VIDEO: 2011 O'Neill Puppetry Conference

The 2011 O'Neill National Puppetry Conference will come to an end this week and the results of the past eight days of intense rehearsals and workshops will be available for all to see.

Public performances of the new sketches and skills are Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center. Tickets are available online and at the theatre's box office on .

Brief History

Rufus and Margo Rose, of Waterford, were instrumental in establishing the annual puppetry conference 21 years ago after a long and renowned career of puppeteering around the world. Their mission was to promote and encourage various performance styles and create new works for the puppet theatre.

In 2011, 59 participants joined the conference, which is an increase from past years, according to Artistic Director Pam Arciero, of Wilton, who is well known for her performance on Sesame Street as Oscar the Grouch's girlfriend, Grudgetta. 

This year's conference has attracted participants from India to Alaska who have signed up for the opportunity to work with professionals in all realms of puppetry from shadow puppets to marionettes to choreography and marionette building, according to Arciero.