The days when Christmas entertainment at theater companies meant “A Christmas Carol” and little else are long over. Almost every...
This weekend’s National Puppet Slam brings together a slate of puppeteers from around the country for two days of adult-themed shows Atlanta’s Center for Puppetry Arts, including one gay-themed show.
Atlantan Gregg Van Laningham’s piece, “Jeremy’s Big Heart,” is the only gay-themed puppet show in the program for the Slam, set for Aug.3-4. In it, the titular Jeremy is a kid, circa nine years old or so, who is hard at work making a Valentine’s Day card for another student in his class — who happens to be a boy.
When Jeremy’s mother finds out, she has mixed emotions.
“She wants him to be able to finish it but she fears what will happen if he does give it,” says Van Laningham, who is gay.