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Ventriloquist entertains

Puppets, music, comedy presented at Grissom Library

About 75 children and adults were invited into the wonderful world of Uncle Ty-Rone’s World of Ventriloquism on June 6 at Virgil I. Grissom Library as part of the Newport News Public Library System’s Summer Reading Program.

Tyrone Travis, aka “Uncle Ty-Rone,” and his puppet Ba-Be T-Rex sing their ABC’s on July 6 at the One World, Many Stories: Uncle Ty-Rone’s World of Ventriloquism program at Virgil I. Grissom Library in Newport News.

Article and photos by Dana Watford/Newport News Public Library System

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – About 75 children and adults were invited into the wonderful world of Uncle Ty-Rone’s World of Ventriloquism on June 6 at Virgil I. Grissom Library as part of the Newport News Public Library System’s Summer Reading Program. The show was performed by Tyrone Travis, a Virginia native who has been a professional ventriloquist since 1994.

The 45-minute show was full of positive hip hop music and clean comedy that both young children and adults could enjoy. Also performing were Uncle Ty-Rone’s “cronies,” puppets that included a singing flea, Raggz; a talented Snoop Hound dog; Ba-Be T-Rex, a green male baby Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur with blue eyes; Uncle Ty-Rone’s “son,” Ty-J; and Skool, the prince of kids’ hip hop.

“I liked that he was even able to keep the attention of the younger kids because it was relatable on all levels,” said Lataiah Hines, who brought her daughter, Alayah Hines, age 8. “My favorite part was the teddy bear song,” Alayah said.

The Newport News Public Library System’s Summer Reading Program is free and open to children, teens and adults. It includes reading incentives and activities and continues through July 31. It is generously supported by the Friends of the Newport News Public Library System, Capt. D’s, Fazoli’s, McDonald’s, Golden Corral, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Shoney’s, and the Library of Virginia.

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