BRADFORD, Pa. — The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will offer a five-day summer workshop, Creative Characters: Puppetry, July 13-17 for students ages 12-17.

Designed for teens interested in visual arts, storytelling and performance, the workshop introduces participants to the interdisciplinary art of puppetry through a hands-on, creative learning experience.

The Pitt-Bradford Arts workshop will be held from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. each day and will be taught by local artist Savannah Barr.

Part writing, part fabricating 3D characters from 2D concepts and part performance, this workshop will teach students the basics of bringing characters to life.

Today’s puppetry has gone far beyond socks and become part of Hollywood and Broadway’s special effects arsenal, bringing to life characters like Grogu from “The Mandalorian” and creatures from “The Lion King’s” savanna.

Throughout the week, students will explore character development, foam sculpting and textile manipulation, and foundational performance skills. Participants will design and build their own original puppets while learning how movement, form and voice can be used to bring characters and stories to life.

Barr will guide students through a series of exercises and collaborative activities that encourage creativity, communication and problem-solving. The workshop is structured to support a range of skill levels, allowing participants to develop their artistic abilities while working both independently and as part of a group.

Students will also experiment with storytelling and performance techniques as they direct live-action vignettes and develop original characters. Through the process, participants will gain a deeper understanding of narrative structure, character motivation and audience engagement.

The camp will conclude with an informal showcase where participants will have the opportunity to share their work and reflect on their creative experiences throughout the week.

The cost is $65 per participant.

For more information or to register, visit Pitt-Bradford Arts online at www.upb.pitt.edu/thearts or contact the Office of Arts Programming at (814) 362-5113.