Don’t Make Me Get Dressed is a gloriously silly and inventive ode to the feelings we have when we choose our clothes... and to what happens when our clothes come to life and choose us.

Boston-based puppetry and music collective The Gottabees brings the world premiere of their new show “Don’t Make Me Get Dressed” to Puppet Showplace Theater in Brookline, MA this November. The show will run for a total of 18 performances, kicking off on Friday, November 10 and closing Sunday, November 26.

The Gottabees, creators of acclaimed children's puppet shows “Squirrel Stole My Underpants” and “Go Home Tiny Monster,” bring a gloriously silly and inventive ode to the feelings we have when we choose our clothes with “Don’t Make Me Get Dressed.” The show was developed by lead artist Bonnie Duncan, co-creator and director Dan Milstein, and musical composers and performers Brendan Burns and Anthony Leva, in collaboration with costume designer Penney Pinette.

Together, with their interdisciplinary talents in music, dance, acrobatics, theater, and design, the group masterfully bring to life piles of laundry and puppets in this non-verbal show. In lieu of any language, their original composition acts as the emotional narrative and is played live in view of the audience.

“Don’t Make Me Get Dressed” is for every child who has struggled to get into their clothes first thing in the morning, and every parent who has fought valiantly in the battleground of the morning routine. “We hide in our clothes; we are vulnerable in our clothes; we are empowered by our clothes,” said Bonnie Duncan on her inspiration for the show. “[Don’t Make Me Get Dressed] explores how clothing and feelings transform us, surprise us and make us feel differently about ourselves and the world around us.”

A truly collaborative work, “Don’t Make Me Get Dressed” was developed through conversations with around 20 families and a Brookline Public Schools kindergarten classroom. Scenes, moods, and characters are all inspired by what kids had to say about their clothes, their feelings, and the space between them. Much of the audio from these conversations are used as text and vocal tracks in the show.

Throughout the run of “Don’t Make Me Get Dressed”, Puppet Showplace will partner with Cradles to Crayons, a local and national nonprofit dedicated to ending Clothing Insecurity — a crisis that impacts 20 million children in the U.S. and 1 in 3 in Massachusetts — by holding a Coat and Clothing Drive. “People understand clothing as fashion or expression — but the lack of proper clothing and supplies accounts for three of the top 10 reasons that kids miss school,” says Lynn Margherio, Cradles to Crayons Founder and CEO. “A welcoming live theater experience like “Don’t Make Me Get Dressed” at Puppet Showplace Theater can help children feel loved, accepted, and valued — just like a new, warm coat that fits just right! Together, we can keep more kids safe, and families can help share the warmth.” Audience members can participate by bringing donations of new and like-new coats and clothing for children from birth through age 12.

“Don’t Make Me Get Dressed” opens on Friday, November 10, with performances at 10:30 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm, and will run through November 26. Opening day is “Mismatch Day” and audiences are invited to wear their favorite mismatched clothes to the show to immerse themselves in the experience. An opening reception will be held on November 12. For more information on show times visit the Puppet Showplace Theater website. Tickets for the show can be purchased here.

About Puppet Showplace Theater

Puppet Showplace Theater is dedicated to presenting outstanding professional puppetry to diverse audiences through performances, workshops, and community outreach activities. Founded in 1974, the theater is a treasured Boston-area cultural institution and one of the few dedicated puppetry centers in the United States. Puppets at Night performances for adults and teens 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.

About The Gottabees

Since their breakout success in 2013, the group has been awarded a UNIMA-USA Citation of Excellence — the highest puppetry-specific honor awarded in the US. Their projects have been funded by the Jim Henson Foundation, Puppeteers of America, USArtists International, Boston Cultural Council, and the Boston Foundation. “Don’t Make Me Get Dressed” is supported by the 2023 Jim Henson Foundation Family Grant, 2023 Puppeteers of America Rufus and Margo Rose Endowment Fund, and the 2023 Puppet Showplace Incubator program.

The Gottabees made their return to the Puppet Showplace Theater stage earlier this year with a sold-out run celebrating the 10th anniversary of their original Incubator show “Squirrel Stole My Underpants.”

Led by Boston-based multi-hyphenate artist — dancer, acrobat, costume designer, and puppeteer — Bonnie Duncan, The Gottabees have toured to 5 countries and performed 512 shows to date for more than 45,000 people. They regularly sell out venues, inhabit computer screens, and inspire homemade puppet shows throughout the US, Canada, and beyond.