Larry Reed (puppeteer)

Larry Reed
Born	Larry Reed (1944-06-21)June 21, 1944 Los Angeles, California
Alma mater	Yale University (1965) San Francisco Art Institute (MFA.,1971)
Occupations	Puppeteer animator actor inventor composer filmmaker screenwriter
Board member of	ShadowLight Productions

Larry Reed (born June 21, 1944) is an American shadow puppeteer. Reed is among the earliest artists from the West to have trained in traditional Balinese shadow theatre and is considered a Dalang or Shadow Master. He first began studying at the San Francisco Art Institute before moving to study in Bali in the 1970s.

Biography

Early life

Larry Reed was born on June 21, 1944, in Los Angeles, California. He studied French Theater at Yale University in 1965. He was a Theater Director for Costa Rica University and Nation Theaters in 1966 before getting his Master of Fine Arts at the San Francisco Art Institute. In the 1970s, Reed traveled to Bali to learn and was instructed to study the music first. He travelled back to San Francisco and joined the American Association for Eastern Arts, now known as the Center for World Music. The American Association for Eastern Arts was founded in 1963 in San Francisco by Samuel and Luise Scripps with Balasaraswati and Ali Akbar Khan as its first two artist-teachers.

ShadowLight Productions

In 1972, Reed founded ShadowLight Productions. The goal of starting this company was to expose the general public to shadow theatre. Reed began expanding his works and integrating traditional shadow theatre techniques with modern theater and style to better connect with an American audience. Live animation films were produced using shadows and performed behind 15’ x 30’ screens. Each show had puppets, actors, and cutouts illuminated by multiple light sources to create effects live on stage. In the 1990s, Reed invented an ingenious way of casting shadows. It integrated techniques from cinema, modern theatre and dance. He invented a mask that allowed the performers to see their own shadows. In the century old tradition, shows done by shadow masters were often done alone using an open flame as a light source. ShadowLight Productions had a crew of actors with live music played by musicians.

Major works

Shadow Master (1979)

Shadow Master is a documentary directed by Reed that has been shown on both PBS and the Discovery Channel. It is about a family of performers in Bali. It shows an inside view of Balinese life which includes cultural context on theater, music, and dance on the island. The film takes course over two years with Reed living and studying with a dalang, I Wayan Wija, and his extended family.

In Xanadu (1993–1997)

In Xanadu is a Mongolian fantasy written by Zara Housbmand and Reed. The fantasy is about Kubilai Khan and his wife, Chabui, who were inseparable partners. The film includes techniques from Tibetan, Chinese, and Indonesian theater techniques. In Xanadu was featured at the 1997 Henson International Festival of Puppetry in New York City and the Spoleto/USA Festival in Charleston, SC. The film was awarded UNIMA-USA Citation for Excellence, puppetry's highest award.

The Wild Party (1995–1996)

The Wild Party is a shadow theater work by Reed, based on the poem by Joseph Moncure March written in 1926.It includes jazz music from Bruce Forman. The poem is about two vaudeville performers, Queenie and Burt, who lead an edgy and decadent life. They throw a party for their friend which leads to an evening with alcohol, drugs, and sex. The film uses firm terminology with modern shadow techniques from the ancient Asian art form.

Mayadanawa (1996)

This is the first ShadowLight giant screen shadow production by Reed, Jaime Kibben, and Nyoman Catra. Created in Bali, musicians, dancers, and shadow casters from the village of Pengosekan, Ubud, performed in the 1996 Walter Spies Festival. The film tells the tale of a powerful demon, Mayadanawa, who demands Balinese people to only worship him. Because he creates havoc among the people, they appeal to Indra, king of all gods, to chase him away.

Ambrosia of Immortality (1998)

Ambrosia of Immortality or Thirtha Amertha is from the Mahabharata, the great Hindu myth cycle interpreted by Reed and renowned Balinese puppeteer, Wayan Wija. the story is about Hindu culture, about a story of the gods’ coming of age gaining immortality, and rising above the world of demons. The gods have it all and are at war against the demons who want it back. Together they churn the Milky Ocean to create the elixir of immortality but struggle on who gets possession of the powerful ambrosia of immortality.

