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At Sigmon Theatrical, we pride ourselves on our ability to transform ideas into captivating experiences. Our Character Creation and Design services are a blend of imagination, craftsmanship, and technical expertise. In this blog post, we delve into the fascinating process of bringing larger-than-life black bear characters to the stage for the National Black Bear Festival.
The National Black Bear Festival: A Decade in the Making
The National Black Bear Festival has been captivating audiences for ten years. Held annually on the first Saturday in June in Plymouth, NC, this event celebrates North Carolina’s beloved black bears. The award winning festival is known for its high level of theming and interactive experiences, so when they reached out to us about creating some custom characters, we knew it was going to be a perfect fit!
Conceptualizing the Characters
Our team collaborated with festival staff to envision a gigantic 12ft tall black bear mascot, lovingly named Big Bear, that would tower over the crowd, not only grabbing everyone's attention, but exuding joy, playfulness, and a spirit of adventure. We also designed a small baby bear cub puppet for some up-close magic and wonder.
We also created a one-of-a-kind stage show for their 10th Anniversary Celebration, developing all of the scripting, music, and performers for the production.
From Sketches to Sculptures
Sketching the Vision: Our talented artists translated ideas into sketches, capturing the essence of each character. The mascot’s expressive eyes, the cub’s innocent curiosity—they all began as pencil strokes on paper.
Sculpting the Magic: Our skilled sculptors brought the sketches to life. Working with foam, wire, and fabric, they meticulously shaped the bears’ forms. Both the mascot and the puppet's adorable features emerged from rough patterns and raw materials.
Materials and Magic
Fur and Fabric: The bears’ fur was carefully chosen—soft and huggable for the mascot, fuzzy and realistic for the cub.
Mechanics and Movement: Inside the puppet, hidden mechanisms allowed for expressive gestures. For Big Bear, Lee (one of our professional character performers) brought the whole thing to life. We are proud of the level of excellence that each of our performers bring to the table on projects like this one!
The Grand Reveal
On the morning of the festival, the crowd went WILD as the gigantic mascot character appeared. We immediately knew it was a hit! Meanwhile, the baby bear cub puppet charmed everyone - it got thousands of pets, snuggles, and "Is that real?!" questions!
Our Character Creation and Design services turned concepts into reality, bringing our signature magic to the National Black Bear Festival. From the initial sketches to the grand reveal, our team poured heart and soul into these characters. As the festival-goers laughed, posed for photos, and hugged the bears, we knew we’d achieved our goal: to create unforgettable moments full of magic and wonder while elevating the National Black Bear Festival's brand to new heights.
Join us for more adventures in character design—where imagination knows no bounds!
For inquiries about our services, contact us at Sigmon Theatrical. Let’s bring your characters to life! 🎭🐻
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