World Epics and Puppet Theater - UNIMA-USA Nancy Staub Publication Award 2025

_{The award is meant to honor books, articles, or dissertations which are exemplary contributions that forward the field of puppetry by documenting important histories, contributing importantly to theory or practice, and by sharing prime research.} 

 _{Members of the prize committee wrote the following about the volume:} 

_{1. A vital contribution to puppetry scholarship that demonstrates to new audiences the importance of puppetry for maintaining and renewing epic traditions worldwide.} 

_{2. I highly recommend this for a Staub award.}

_{3. The articles in this journal not only represent the highest level of scholarly writing, but brings it in line with the mission of UNIMA-USA [promoting peace worldwide via puppetry]. This volume is filled with new insights, and it is clear that many of the theaters and traditions covered here are not only examined in new ways, but that the traditional theaters in question are not static “museum pieces,” but are actively evolving to respond to, or even counteract changes in circumstances, which in some cases are a basic as changing societal tastes to the repressive forces of a dominant religion or government (or both). And then, in some cases, the author’s biggest contribution may be the bringing to light an old tradition that has been heretofore unknown to most of us working the field, or by examining collaborations or encounters between traditions, made possible by a world increasingly interconnected, increasingly post-modern.}

 

_{As an organization founded in 1966, UNIMA-USA is the United States Center of Union Internationale de la Marionnette, the oldest international theatre organization in the world, founded in 1929. UNIMA-USA’s mission is to promote international understanding and friendship through the art of puppetry.} 

 

_{The award is named in honor of Nancy Lohman Staub, who has fostered understanding of world puppetry through her contributions to the museum collection at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, Georgia, leadership in UNIMA-International, and extensive writing on puppetry.}