Waterford, CT, May 20, 2003 – Pam Arciero, artistic director of the O’Neill Puppetry Conference, has invited an assembly of puppet artists, including Phillip Huber (BEING JOHN MALKOVICH, THE ROAD TO HOLLYWOOD) and Paul Zaloom (VELVETVILLE, “Beakman’s World”), to take part in a vibrant community dedicated to pushing the boundaries of theatrical expression. This year’s thirteenth annual conference will culminate in two public performances, June 13 and 14 at 7:30 p.m., at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center.

Guest Artist Phillip Huber participated in the 2001 O’Neill Music Theater Conference with THE ROAD TO HOLLYWOOD, and the tenth annual O’Neill Puppetry Conference in 2000. Huber has performed around the world, at the Lido in Paris and in a Royal Command Performance for Prince Rainier of Monaco in addition to U.S. appearances on “The Tonight Show” (NBC) and “Showbiz Today” (CNN). He will work with marionette performers at this year’s Conference to develop original marionettes & performances.

Paul Zaloom, assisted by Cathy McCullough, will help Conference participants originate short comedic puppet works. An internationally known performance artist, puppeteer, and political satirist, Zaloom has created eleven one-man shows utilizing offbeat techniques including found-object puppetry. He has performed at numerous events and festivals throughout the world and was the star of the popular television series “Beakman’s World.”

Also scheduled for presentation at the conference are four Emerging Artists’ Projects, vibrant new works from puppetry’s future leaders, as well as a host of mind-bending scenes from Video Anarchy, an exploration of new puppet forms with video. Richard Termine helms the Emerging Artists’ Project and Flock Theatre puppeteers donate their assistance. Tim Lagasse leads Video Anarchy.

The O’Neill Puppetry Conference’s focus is two-fold: to encourage and empower puppet artists to create and communicate through the visual and kinetic form of the puppet, and to develop new works for puppet theater. The artists are encouraged to develop a vision as puppeteers and storytellers in all elements of the production process, from concept and script development to design and construction of a puppet.

The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, founded in 1964 and based in Waterford, CT, is a learning community dedicated to advancing the American Theater through programs that encourage creative excellence and develop diverse voices and new work. These include the Puppetry Conference (June 2 ñ 15) Playwrights Conference (June 23 ñ July 20), Critics Institute (July 8 ñ 20), Music Theater Conference (July 28 ñ August 10) and the National Theater Institute, a college-accredited training program for theater artists. The O’Neill also owns and operates the Monte Cristo Cottage, childhood home of America’s only Nobel Prize-winning playwright, Eugene O’Neill, and holds an annual celebration honoring the life and works of its namesake every October.

Ticket prices for the public performances are $12, or $10 for O’Neill members. To reserve tickets or receive a summer schedule, call the O’Neill Center at 860-443-5378 or the box office at 860-443-1238 (after June 9).