Stewie’s Magic Hat, by Goodhearted Entertainment, which debuted last weekend and performs again Saturday July 16 and Sunday July 17 at Puppet Showplace Theater, has been in development for many years.  It was originally conceived 23 years ago and it took a while to find its way to the Puppet Showplace stage, just like Stewie’s journey of self-discovery. 

Honey Goodenough, who is also the Resident Teaching Artist at Puppet Showplace Theater, created the first incarnation of the show with Heather Warren-Crow in Austin, Texas, in 1999 when they were just 20ish years old. “The story always stayed with me,” said Honey. “And my mom always reminded me that it was worth developing.”

Honey made an extraordinary final effort to get the show ready, working long nights cutting wire, sewing costumes, and rehearsing new songs. The results were definitely all worth it.  The show makes use of a variety of puppetry styles, including hand puppets, moving-mouth puppets, rod puppets, and a range of props and special surprises! The performances last weekend were vibrant, funny, and delivered a refreshing message. After the Sunday afternoon show, one child summed up the moral of the story that you shouldn’t “let other people decide what you do.”  Or, as another child succinctly put it: “You do you!”

By using a familiar story structure and setting from fairy tales, Stewie’s Magic Hat is able to lead the audience to a surprising conclusion that highlights the value in letting kids just be who they are and trusting that by doing that they can still meet their families’ expectations. A genuinely powerful message for audiences of all ages!

“For this story to be meaningful to all people, it needs to include all people. Representation is important,” said Honey. Edna Bland, the advisor to Puppeteers of America on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, supported the cultural representation by helping in the development of the visuals and puppet portrayals in the show.

Stewie’s Magic Hat will be performed on Saturday July 16 at 1:00pm and 3:00pm, and on Sunday July 17 at 10:30am. All shows will take place at Puppet Showplace Theater, located at 32 Station Street, Brookline, MA. Tickets are $12.50 ($9 for members), and can be purchased at www.puppetshowplace.org/migraciones. Contact the Puppet Showplace Box Office at boxoffice@puppetshowplace.org or call 617-731-6400 x 101 for assistance.

*This project is supported by the Jim Henson Foundation’s Family Grant. Boston Cultural Council, The Boston Area Guild of Puppetry, and Puppet Showplace Theater