Puppets at Night
Puppets at Night is Puppet Showplace Theater’s performance series for adult and teen audiences. These evening performances explore thought-provoking topics and showcase an astonishing array of puppetry styles. Performers include acclaimed internationally-touring companies, stars of the fringe circuit, and emerging puppeteers.
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Want to make your own puppets or refine your skills? Check out our upcoming puppetry workshops for adults.
Masks are welcomed, and are available at the door for your use.
Dec 20 (Fri): 8:00 pm
Celebrate the season with a special Puppets at Night Edition sing-along featuring dancing snowmen, jingle bells, and lots of snowy fun!
Puppets at Night version, recommended for ages 16+
Mixed puppetry styles and live music
Feb 28 (Fri) 2025: 8:00 pm
Join Susan and her trusty avian sidekick in pondering the important questions of life, death, art, and the universe.
Recommended for adults 18+
Ventriloquism and hand puppetry
March 1 (Sat) 2025: 8:00 pm
Join Susan and her trusty avian sidekick in pondering the important questions of life, death, art, and the universe.
Recommended for adults 18+
Ventriloquism and hand puppetry
Past Events
Nov 24 (Sun): 10:30 am (Plastique) | 1:00 pm (Bois)
Puzzle Théâtre presents three of their multicolored shows, full of unusual puppets, humor, and unexpected situations. Featuring puppets made of wood, plastic, and tissues!
'Plastique' and 'Bois' are recommended for all ages, especially enjoyed by ages 4 - 10
Object puppetry
Nov 23 (Sat): 1:00 pm (Plastique - PWYC) | 3:00 pm (Bois - PWYC) | 8:00 pm (Jetable)
Puzzle Théâtre presents three of their multicolored shows, full of unusual puppets, humor, and unexpected situations. Featuring puppets made of wood, plastic, and tissues!
'Plastique' and 'Bois' are recommended for all ages, especially enjoyed by ages 4 - 10
'Disposable' is recommended for adults, teens & youth 10+
Object puppetry
Nov 22 (Fri): 8:00 pm (Jetable)
Puzzle Théâtre presents three of their multicolored shows, full of unusual puppets, humor, and unexpected situations. Featuring puppets made of wood, plastic, and tissues!
'Disposable' is recommended for adults, teens & youth 10+
Object puppetry
Oct 12 (Sat): 8:00 pm
The Spinner reimagines the Fates from Greek mythology as ungodly factory wardens who’ve outsourced their cruel work to mortal garment workers in a 19th-century textile mill. Told through a mixture of overhead projector shadow puppetry and shadow masks, The Spinner unstitches the lengths we will go to make our fates our own.
Recommended for adults and teens 13+
Overhead projector shadow puppetry and masks
Oct 11 (Fri): 8:00 pm
The Spinner reimagines the Fates from Greek mythology as ungodly factory wardens who’ve outsourced their cruel work to mortal garment workers in a 19th-century textile mill. Told through a mixture of overhead projector shadow puppetry and shadow masks, The Spinner unstitches the lengths we will go to make our fates our own.
Recommended for adults and teens 13+
Overhead projector shadow puppetry and masks
Sept 25 (Wed): 11:00 am | 4:30 pm | 7:30 pm
Like a magician, or medium at a séance, the performer manipulates both past and future in this show for an audience of just five.
Recommended for adults & teens 16+
Object Theater
Sept 24 (Tues): 4:30pm | 7:30pm
Like a magician, or medium at a séance, the performer manipulates both past and future in this show for an audience of just five.
Recommended for adults & teens 16+
Object Theater
Sep 11 (Wed): 9:00 pm
Our friends at the Arrow Street Arts are presenting a "Best of Boston" Puppet Slam! The night is curated by Puppet Showplace Theater, and will feature local artists who have delighted audiences again and again at our always-sold-out Puppet Slams.
Recommended for adults & teens 16+
July 20 (Sat): 8:00 pm
Join us for an evening of short-form puppetry for adults, featuring a range of puppetry styles, beer and wine, and a guaranteed good time.
