Starring...the AUDIENCE!

As the new Artistic Director at Puppet Showplace Theatre lot of my job has been to get to know our performers and their work. Equally as important, I have been watching and getting to know our audiences.

Unlike in movies or television, the audience plays a huge role in live performance. A puppeteer can instantly tell whether his or her work is making an impact: are people laughing in the right places? Are they engaging with the puppet when it asks questions? Do they “ooo” and “aaah” when something cool and unexpected appears?

Before coming to PST it had been a while since I worked with audiences primarily composed of children, and I had forgotten how amazing it is to perform for them. Children are incredibly honest audience members. If they are bored, they will tell you. If they are having a great time, they will laugh and cheer. If they think a puppet character has done something wrong, they will cry out for justice. It’s incredible to watch how our puppeteers harness children’s attention and engage their emotions in such a pure and unfettered way. If only all theater could be like this!

Help Us Make PST One of the 1,000 Greatest Places in Massachusetts

YOUR VOTE COUNTS! The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism wants your input in assembling a list of the 1,000 Greatest Places in Massachusetts!

With 35 years as New England's Puppet Theatre, we think the Puppet Showplace Theatre should be on the list.

But we're not content to simply make the list. Our goal is to make the top 100! If you agree, and would like to see the Puppet Showplace Theatre included among the top 100 greatest historic sites, cultural venues, and natural landscapes that the state has to offer, nominate us for inclusion by submitting this free online form (It's really simple and quick). Voting concludes in early May.

Thank you for supporting New England's puppet theatre!

Bunnies for Sale at the PST Puppet Store!

The Store at the Puppet Showplace Theatre is overflowing with our floppy-eared friends — of the puppet variety.

Folkmanis Puppets produces a great line of rabbits including: White Rabbits, Dutch Rabbits, Jack Rabbits, a Rabbit in a Hat and more! They range from small finger puppets to large hand and stage puppets.

And they can all be found here at the Puppet Showplace Theatre. Store hours are Tuesday — Sunday from 10AM to 4PM.

More About... Matthew Leonard & Lionheart Puppet Company

Here's something you may not know about the Puppet Showplace Theatre: We're a presenting venue, which means we contract with outside performers to bring their shows to our stage. Yes, Brad Shur is our Artist in Residence, but he doesn't put on all the shows here at the theatre. That would be a lot of shows for one person to do — over 350 a year, to be somewhat exact.

We bring performers in from around Massachusetts, New England, the rest of the United States, and occasionally from international points, as well.

This week's performer is Matthew Leonard, who joins us with his troupe Lionheart Puppet Company. Based in Connecticut, Matthew has been performing since 2001, and is a graduate of the dramatic arts program at the University of Connecticut.

He has performed with The Great Arizona Puppet Theatre, Purple Rock Productions, and the Paper Moon Marionettes, has served as an officer for the Garden State Puppet Guild in New Jersey, and is active with the Connecticut Guild of Puppetry and the Puppeteers of America.

The Reluctant Dragon is the second PST Premiere show from Lionheart Puppet Company. Last summer, they brought a PST Premiere of their show The Little Red Hen.

Leonard also performs as part of Saltamontes Puppet Arts, which will visit the Puppet Showplace Theatre stage on May 1 and 2 with their show Babui.

We hope you're able to join us for the show!

Tickets are available by calling our Box Office at (617) 731-6400 or by clicking on the link below.

BUY TICKETS

Muppet Madness Tournament

Do you like Muppets? Do you watch college basketball? If you answered Yes to either of these questions (okay, it would be helpful if you at least answered Yes to the first question) then you are guaranteed to love the all-new, never-before-attempted Muppet Madness Tournament!

Designed after the NCAA basketball tourney, the brave and daring proprietors of MuppetCast.com and ToughPigs.com have joined forces to present what will surely be a spectacular Muppet online fan event! Your favorite characters from The Muppet Show, Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, and Jim Henson’s other productions will face off each week as YOU vote the winners!

Follow the tournament here and on ToughPigs.com, and listen to The MuppetCast each week as Steve, Ryan, and Joe run down the winners and losers, and review the matchups in the week ahead. Let the games begin!

3/20 PuppetSLAM & Three Billy Goats Gruff

It's a busy weekend at the Puppet Showplace Theatre.

Pumpernickel Puppets performs the classic folk tale, "Three Billy Goats Gruff." This is the type of silly that everyone can enjoy. Shows are at 1pm and 3pm, Saturday and Sunday. I personally guarantee that you will love it.

And if you're planning on attending the PuppetSLAM Saturday evening, make your reservations now! The SLAM will sell out, so buy your tickets in advance. Tickets can be purchased here, or by calling our Box Office between 10am and 4pm at 617-731-6400. The SLAM begins at 8:00pm (so find a sitter for the kids).

Puppet Showplace Theatre on "The Sunny Side of the Street"

Artistic Director Roxanna Myhrum and Executive Director Kris Higgins join host Tod Gross on "The Sunny Side of the Street," which can be seen on NewTV, Newton Cable Access at the following times: Mondays at 2:30PM; Tuesdays at 9AM & 6:30PM; Wednesdays at 12:30AM & 9:30AM; Fridays at 5AM; and Saturdays at 9:30AM & 2:30PM.

