for any reason (or no reason) at all. | WonderFool Productions (WFP) fundraising director Jeri Rosenberg with WFP founder/creative director Mark Tucker.

I have it on good authority that local balloon artist extraordinaire Carolynn Hayman, of POP! Designs & Creations, LLC, is ready for rapid deployment as a balloon-lobster — anytime, anyplace, and for any reason (or no reason) at all. | WonderFool Productions (WFP) fundraising director Jeri Rosenberg with WFP founder/creative director Mark Tucker.

Fifteen minutes into FestiFools, and my fierce Fools have already done the equivalent of seven Ironman triathlons.

FestiFools 2014 | Front row (l-r): Bethanni Grecynski, Ross Huff, Connor Otto, Brennan Andes. Back row: Drew Schmeiding. (Although can you really call it a “row” if there’s just one guy in it?)

Front row (l-r): Bethanni Grecynski, Ross Huff, Connor Otto, Brennan Andes. Back row: Drew Schmeiding. (Although can you really call it a “row” if there’s just one guy in it?)

Seriously. How could I not take this picture?

I'm utterly defenseless against these robots, too.

Yay! So glad you came out to volunteer!

Ol’ Six Eyes stops by on his way to clean up more industrial waste.

FestiFools 2014 | This group of puppets was a community-wide project spanning two years. The head was originally sculpted by Mark Tucker, papier-mâché’d in septuplicate by an army of community volunteers, painted by local artists including Joel Swanson and Cecily Donnelly, given bodies by visiting artist Jimmie Thompson, and — finally — brought to life by Quinn Strassel’s Community High School theater class.

This group of puppets was a community-wide project spanning two years. The head was originally sculpted by Mark Tucker, papier-mâché’d in septuplicate by an army of community volunteers, painted by local artists including Joel Swanson and Cecily Donnelly, given bodies by visiting artist Jimmie Thompson, and — finally — brought to life by Quinn Strassel’s Community High School theater class.

Community High School teacher Quinn Strassel does double duty: puppet in one hand, adorable son in the other.

Fronds!!!

It’s okay for the crowds to dwarf the puppets. We can hang with that.

FestiFools 2014 | The Violin Monster heard FestiFools was is need of volunteers and heroically returned from New Orleans to join the puppet wranglers. He’s cool like that.

The Violin Monster heard FestiFools was is need of volunteers and heroically returned from New Orleans to join the puppet wranglers. He’s cool like that.

U-M student Paris LaRock (with red shirt) created this giant blue bug.

A closer look at Paris’s glee and the bug’s dental work.

Debbie Dingell with WonderFools Productions (WFP) Producer Shary Brown and WFP Board President Dave Waterhouse.

FestiFools 2014 | These two are part of a group of 8th grade Music and Art students from Clague Middle School. Kudos and big thanks to teachers Dianna Hochella and Kay Pentzien for making such a big splash this year. We should be taking lessons from YOU.

These two are part of a group of 8th grade Music and Art students from Clague Middle School. Kudos and big thanks to teachers Dianna Hochella and Kay Pentzien for making such a big splash this year. We should be taking lessons from YOU.

Priceless.

FestiFools 2014 | Did you know that you can jump into the FestiFools fray at any time. The view and sound is even better from the inside. And you don’t even need an elaborate plan, outfit, puppet, musical apparatus, pogo stick, or the like. No one will bust you for not wearing 15 pieces of flair. (“But some people choose to wear more and we encourage that, okay? You do want to express yourself, don’t you?”)

Did you know that you can jump into the FestiFools fray at any time. The view and sound is even better from the inside. And you don’t even need an elaborate plan, outfit, puppet, musical apparatus, pogo stick, or the like. No one will bust you for not wearing 15 pieces of flair. (“But some people choose to wear more and we encourage that, okay? You do want to express yourself, don’t you?”)