Puppet Showplace Theatre

Conferences & Master Classes

Puppets: Education Magic

Every other year Judith O'Hare of "You and Me Puppets" and a talented crew of folks run a two-day conference designed to teach educators, librarians, therapists, and interested others how to use and teach puppetry, especially in the classroom. The conference includes workshops taught by the best puppetry teachers in New England and beyond, and performances designed to inspire. Puppet Showplace Theatre serves as the administrators and registrar for the conference.

For information on future conferences, please visit Judith O'Hare's web site.

The Puppeteers of America
National Festival 2007

In odd numbered years Puppeteers of America, the national puppetry organization, holds a week-long festival for puppeteers and puppetry enthusiasts. In the even numbered years there are Regional festivals across the country. These festivals include workshops, seminars, performances, fellowship, late night fun, and so much more.

The last National Puppetry festival was held July 17-22, 2007 in St. Paul in Minnesota. For more information, please see the National Puppetry Festival web site.

The Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Regional Puppetry Festival is scheduled for July 10-13, 2008 at the University of Maryland, College Park, MD.

The O'Neill Puppetry Conference

This week-long set of master classes and more is held on the beautiful grounds of the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center in Waterford, Connecticut. The final night of performances of projects created during the week is a "must see" event for puppeteers and puppetry enthusiasts alike. The conference usually occurs mid-June, and more information can be found at The O'Neill Puppet Theatre web site.

The Sandglass Institute

Each summer the venerable and highly regarded Sandglass Theatre in Putney, Vermont offers a few weeks of intensive training in the art of puppet theatre to a select group of students. Classes are held at nearby Marlboro College. The results are remarkable. For information on how to attend go to The Sandglass Theatre's web site.