This is Lorraine as she appears in the book by Ketch Secor and lovingly rendered by award-winning illustrator Higgins Bond. 

It is the work of in-house artist Morgan to translate that vision into a puppet design. The process begins on paper, where she draws lots of illustrations and plans.

Mary Mary sculpts Lorraine's head out of clay, and makes a mold by submerging the head in custom-built containers—made from LEGO bricks—filled with silicon solution.

After the negative mold is made, the artists use a product called "Sculpwood" to press into the molds. This allows the troop to create two identical Lorraines, so there is a version of her playing her penny whistle and a version that is not. They do the same thing for her hands and feet. When the heads come out of the mold they are ready to be painted.

Meanwhile, the bodies (torsos) are made by sewing fabric together and stuffing them, just like a stuffed animal. The arms and legs are carved out of wooden dowels and jointed with pieces of metal.

Once the body is put together it's given to our costumer, Evelyn, who uses the drawings to fashion identical yellow dresses for the puppets.  

After Lorraine is assembled and dressed, they can start stringing the puppet. Library Pete makes wooden control bars based on the same design that Tom Tichenor used. Then he drills tiny holes through the hands, knees, and elbows, and tie strings to make them move.

Now Lorraine is ready to sing and dance, and play the penny whistle. Director Brian Hull is ready to begin rehearsing with the puppets, and bring Lorraine to life.

Come see Lorraine’s debut this Friday and Saturday, October 10 and 11, at 10:30 & 11:30am, or see the full show run.

Brian Hull and Ketch Secor (who also performs the score) adapted the show from the book, Lorraine: The Girl Who Sang the Storm Away.

Stay tuned for more Wishing Chair Productions behind-the-scenes stories in future posts!