PuppetSLAM is March 20th!

Hi all. We're getting excited for our next PuppetSLAM, coming this Saturday at 8pm. If you've never been or are unsure just what we're talking about when we say "PuppetSLAM", check out this article from this week's Brookline Tab.

We've got a great lineup of performers scheduled, including Brad Shur, Mike Cohen, Bonnie Duncan, Little's Creatures, Lorraine Gilman, Kyle Mackesey, Diane Kordas, and Dagen Julty. And Jon Little is revving up to host once again!

Tickets are $15 general admission and $13 for members and students. Call 617-731-6400 or click here to get yours today. PuppetSLAMs tend to sell out days in advance, so make sure you get yours soon.

We can't wait to see you at the show!

PST awarded $10k NEA Grant

The Puppet Showplace Theatre’s Mary Churchill Memorial Fund for Underserved Children has been awarded a $10,000 Challenge America: Reaching Every Community Fast-Track Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The Puppet Showplace Theatre (PST) will match the NEA’s grant to fund this vital program for the children of Boston’s low-income families.

Since the Mary Churchill Memorial Fund began in 2007, thousands of young children of Boston’s low-income families have enjoyed live puppetry performances at the Puppet Showplace Theatre. Though PST has received NEA funds in the past, the awarding of this grant marks the first year the National Endowment of the Arts will help fund this program. The grant will help in providing free performances for 1,000 kids spread throughout the 2010 calendar year.

The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established; bringing the arts to all Americans; and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Endowment is the nation’s largest annual funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases.

The Challenge America: Reaching Every Community Fast-Track Review Grants offer support primarily to small and mid-sized organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations – those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability.

Named to commemorate the passing of the theatre’s founder, the Mary Churchill Memorial Fund for Underserved Children is a subsidy program providing Boston’s low-income children with puppetry performances at little or no cost. At least 1,000 young children will be introduced to live performance by guest artists at New England’s first and only year-round non-profit theatre dedicated to the art of puppetry.

To contribute to the match for this grant please make a contribution here, or contact our Executive Director for more information at executive@puppetshowplace.org.

PuppetSLAM is this Saturday night at 8pm!

You know what makes PuppetSLAM so much fun? It's different from any other live theater you're likely to find. And the Slam we're cooking up for this Saturday night promises to be equally unique!

Diane Allison will be here, performing a segment of her show "Miriam," the story of a prophetess who finds herself on the wrong side of God (as told with humor, pathos, and one life-size puppet).

ALSO— Behind the Mask Theatre will be here with a excerpt of "The Masks of Odysseus", their original production of Greek mythology featuring fine acting, costumes, and hand-made masks!

Other performers include Little's Creatures and many others, including two brave audience volunteers!

You definitely don't want to miss this show!

TICKETS NOW ON SALE
CALL 617-731-6400 OR CLICK HERE

10/13 Incubator Cancelled

NOTICE - 10/13 Incubator Cancelled

Tonight’s Incubator has been cancelled. Please join us on Tuesday, October 27th for the next Incubator Session. About the Puppet Showplace Incubators:

Incubator (in ku ba´ ter) n : A place or situation that permits or encourages the formation and development, as of new ideas.

Every other Tuesday from 7 - 9 pm (go to schedule) PST hosts a "drop-in" session where emerging artists, veteran puppeteers, teachers, and puppet enthusiasts gather to discuss and develop creative ideas in a casual, informal environment.

Here artists of all media and genres, experienced or not, can experiment with new puppetry ideas, materials and styles. It's a place where knowledge is shared, constructive critique is the norm, and collaborations are born.

No matter where your interests lie, from traditional theatre to the avant garde, you're welcome at these sessions.

Similar workshops have developed and flourished in places like Atlanta and New York, adding breadth and richness to the puppetry of those cities, and now the same thing is happening here!

Join us in this exciting project!

A $5 donation is suggested to cover costs, but no one is turned away. For more information, call 617.731.6400, or email us at artistic@puppetshowplace.org with "incubator" in the subject. To see the full schedule visit www.puppetshowplace.org/incubator.html

FREE Family Movie Nite 8/22 – Babe!

Saturday, August 22 is our final FREE Family Movie Nite of the summer!

Bah Ram Ewe! It's Babe, the story of the little pig that could. Babe, a pig raised by sheepdogs, learns to herd sheep (with a little help from Farmer Hoggett), wins over the barnyard, and learns the value of friendship and determination.

This summer, Puppet Showplace Theatre has been pleased to present a series of puppet movie favorites on the big screen. All shows have been presented FREE! with a suggested donation of $4.

Doors open at 6pm. Movie starts at 6:30pm.

FREE Family Movie Nite 8/15 – James and the Giant Peach!

If you are unfamiliar with this film or the book by Roald Dahl, please watch the trailer above. The film is stop-motion animation, in the style of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Corpse Bride (this film's director, Henry Selnick, directed Coraline and Nightmare).

Based on the Roald Dahl book of the same name, James and the Giant Peach is the story of an orphan who, on a journey to New York City, befriends kind, human-like bugs who live inside a giant peach.

