Hylton Performing Arts Center Hylton Family Series Presents the Cashshore Marionettes “Simple Gifts”

Joseph Cashore created his first marionette at age 11, constructing the puppet from clothespins, wood, string and a tin can. He was mesmerized to find that the puppet, though rudimentary, seemed to come to life not through its appearance, but through the quality of the movement. After his college graduation, Cashore made his second marionette and quickly discovered that in order to have the fluid movement he desired, he would have to create his own control designs. For the next 19 years, while making his living as an oil painter, Cashore embarked on an intense exploration into the construction of marionettes and new control mechanisms to make them move. Cashore has performed as a professional puppeteer since 1990, with performances throughout North America, Europe and Asia. He is the recipient of a Pew Charitable Trusts’ Fellowship for Performance Art, as well as a Jim Henson Foundation Grant and a UNIMA Citation of Excellence, two prestigious honors in the world of puppetry.

The 2013-2014 Hylton Family Series continues with Imago Theatre’s “Frogz” on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014 at 2 p.m. and Pushcart Players’ “Happily Ever After – A Cinderella Tale” on Sunday, March 23, 2014 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Please visit HyltonCenter.org/family for more information about these performances.

Dedicated to bringing a world-class performing arts venue to the Prince William region, the Hylton Performing Arts Center was born out of a partnership among Prince William County, George Mason University, the City of Manassas, the Commonwealth of Virginia and individuals and businesses in the private sector. Soaring more than nine stories and boasting a stunning mix of copper, glass and masonry, the 85,000-square foot center is home to two unparalleled performance venues for local arts groups and performers from around the world, as well as university-related activities. Modeled after the intimate European opera houses of the 19th century, Merchant Hall is a 1,123-seat multipurpose proscenium theater, which is encircled by 27 private boxes that rise three levels. The Gregory Family Theater is a flexible, 4,400-square foot space that can be configured for many different types of performances and events. In addition, the Didlake Grand Foyer, with its sweeping staircase, provides an ideal setting for community, corporate and social events. The Hylton Performing Arts Center, the only building of its kind in the area, is sure to quickly become the cultural hub of Prince William County and the surrounding communities and is a shining example of collaboration and commitment to the arts.

George Mason University is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with global distinction in a range of academic fields. Located in Northern Virginia near Washington, D.C., Mason provides students access to diverse cultural experiences and the most sought-after internships and employers in the country. Mason offers strong undergraduate and graduate degree programs in engineering and information technology, organizational psychology, health care and visual and performing arts. With Mason professors conducting groundbreaking research in areas such as climate change, public policy and the biosciences, George Mason University is a leading example of the modern, public university. George Mason University – Where Innovation Is Tradition.