Play On!
Puppet Playtime for Toddlers and Tiny Tots
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
September 17 Through November 26
Wednesdays at 10:30am
October 15, 22, & 29, November 5, 12, 19, & 26
Thursdays at 10:30am
October 16, 23, & 30
Saturdays at 9:00am
October 18, & 25
Brenda Huggins and Phil Berman with Bella Monster in Puppet Playtime.
Hi there! My name is Ryan Howland, and I have recently joined the Puppet Showplace family as the Education Outreach Intern. It's been a delight to immerse myself in such a warm, fun, and welcoming place and to have the chance to work with amazing artists who absolutely love the work that they do. I've been able to do a lot of different things in the short time I've been here, but definitely my favorite has been ushering for "Puppet Playtime," Puppet Showplace's weekly interactive performance experience designed for very young children.
Our toys for Puppet Playtime were generously donated by Henry Bear's Park in Brookline
As teaching artists, one of the main things we're concerned with is creating a genuine, welcoming environment for children to explore and learn. Puppet Playtime begins with free play for everyone to meet all our new friends and get used to being in the Puppet Showplace space. When it's time to get started, we clean up together and get into a circle where we all sing a song to welcome all of our friends and we are introduced to the sassy and entertaining Bella Monster. She tells us we're going on an adventure. Where? To the garden, of course, or maybe outer space! Each week is a new adventure.
Bella Monster tells us where we're going on our adventure today.
Imaginations soar as we march to the garden like ants, plant our flowers, and hear a story about a hard-working ant and his friend the grasshopper. It's amazing to see these kids fully immerse themselves in the world we're creating together, and have a super fun time!
After the dramatic play portion of the show, Bella Monster helps us get ready for our closing puppet show. Here the toddlers get a chance to practice being an audience and engage with a familiar story, like "The Very Hungry Caterpillar", or "Goldilocks and the Three bears" but with a twist. Puppet Playtime allows both kids and grown-ups alike to transport themselves into a world where anything is possible and any story can be told if you use your imagination.
Join us each week for a new adventure at Puppet Playtime. I will see you at the theater!
Best,
Ryan, Ed Outreach Intern