Featuring the voices of Richard Dreyfuss, Susan Sarandon, and David Thewlis, among others. This film is rated PG.

FREE Family Movie Nite 8/8 - Follow That Bird!

Before The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, there was Follow That Bird, Big Bird's road-trip adventure movie.

Here's a quick synopsis: Big Bird wants to get to know other birds. But when he goes to live with a crazy bird family–the Dodos of Ocean View, Illinois–he decides he would be happier back with his friends on Sesame Street. He has to count on the help of old and new friends to help him to make it back home.

Like other Muppet movies, a handful of celebrities make cameo appearances peppered throughout the film. In the clip above, country singer Waylon Jennings sings with Big Bird. Other stars making appearances include Chevy Chase, John Candy, Dave Thomas, Joe Flaherty and Sandra Bernhard. (89 min, G)

FREE Family Movie Nite 8/1 – The Muppets Take Manhattan

In the third movie starring the Muppets, Kermit rounds up the gang to take Broadway by storm, despite a few obstacles in the way (like Kermit's own, momentary amnesia). Other highlights include the introduction of the Muppet Babies (see clip above) and Kermit and Miss Piggy's wedding, done as a big Muppet musical number featuring all of the Muppets and many of the Muppet characters from Sesame Street. (94 min, G)

Deborah Costine, Puppeteer! in the News

Deborah Costine, friend of the Puppet Showplace Theatre, has been in the news a lot this year. Back in October 2008, she and Len Gerwick celebrated the 5,000th performance of Gerwick Puppets with a special show at the Puppet Showplace Theatre.

As if that wasn't great enough, at the National Puppetry Festival earlier this month in Atlanta, Deborah and her production of "A Woodland Cinderella" were honored with an UNIMA Citation of Excellence!

UNIMA (Union Internationale de la Marionette) is an international puppetry organization that has honored exceptional puppeteers and their productions yearly since 1975. The Citation of Excellence is UNIMA's highest honor, and one of the highest honors in the field of puppetry.

Don't miss Deborah's next visit to the Puppet Showplace Theatre: September 16 & 17, when she'll be performing "The Twig Family." Tickets will be available soon via the PST Box Office and our website.

Congratulations Deborah!


Read more about Deborah Costine and UNIMA:

Southborough Puppeteer Pulling A Few Strings (MetroWest Daily News)

UNIMA-USA

FREE Family Movie Nite 7/25 - Coraline!

If you are unfamiliar with this film and are unsure if it will be appropriate for your children, please watch the trailer above. The film is stop-motion animation, in the style of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Corpse Bride (Henry Selnick directed Coraline and Nightmare, as well as James and the Giant Peach), and like those movies has scenes and themes that may be too dark for younger audiences.

Based on the Neil Gaiman story of the same name, Coraline is a young, frustrated girl who crawls through a secret passage in her new home and discovers an alternate version of her life. On the surface, this parallel reality is eerily similar to her real life - only much better. But when her adventure turns dangerous, and her counterfeit parents try to keep her forever, Coraline must count on her resourcefulness, determination, and bravery to get back home - and save her family.

The film is rated PG and features the voices of Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, John Hodgman and Ian McShane. We do not recommend this film for ages below 7.

Review the Puppet Showplace Theatre on yelp.com!

You may have used yelp.com to find a restaurant, but did you know you can use it to find other great local destinations? Help us get the word out about our family-friendly entertainment by reviewing the Puppet Showplace Theatre and telling the world about your experience at one of our shows.

When you review us, you're not only helping others discover the magic and wonder of attending a Puppet Showplace Theatre performance–you're helping to promote the art of puppetry as entertainment and an educational tool, and the Showplace as a worthwhile family destination.

Review Puppet Showplace Theatre on yelp.com

FREE Family Movie Nite 7/18 - Labyrinth!

If you are unfamiliar with this film and are unsure if it will be appropriate for your children, please watch the clip above. Many of the film's puppets are fantastical creatures like the goblins, gargoyles and others beyond description in this clip (not to mention big-haired David Bowie in tights). And though the puppets are, for the most part, goofy–and the good guys win in the end–not all of them are goofy and there are a lot of dark scenes.

Labyrinth is the story of Sarah (Jennifer Connelly), her baby brother, and the Goblin King (Bowie). Sarah has to rescue her baby brother from the mean Goblin King before time runs out, but first has to navigate the Goblin King's confusing and confounding labyrinth! This film is one of Jim Henson's most fantastical movie creations.

The film is rated PG. We do not recommend this film for ages below 7.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!

Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there. Found this cute gift idea to share, if you haven't gotten a gift yet.

Father's Day Craft: Golf Cover Buddies By Marie LeBaron

Is it "Golf or Go Home" at your house? Then these fun and friendly sock puppets are the perfect cover for Dad's golf clubs this Father's Day.

for the complete instructions visit: http://www.alphamom.com/holiday/2009/06/golf_cover_buddies.php

Don't forget "Puss in Boots" by Spring Valley Puppets performs today at 1pm & 3pm. Tickets for Dad's are FREE today!