Master performer
JCHS graduate becomes master puppeteer, founds American Kasper Theatre
By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor

Franklin Bunn, a 1986 graduate of Jenkins County High School, studied puppetry in Germany and founded the American Kasper Theatre, a one-of-its-kind theatre show. (Photos contributed)

Many graduates of Jenkins County High School (JCHS) have gone on to establish successful careers for themselves as doctors, lawyers, educators, athletes and other professionals. Only one, however, has traveled to Germany to master the art of puppetry.

Franklin Bunn, a 1986 graduate of JCHS and Burke County native, founded the American Kasper Theatre and realized a lifelong dream to not only become a puppeteer, but a "Kasper," which is the name of a traditional German glove puppet whose history goes back hundreds of years.

"About 10 years ago, I happened upon a book of puppetry that featured a small chapter dedicated to German puppetry and the "Hohnstein" theater in what was then East Germany.

One picture of a puppet caught my eye, and it turned out to be "Kasper", the hero of the traditional folk puppetry of Germany.

So for the next few years I collected as much information about Kasper and the Hohnsteiners as I could and continued to sculpt and create puppets of my own," said Bunn.

"Kasper" is one of the stars of Bunn's puppet theatre.

He added, "I began to see a possible career in puppet theatre as a culmination of all my collected talents: sculpting, painting, writing, performing, set-building and music. Kasper was old, rooted deep in tradition and unexploited in America. Kaspertheater still had a sense of purity about it."

After a tour of duty in the U.S. Army when he was stationed in Germany, Bunn trav-

eled back to Germany to study the art of puppetry. At a show in Würzburg, he met and befriended, Udo Gläser, a respected puppeteer and Kasper artist. Glaser invited Bunn to come and live with him in Germany and learn about Kaspertheater. Upon returning to the United States, Bunn founded the American Kasper Theatre, a one-of-its-kind show with performances scheduled across the country.

"No matter how seemingly absurd, our dreams are valid- your dreams are valid! They are just waiting for you to find a way to bring them into reality, into solid form: From idea to invention. A great musician once told me: Sometimes, when your intentions are pure and you work hard enough, the universe will get behind you and push. He was absolutely right," said Bunn.

Bunn is scheduled to return to Germany this fall for four to five weeks to work with Glaser and have some puppets carved. There is even talk of an overseas tour next year. And while the "big stage" is inviting, he states that he would also "love the chance to perform in Millen."

"We'll see," he said.