Ages 16+
On Saturday June 8, join us to kick off our 50th Anniversary Year, featuring Pay-What-You-Can (PWYC) performances at 10:30 am and 2:00 pm, a grown-ups happy hour following the 4:00 pm show, and extra fun in the lobby during the day.
May 18 (Sat): 8:00 pm
Ladies and gentlemen, funky folk and party people, step into the kooky world of A Slice of Crazy Pie, a cabaret-style marionette puppet show that will have you shivering, laughing, and wondering if you had too much to drink.
Recommended for mature audiences 16+
Marionettes
May 17 (Fri): 8:00 pm
Ladies and gentlemen, funky folk and party people, step into the kooky world of A Slice of Crazy Pie, a cabaret-style marionette puppet show that will have you shivering, laughing, and wondering if you had too much to drink.
Recommended for mature audiences 16+
Marionettes
Previous Seasons
2021-2022
MIGRACIONES / MIGRATIONS by Paradox Teatro
Mano-a-Monolog by Andrew Periale, Perry Alley Theatre
The Wonderful and Gruesome Drama of Punch and Judy by Modern Times Theater
Flying Lessons created by Caitlin Brzezinski and Libby Schap
2019-2020
A Chance Encounter presented by I Wan Jan Puppet Troupe (Taiwan)
Flying Lessons created by Caitlin Brzezinski and Libby Schap
WHAT THE DUCK?!? with Susan Linn and Audrey Duck
An Evening of Crankies featuring Katherine Fahey & Dan Van Allen (The Lantern Sisters) with Boston-based artists
2018-2019 - 45th Anniversary - “Puppets for the People”
We celebrate the power of puppetry to strengthen our human community with work that builds empathy, defies expectations, engages imaginations, and inspires action on both the theatrical and political stage.
I Commedianti by Teatrino Giuliare (Italy)
Meet Fred by Hijinx Theatre (Wales)
Just Another Lynching: An American Horror Story by Tarish “Jeghetto” Pipkins
Babylon: Journeys of Refugees by Sandglass Theater
Puppet Crimes by Jana Zeller, Spybird Theater
2017 - 2018
Paper Cut by Yael Rasooly
My Grandfather's Prayers by Lisa Sturz, Red Herring Puppets
Doc Foster's Twisted Tales by Shane McNeal
Disposable by Puzzle Theatre (Québec)
El Beto by Kalob Martinez
2016 - 2017
White Like Me: A Honky Dory Puppet Show by Paul Zaloom
An Existential Sing-Along by Ora Fruchter & Christopher Scheer, Doppelskope
An Evening of Crankies with Katherine Fahey, Valeska Populoh, & John Lechner
Finding Home by Monica Leo, Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre
Beaver Dreams by Lost & Found Puppet Company
2015 - 2016
What Are You Eating? by Eric Wright and Matt Singer
The Wayne Martin Puppets: In Concert
Bend by Kimi Maeda
The Miller's Tale by Michael and Valerie Nelson, Magical Moonshine Theatre
2014 - 2015
Of Bread and Paper by Finn Campman, Company of Strangers
Music in Motion in Collaboration with Juventas New Music Ensemble
Billy the Liar by TOYBOX Theatre and Cripps Puppets
Fernweh by Dana Samborski
2013 – 2014
Reverse Cascade by Anna Fitzgerald, UCONN Puppet Arts
The Joshua Show by Joshua Holden
The Orphan Circus by Les Sages Fous
Great Small Works International Toy Theatre Festival on Tour
2012 – 2013
Mano-a-Monolog by Andrew Periale, Perry Alley Theater
Entertaining Thoughts by Leslie Carrara-Rudolph
The City by Modern Times Theater
Senseless by Elizabeth Hara
2011 – 2012
Ballads and Crankies with Katherine Fahey, Elizabeth LaPrelle and Anna Roberts-Gevalt
The Hoarding Show by Carole D’Agostino