FOCUS WORKSHOPS
It's been 5 years but FOCUS is back back! FOCUS Workshops are a special 3-part workshop series offered exclusively on Wednesday and Thursday at National. Last year, more than 60% of attendees participated in at least one track and over 80% of participants marked FOCUS as one of their top 3 classes from the whole week!
FOCUS gives you a chance to work under expert instructors and dive deep into beginner or advanced technique. You’ll practice and pick up new skills while preparing a performance piece to share for Thursday evening’s FOCUS Showcase.
Class sizes are limited. Register early! There is a small commitment fee to save your space.
See our 2019 Workshops to get an idea of what 2024 might look like!
MEET THE
FOCUS
FACULTY
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2019 FOCUS FACULTY
We are so excited to introduce the team we've assembled to lead this year's FOCUS workshops. Together they hold a combined experience of over 100 years but, more importantly, they bring a passion for ministry and excellence that they are eager to share with you. Click on an instructor to read their biography.
Linda and her husband, Ray directed the puppet ministry, “Patchwork” for over 35 years. They utilized puppets, props, blacklights and human visualizations to present the Kingship of our Lord Jesus Christ in a variety of settings. Linda enjoys directing the choir in their Church, teaching the teen Sunday School Class and singing on the Worship team. She is a RN and recently retired as a System Director of Education/School of Nursing in Elmira, NY.
Laura has been passionately involved in puppet ministry for over 15 years with the team Christ In Action (CIA) in Brighton, Colorado. During that time, she has been a puppeteer, choreographer, costumer, prop builder, puppet wrangler, director, and propeteer. She is experienced with rod arm puppets, though their ministry has begun to incorporate more bunraku, human hand puppets, human video, dowel rods and signed english. Laura is striving to become a professional puppeteer with the hopes that
Kristofer is the director of Evergreen Creative Ministries and has over 15 years of experience in multi-media, puppetry, creative arts, and children’s ministry. Kristofer has trained under some of the nation’s top puppeteers. He is the president of the National Fellowship of Christian Puppeteers (FCP). Kristofer is the founder of Kristofer Sommerfeld Productions and the brand “Puppedcation” as well as the new owner of “PlaySoup,” which is best known for being the home of the Toobie puppet line
Amanda Sommerfeld is part of Evergreen Creative Ministries and Love Reached, a contemporary creative arts ministry based in PA. She and her husband, Kristofer, also work together to bring to life the puppets for Kristofer Sommerfeld Productions and PlaySoup. She has been involved in creative ministry for over 15 years and specializes in puppetry, sign language and prop-building.
Kristyn Sommerfeld loves music and has a gift for using sign language as praise and worship. She has over 15 years of experience in puppetry and children’s ministry. She is a member of Evergreen Creative Ministries, her family's creative ministry in PA. Kristyn excels at making a puppet come to life and incorporating strong emotional expression into her interpretive movement and signing.
Garrett’s love of music and drama has played a part in inspiring his desire to share God’s love with others in very unique ways. Garrett has ten years of experience in choreographing for all sorts of creative arts. When Garrett isn’t busy with his Director duties at Chick-fil-A, he works on creative ministry projects with a collective of friends. Whether it be through dramas, dance-infused sign language, or directing productions, he is always striving to be inventive in the creative world.
BEGINNING PUPPETRY
FOCUS
Instructor: Linda MacAuslan
Sessions: Wednesday 2:45-3:45pm;
Thursday 10:00-11:00am; 1:45-2:45pm
This series is for the beginning puppeteer: whether you have zero experience or a bit. We will learn and practice all the techniques needed to bring your puppet to life while learning a short piece for the FOCUS Showcase. Bring a puppet. Let’s have fun!
BEGINNING
CREATIVE MINISTRY FOCUS
Instructor: Kristyn Sommerfeld
Sessions: Wednesday 4:00-5:00pm; Thursday 11:15-12:15pm; 3:00-4:00pm
This series is for anyone interested in venturing beyond the puppet stage or using creative ways to share a message! We’ll explore foundations in creative ministry technique while learning a piece for the FOCUS Showcase.
INTERMEDIATE PUPPETRY
FOCUS
Instructor: Laura Wray
Sessions: Wednesday 2:45-3:45pm; Thursday 10:00-11:00am; 1:45-2:45pm
This series is for puppeteers comfortable with the basics, lip-synch, and using an arm rod. Let’s fine-tune your technique, double arm rods, and movement while preparing a song for the FOCUS Showcase. Bring a puppet, 2 arm rods and energy!
INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED
CREATIVE MINISTRY FOCUS
Instructor: Garrett Elliott
Sessions: Wednesday 4:00-5:00pm; Thursday 11:15-12:15pm; 3:00-4:00pm
In this series, we will be working to push our creative ministry, artistry, and performance skills forward with different techniques while preparing a performance piece together. This class will perform for the FOCUS Showcase.
ADVANCED PUPPETRY
FOCUS
Instructors: Kristofer & Amanda Sommerfeld
Sessions: Wednesday 2:45-3:45pm; Thursday 10:00-11:00am; 1:45-2:45pm
This series is for advanced puppeteers ready for a challenge beyond rod-arm puppetry. We’ll work together to bring more complex puppets and push our skills forward while preparing for the FOCUS Showcase.