McGee Productions

Workshops

Warning: Creativity is contagious! It can spread to all aspects of your life! Randel McGee is a Creativity Carrier!

With over 30 years of experience, working with educators and their students, from kindergarten to college, Mr. McGee can help you tap into your creative energy and use it!

Randel’s workshops provide a unique perspective and inspire adults and children!

They satisfy many  educational standards and  goals!

Randel offers workshops, residencies for extended periods, and project consultation. He has taught the arts of puppetry, ventriloquism, storytelling, and paper crafts to elementary school children, junior high and high school students, at colleges and universities, museums, conferences and festivals. He would be glad to design a workshop or residency for your needs. Workshops may vary from 60 minutes to all day “work-through sessions. Ideal for staff development or in-service training. He offers more intimate, hands-on training for small group sessions.

Here are our new offerings in paper craft.

1. Symmetrical Paper-cut Designs –

Explores the beauty and simplicity of symmetry as applied to cut paper designs work in single-fold, two-fold and multiple-fold art.

2. Cut & Fold Costumes –

Design and create hats, helmets, masks, and other costume pieces from paper.

 3. Cut & Fold Creatures-

Design and create animals and human-like figures from a single sheet of paper. Uses concepts of symmetry, shape recognition, balance of form, and other concepts.

 4. He who lives in a Paper House…

Explores ways to construct buildings and transportation means. Uses concepts of symmetry, shape recognition, balance of form, and other concepts.

5. Inter-Dimensional Transformation Challenge from 2D to 3D –

Explores ways to transform 2 dimensional geometric shapes into 3 dimensional works of wonder without glue, tape or other fasteners!

Part 1: Nothing but Paper – Transformation techniques using only folding the paper.

Part 2: The Final Cut – Transformation techniques using only scissors or a craft knife.

6. Pop-Up Projects –

Explore ways to design and create different pop-up mechanics.

 7. Paper in Motion

Explore many ways that mechanical concepts can be incorporated into moving paper constructions. (Such as wheels, levers, pull tabs, screen changers, etc.)

 8. The Paper Planet –

Using papers in different geometric shapes and a bit of tape or glue, we create structures from a galaxy far, far away.

Need a custom-made workshop? Let’s discuss it!

What people are saying about Randel’s Workshops:

I teach k-6 drama, so lots of storytelling, story dramatizations, and process dramas. I have a science unit with fourth grade on animal adaptations, originally I was just going to have them dress up in simple costumes to portray their animals but I think adding a puppet element to the project would be wonderful for them. So I’m planning on adding the puppets that you taught us how to build yesterday to the lesson plan. – Cassidy – Jordan, UT

 

Randel McGee came to my room and taught paper sculpture.  We used STEAM   (Science, Technology, Engineering, ART and Math)  in the process.   The kids were enthralled and I was enthralled how Randel gently and masterfully acknowledged each child’s creation.  He had them think deeper and try new things. With each positive comment I swear, I saw the creativity bloom right in front of me. What a master teacher!

Claire Miller  – Accelerated Learning Teacher 5th Grade – Ogden, UT

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The NSN Conference was so rich and so full of wonderful events … On Friday morning,  
I attended Randel McGee's workshop "Punch it Up with Puppets, Props and Masks."  
I was instantly charmed by Randel's ease with the intricacies of telling with a puppet.  
The "conversation" between Randel and Groark was so natural, so fast-paced, 
with the "characters" so completely delineated, I was impressed and delighted 
--but also a little concerned that this workshop may be too advanced for my interest finding 
new ways of using props, masks and puppets.   
My worry was unfounded.  After a wonderful demonstration of Randel's significant gifts,  
the workshop got down pretty quickly to the nuts and bolts of how anyone, 
no matter their experience level or resources  at hand, can enhance their 
storytelling with props, puppets and masks.  I left the workshop feeling confident 
and enthusiastic about my ability to experiment  with shadow puppets and masks.

Gwen Bonilla at the 2013 National Storytelling Conference in Richmond, VA

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I have been to the Asian Congress of Storytellers for 3 years in a row, and your workshop was one of my favourites. You really, really shared your talents with us participants, you did not hold back, and that is what struck me most about your session. You were so willing to demonstrate and show us the tricks-of-the-trade. I felt that your workshop was a mini, private performance for your participants, for we got to hear and see your … talents at work.

Kamini Ramachandran Storyteller  Singapore

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We were so happy to have you with us and appreciate the great sessions that you contributed to our conference.  
Many of my students were still in awe of the storytelling/papercutting exhibition when they got to class on Monday. 
It was a big topic of conversation as they reported on their experiences. 
Thanks so much for your willingness to come here and for being so gracious throughout the two days.

Julie Agard , Asst. Prof of Education, University of Nebraska – Kearney

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You have a wonderful way of communicating the intricacies of the art form (ventriloquism). Steven Hollow 
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A paper cutting demonstration at the Scandinavian Folk Festival in Gerry, NY.