Puppets and Masks in Star Wars Forum at Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry

The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry will host Puppets and Masks in Star Wars, a forum with Professor Colette Searls on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at 7 pm. Dr. Searls, a professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will discuss the vital role that puppets, masks, and performing objects play in the Star Wars saga. Drawing from her 2023 book A Galaxy of Things: The Power of Puppets and Masks in Star Wars and Beyond, she will explore how non-human characters—such as droids, masked figures, and animatronic creatures—enhance storytelling in ways that conventional human characters cannot.

The discussion will focus on how these performing objects contribute to the depth and emotion of Star Wars by using “distance, distillation, and duality” to tell meaningful stories. This free event is open to the public, with donations greatly appreciated. Refreshments will be served. The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry is located at 1 Royce Circle, Storrs, CT. For more details, visit the Ballard Institute’s website or contact bimp@uconn.edu.