Rockingham library kicks off summer reading program

BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. — The Rockingham Free Public Library will present Modern Times Theater in “That’s What I Call Sweet Music” at 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 27, and will host a Stuffed Animal Sleepover following the show.

The hills will be alive with the sound of music in this all-ages puppet production. “Sweet Music” follows the troubles and travails of puppetry’s favorite loudmouth, Mr. Punch, as he sings his way through trouble, adventure, and triumph. Included in the cast are the Bozo Brothers, who will delight audiences with their dynamic percussive dance routines.

This is hand-puppetry at its best in a style that has entertained children for centuries. In addition to the puppet show, the program will also feature a mini-concert, offering selections from an extensive repertoire of early jazz, classic American folk songs and original novelty numbers, performed on the cornet, ukulele, and bicycle pump.

Rose Friedman and Justin Lander have been making and performing puppet shows together since 2003. They are co-founders of Vermont Vaudeville, Vermont’s premier Vaudeville troupe.

After this program, the library will host the 10th annual Stuffed Animal Sleepover. What would your stuffed animal do if it spent the night at the Library? Find out by bringing one of your dolls, figures, or stuffed animals (not your favorite one, though—you’ll want to keep that with you) to the Youth Department anytime between Monday, June 25 and Wednesday, June 27. Library staff will create a video of how the stuffed animal spent the night in the library. To see videos from previous years, find the RFPL Youth Department’s Youtube channel online. Participants can pick up their stuffed animal on June 28.

This program is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the library at (802) 463-4270, email [email protected], visit rockinghamlibrary.org, or stop by the library at 65 Westminster St. in Bellows Falls.