This past Thursday, while I prepared Thanksgiving dinner for friends and family, I reflected on what I am most grateful for this holiday season. I am thankful for art and artists, for people and places that foster curiosity and storytelling, for the power of puppetry to enable creativity, self expression, open-mindedness, and intergenerational connections. I am grateful that we were able to present an amazing year of programming. 

January kicked off with virtual winter warmers after yet another regrettable COVID-related closure last winter. And yet, YOU—our audiences, donors, artists, and friends—returned once again for live performances in February, featuring classic favorites, new friends, and plenty of puppet antics for all to enjoy.

Thank you for showing up and supporting Puppet Showplace Theater. There is truly no puppetry without U—or you!  

This year we presented 122 performances of 30 Mainstage shows, 3 bilingual shows, 3 Puppets at Night shows, 3 puppet slams for adults, 1 world premier, and 1 outdoor puppetry event that drew 600 participants. We ran 5 weeks of kids vacation programs, 4 series of adult classes, 3 family puppet-making workshops, and welcomed back field trips after a 2.5 year hiatus! We supported the development of new works by providing mentorship, work-sharing opportunities, and rehearsal space; and awarded 4 grants to the third cohort of the Creative Residency for Black Puppeteers.

It has been heartwarming to witness the delight and laughter from both families and performers, and it has reminded me why we thrive when we have art in our lives! But, we couldn’t do any of this without you, so please make a donation today to help us continue to bring puppetry to Brookline Village and beyond. 

Although we are open and bustling with activity again, the arts sector is still in recovery. We need to raise at least $50,000 this winter to reach our fundraising goals and meet our annual budget.

Behind-the-scenes, we are putting the final touches on a new strategic plan, and we have some fantastic programming planned for 2023—fairytales and folktales, mischievous monkeys and misfit musicians, crafty grandmas and stealthy squirrels.

Thank you for believing in the magic of puppetry, for supporting performing arts, and instilling that joy in our youth to inspire a lifelong appreciation for the arts.

With extreme gratitude,

Hannah Swartz
Managing Director