Puppets, Bubbles, and Music: ImaginOcean Makes a Splash at FSU

Last month at Frostburg State University, Tony-Award winner John Tartaglia presented his critically acclaimed puppet show, ImaginOcean. Tartaglia has been seen on Broadway in productions of Shrek and Beauty and the Beast. He also created and starred in the series “Johnny and the Sprites” that was shown on The Playhouse Disney.

 This event lasted about an hour and took place in Lane Center’s Pearle Hall.   Based on a book written by Tartaglia, ImaginOcean is a fun, entertaining glow-in-the-dark puppet show for children of all ages.  Music and lyrics were by William Wade. Direction and musical staging was by Donna Drake.  Imagination was the theme of the event. This show “features Muppet-style aquatic creatures, all expertly manipulated in black light by invisible puppeteers,” said Laurel Graeber from The New York Times.

Jam-packed with dozens of children in after school programs throughout the area, ImaginOcean was a huge success.  Ranging from ages 6 – 12, children travelled from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia to see the event.  Before the show, kids were piling in from both sides of the theatre in the Lane Center.  Teachers experienced slight difficulty in calming the children down, but there wasn’t a bad seat in the house. 

“I’m so excited for this… I never get out of the house!” exclaimed William Parker, 71-year-old retiree.  As the show began, the lights started to dim and all the kids went, “Ah!”  Glow in the dark puppets appeared and asked the audience, “Are you excited down there?” Children excitedly screamed, “Yes!” as bubbles started to burst through the air into the audience. Kids jumped up and down in the first couple rows to pop the bubbles as the puppets announced, “We are about to take a trip down to the ocean floor to meet new friends.”  

The first song began as puppets Dorsel, Bubbles, and Tank were introduced.  They found a treasure map and wanted to get to the location of “Shell Reeve”.  As their adventure began, they came across these cool looking Jellyfish puppets that started to dance to the song, “Jellyfish Jive.”  All the puppets have an interaction with the audience making us want to sing along and dance with them.

“It was great, the kids really enjoyed interacting with the show,” said Sage Thomas, local mother of two.  “I think they learned a lot today,” she said.  “Yes we learned how to use our imagination,” said her daughter.