Coyote's Journey (2000–2001)

Coyote's Journey is a traditional Native California Karuk tale told through shadow theatre. The performance uses both Karuk and English story telling. It features a Karuk elder, “Red Hawk” Thom, a hereditary ceremonial leader, spiritual teacher, and storyteller. The show shows Coyote's adventure and his initiation into the ways of the world.

7 Visions (2002)

7 Visions is written by Octavio Solis, an award-winning playwright and directed by Reed. It explores the roots of Latino heritage and celebrates the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. It has music from Richard Marriot, performed by Cascada de Flores, and is designed by Victor Cartagena. On a mission called Dolores, a man named Encarnacion is confronted by his future self, an irreverent skeleton, or calaca which leads Encarnacion on a vision quest of self-discovery.

Monkey King At Spider Cave (2006–2007)

Monkey King at Spider Cave, directed by Reed and Chia-yin Cheng, is performed by both American and Taiwanese artists. Monkey King at Spider Cave is inspired by, Journey of the West, published in the 16th century during the Ming Dynasty. Journey to the West is very popular in operas and cartoons throughout Asia. In this film, a Buddhist High Priest and his animal disciples go on a quest to bring Buddhist Scriptures to China. They are endangered by mythical demons and monsters such as the demonic spider women and an evil alchemist.

Filmography

Title	Year	Role
		Conquest of Mexico	1986	Original Shadow Theatre Works
Dream Shadows	1991	Original Shadow Theatre Works
The Wild Party	1995	Original Shadow Theatre Works
Sidha Karya	1995	Original Shadow Theatre Works
Mayadanawa	1996	Original Shadow Theatre Works
In Xanadu	1997	Original Shadow Theatre Works
Wayang Listrik	1998	Original Shadow Theatre Works
Coyote's Journey	2000	Original Shadow Theatre Works
Kawit Legong	2001	Original Shadow Theatre Works
7 Visions	2002	Original Shadow Theatre Works
A (Balinese) Tempest	2005	Original Shadow Theatre Works
Ghosts of the River	2009	Original Shadow Theatre Works
The Good-for-Nothing Lover	2010	Original Shadow Theatre Works
Poro Oyna: Legend of Ainu Rakkur	2012	Original Shadow Theatre Works
Poro Oyna: The Myth of the Aynu	2014	Original Shadow Theatre Works
In Visible Light Cinna: The Clemency of Augustus	2017	Original Shadow Theatre Works
Shadows for Carlos Villa	2020	Original Shadow Theatre Works
Drupadi	2020	Original Shadow Theatre Works
Shadows for Carlos Villa	2020	Co-director
Dewi Sri	2019	Director
The Dark Light	2019	Director
In Visible Light	2017	Director
The Science Fiction Project 1&2	2016	Director Shadow Sequences
Feathers of Fire	2015	Collaborator
Finding KUKAN	2015	Director Shadow Sequences
Butterfly Lovers	2014	Director
Bandung Project	2013	Director
Jana and Baladoor	2012	Director Shadow Sequences
Magic Flute	2011	Director Shadow Sequences
Silk Road	2007	Director Shadow Sequences
We are All In this Together	2007	Consultant
Ethnic Dance Festival	2007	Director Shadow Sequences
Ain’t Necessarily So	2001	Shadow Effects Design
Whale	1999	Shadow Effects Design
Power of Saturn	1999	Shadow Effects Design
Blood Wine, Blood Wedding	1997	Shadow Effects Design
Ramayana	2007	Consultant
The Tempest	1996	Shadow Effects Design
Bima's Journey	1994	Director
Pan	1992	Shadow Effects Design
MahabharAnta	1992	Shadow Effects Design
Orfeo	1990	Shadow Design
Body Cak	1990	Projection Design
A (Balinese) Tempest	2020	Producer, director
Ghosts of the River	2013	Producer, director
Kawit Legong	2012	Producer
On Wayang	2011	Producer, director
Monkey King at Spider Cave	2009	Producer, director, Original Shadow Theatre Works
Mayadanawa	2007	Producer, director
Explorations of the Shadow World	2006	Producer, director
Shadow Master	1982	Producer, director