Right after graduation last year, 2024 Benenson awardee Ivy Sun traveled to Prague to immerse herself in the historical art of puppetry—specifically marionettes. Through the Puppets in Prague workshop, Ivy, who graduated with a B.A. in Theater Studies with minors in Japanese and Biology, spent the summer developing an original performance based on a traditional Czech fairytale titled Zlatovláska.
Applications are open now for the 2025 Benenson Awards in the Arts, which provide funding for fees, travel, and other educational expenses for arts-centered projects proposed by undergraduates (including graduating seniors) to take place over the summer.
The deadline for 2025 Benenson Award applications is Monday, March 17!
I first took Professor Torry Bend’s puppetry class during my junior year, where we explored various puppetry styles, including Bunraku, shadow puppetry, and toy theater. However, I never had the chance to work with a marionette—the type of puppet I had always envisioned as the classic form. This gap in my experience sparked my curiosity and motivated me to seek out opportunities related to marionettes. Eventually, this led me to the marionette construction workshop offered by Puppets in Prague, a program recommended by Professor Torry.
I first learned about Puppets in Prague from my puppetry professor, Torry Bend, who had attended the workshop in the past and displayed her completed marionette in her puppet studio. The marionette’s distinctive aesthetic and intricate craftsmanship immediately captivated me.
Since the workshop covered both the construction and performance of marionettes, our designs were based on the story we would bring to life: Zlatovláska (Golden Lock), a traditional Czech fairytale. Each participant chose a character from the tale to create, and I selected Kalupinka, the wife of the jester Kašpárek. To make her both relevant to the story and uniquely my own, I incorporated elements of Eastern European female fashion along with the playful essence of a young and cheerful trickster.
My studies at Duke taught me how to incorporate advice from different perspectives while ensuring that the core of my ideas remained intact. As a Theater Studies major, I collaborated with many colleagues on various group projects, which helped me develop the ability to prioritize key aspects of my vision and integrate feedback without compromising my original intent. These skills proved invaluable during the workshop, as I was completely new to woodcarving and often had to balance professional guidance from instructors with my personal creative instincts.
Many participants in the workshop came from theatrical backgrounds and had experience working with materials beyond wood. Through them, I learned how to incorporate diverse mediums—such as wool and fabric—into the construction of wooden marionettes, adding unique textures and details to the final design.
Our performance at the Letní Letná Festival was primarily for toddlers and school-age children, who responded enthusiastically to the show’s cheerful atmosphere. It was a joy to see them engaged with the beautifully crafted marionettes and laughing at our performance. Although it was my first time performing on stage, I truly relished the energy of being in the spotlight.
I thoroughly enjoyed the process of designing a puppet that had never been seen before and would definitely love to continue pursuing the path of both a puppet constructor and puppeteer. It was incredibly inspiring to witness how a renowned puppet studio operates—from daily tasks to organizing a full performance. This experience gave me a clearer vision of what it truly means to be a professional puppeteer, and I found myself deeply drawn to the puppetry community in Prague, a world I had never explored before.
I would encourage future applicants to have the courage to explore new fields with the support of the Benenson Award. Initially, I believed that the award was only for students ready to undertake their own creative projects. However, after learning that it supports a wide range of endeavors—from professional training to personal artistic explorations—I felt more confident in applying with a proposal focused on learning rather than creating. The Benenson Award has provided me with a wonderful opportunity to explore a field I had long been interested in but had been unable to pursue due to various constraints. I am truly grateful for this experience!