Michael and Judith Cotter, co-founders of the Blue Sky Puppet Theater, pose for a portrait in their basement workshop at their University Park home.
When Michael Cotter started a theater company more than 40 years ago, his group performed political satire on the streets of Washington.
Then he got a job teaching music, art and drama to elementary school students and saw a need for children’s puppet theater.
By 1980, his local company, Blue Sky Puppet Theatre, was performing for children full time.
The company now mainly performs for schools and family venues within a two-and-a-half-hour drive of its studio in University Park, where Cotter lives with his wife and collaborator, Judith Cayo Cotter.
“I love the children’s audience; they’re just so eager,” said Michael Cotter, who also worked as an adjunct theater professor at this university. “I love the sound of 300 children roaring with laughter.”
Blue Sky Puppet Theatre gives children access to the art of puppetry but also puts on educational shows that provide a societal good beyond the entertainment, Cotter said, adding that more than 2.8 million children have watched the theater’s show promoting peaceful conflict resolution.
The company will put on a history show this weekended about the Battle of Bladensburg, which took place 200 years ago Sunday.
It will also perform the show in Baltimore in September for the 200th anniversary of the writing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Though Blue Sky Puppet Theatre focuses on entertaining children, it returns to its adult roots once a year. Cotter said his company puts on an adult Halloween show every year for their neighbors.
“Our motto is we’re dedicated to excellence in drama, art, music and fun,” Cotter said. “It’s pretty good to be excellent at fun.”
Editor’s note: College Park Contours is a weekly series spotlighting interesting members of the community. Know someone we should profile? Email suggestions to newsumdbk@gmail.com.
