Today we’d like to introduce you to Tristan Tom.
Tristan, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I created “Grandma D & the Magic Book Machine”, an interactive youth puppet reading show. I wanted to change the world for little people and old people alike in a small way. Everyone loves a safe place to read with friends while just “being themselves”.
I came up watching the best- Anything Henson-especially Sesame Street, I wanted to live in “Land of Make Believe” on “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood”, I watched the “Sharon, Lois and Brahm’s THE Elephant Show”, “Fred Panner’s Place”, “The Bozo Show” had a talking dog puppet that read letters that I loved, and I couldn’t get enough of Captain Kangaroo, was mesmerized by Pinwheel, and was the biggest fan of the overlooked “Eureka’s Castle’ … Basically, if there was a puppet on it- I watched or tried too.
I spent college in theatrical costume design and then after college in my early 20’s, puppetry came into my life- when I toured with Sesame Street Live! After leaving, I spent many years working in professional Chicago theatre costuming and eventually I went back to school for Early Childhood Education and I decided to start creating puppets myself to introduce them as part of my classroom reading “story time” and music with “Fifi Lafontaine” -where it became something the children enjoyed.
Then in the summer of 2015, My “classroom style” workshop “The Puppet Project” was introduced “The Life Learning Center’s ‘Peace Camp'”where under my direction the children ages 5-17 made their own working puppets, wrote their own shows and performed them for family members and the nuns at the end of the month.
After realizing that children truly respond to puppetry and to reading books with puppets, I began to develop my puppet story time show. And last summer when “Grandma D and the Puppet Play Date” (Now Grandma D and the magic book making machine) debut with four different “episodes” each weekend I was able to see the show come to life on stage in front of audiences of children at Chicago Pride Theatre in the Uptown area of Chicago.
In development, I wanted to carefully construct lovable advocates for LGBT children and their allies, create a safe space for kids to be themselves and promote early childhood literacy. I started with the key character. I know how children “look up to” grandparents or those they see as grandparent types- so I wanted to create a puppet that was a warm, grandmotherly character who was silly and intelligent, cuddly yet cuttingly real – like grandmas are like mine were like yours like everyone. If you didn’t have one, Grandma D was yours. Everyones.
I wanted to create a character that would make everyone smile. Like the woman who the character is loosely based on. Grandma D. is someone we can all laugh with. laugh at, read, sing, feel safe around and most importantly be themselves with. I created the idea behind “Grandma D and her “puppet pals” to create a space for LGBT children, as an opportunity to foster sound values of self-esteem, empathy, personal responsibility, and creativity.
The program is unique because it includes audience participation and interaction with the puppets. The show is not specifically a theatrical experience- in that it is literacy based with specific themes in which the puppets read 2-3 books to the “new reading friends”. Throughout the puppet show, the “reading group” will experience a “magic book making machine” which “creates” the books that the group would be reading. The book’s themes mirror the overall theme to which puppet show is based.
We had been performing every weekend this past summer with great response and would LOVE to bring that kind of enjoyment to you and your toddlers! We know that not every organization has the room to provide such an interesting show which is why we invite you on a “field trip to grandma’s cottage” for reading and fun! Grandma’s cottage is located in Pride Theatre 4139 N Broadway in the Uptown area. The shows allow for enough time for the children to get situated, see a show, and get back to the school before lunchtime. And is easily available to do after nap time.
As an educator myself I used puppets in my classroom which is just another reason why I am seeking to expand the program into visiting schools, libraries and other organizations who are looking to provide additional early childhood performing arts programming. The program is
scalable to large groups and customizable to a small preschool or daycare setting.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As an old gay male puppet designer and artist, I have had an issue with limited funding for presenting this “new and innovative” style to educate and entertain LGBT youth and their allies.
Explaining to others you want to help trans kids read through puppetry isn’t the easiest to sell. I would love to find funding to pay for the ability to continue our live performances- paying for the show’s puppeteers, theatre staff as well as other costs is not easy. We want to continue to spread the word of “empathy, self-acceptance, as well as many other storylines to Chicago children, ages 2-8.
We are currently seeking out sponsorship from local businesses in the uptown and Andersonville areas and others who would want to be part of this unique experience. but sadly until then, we are only doing the two-person visiting school shows. Having to have using things again in a new and innovative way is how I made the show from Grandma D being made from an old fleece fitted bed sheet, to the recycled materials used to make the “Magic Book Machine”.
I have used volunteer artist friends who see this project for what it is and am grateful for all of their time and creativity.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am known for costume design and coming up with elaborate costumes on the fly on budgets of nothing. I specialize in big casts, children’s theatre and puppetry. I am most proud of working with “the life learning center” when I was a featured artist, for the woman and children’s children’s annual summer peace camp in 2015. I believe that puppetry is an extension of the [childs] soul.
I feel that my puppets are true to heart with human emotion and puppet characteristics- cuddly AND gritty. (A REAL sesame street pardon the comparison) The show’s themes will range in emotion but will always end with a laugh and a lesson. We introduce new puppet friends through episodic live adventure can find fun and interesting- like our Grandma D’s grandchild, “Ashley”. Ashley identifies as Transgender. Ashley, their brother, Fifi and Grandma D will experience everyday happenings.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up a gay boy in rural South Dakota, I was called “eccentric. I wrote shows, I was very big into always creating shows and theatre and also always trying to give back to my community. I love that art can be a cause. I loved to be involved in everything so much so that the high school that I went to the school established an award and I was the first recipient. I also was big for equality for drama in the South Dakota school I went too, I met with the school board and principal to finally in 1999 to be able to “letter” in the dramatic arts in our school.
I also tried to maintain a larger side of charity in our Alpha Psi Omega chapter the year I was president in college. I always wanted to help and I always wanted to make people laugh. If I wasn’t writing a show, I was drawing something, painting a set, learning lines and always pushing myself to better and to always do for others. And my grandma was very much a ” look back and lend a hand” lady and well.. so am I. 😉
Contact Info:
- Address: 7505 North Greenview Ave
Apt #2 Chicago, IL 60626 - Website: WWW.TristanTomDesigns.Weebly.Com
- Phone: 7737499474
- Email: Tristanjtom@gmail.com
- Instagram: TristanTomDesigns
- Facebook: TristanTomDesigns
Image Credit:
Mandy Love Photography
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