VACATION WEEK comes to PST with THE LITTLE BREAD HEN!

VACATION WEEK AT PST!

Sat & Sun | Feb 18 & 19 | 1pm & 3pm
Mon | Feb 20 | 10:30am & 1pm

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If you thought you knew the tale of The Little Red Hen, think again! Barefoot Puppets starts off PST's Vacation Week with their twist on the tale.

About the show: Inspired by the classic tale of The Little Red Hen, this version reveals the truth about what really happened that fateful day when a chicken decided to bake a loaf of bread. Were the other farm animals just lazy or was there something else stewing in the barnyard? Journey to a small European bakery as we cook up the answers to these questions and more in this hilariously tasty retelling!

Recommended for ages 4 & up.

About the performer: Barefoot Puppets takes folktales from around the world and gives them a contemporary twist - with puppets! Even though the stories are classic, all of Barefoot Puppets' scripts, sets, musics, and of course puppets, are completely original. They've performed around the country at venues like The Smithsonian Discovery Theater as well as at various puppetry festivals. Barefoot Puppets has also been seen in the Great White North (otherwise known as Canada) at the Puppets Up! International Puppet Festival.

"Shadow" Brad Shur in PST's Shadow Puppetry workshop!

FEBRUARY 27 - MARCH 19 AT PST!

Introduction to Shadow Puppetry
This 4-week class will give you all the tools you need
to create an original shadow puppet show!

Instructor: Brad Shur
Four sessions, February 27 - March 19
Monday nights, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Cost: $120 (PST members save 10%!)

Register online!

What do translucent animal skins and overhead projectors have in common? Shadow puppetry is a centuries-old art form that is constantly evolving to incorporate new materials and technologies.

In "Introduction to Shadow Puppetry," students will learn the history of shadow performance and see examples of the exciting work being developed by today's shadow puppeteers. Through building and performance assignments, the class will explore diverse styles of shadow puppets ranging from simple hand shadows to elaborate cut-out figures with moving parts. By the end of the class, students will have acquired all the tools they need to create their own shadow puppet show!

Questions? Contact our box office for more details about these and other upcoming events at 617-731-6400.

Have a bowl of "Magic Soup" by Brad Shur!

THIS WEEK AT PST

Sat & Sun | Feb 11 & 12 | 1pm & 3pm
Wed & Thurs | Feb 15 & 16 | 10:30am

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Drink up PST's artist-in-residence Brad Shur's imaginative puppeteering of traditional Jewish tales!

About the show: The Magic Soup presents stories taken from the rich Jewish folk tradition of Eastern Europe. In these short tales, everyone is looking for something, whether it’s a bowl of soup, a bit of peace and quiet, or the perfect pair of shoes. It is those with wit, humor and imagination who have the best chance of finding their dreams.

Performed with mixed styles of puppetry, including rod, shadow and tabletop.

Recommended for ages 4 and up.

About the performer: Brad Shur is currently the artist-in-residence at PST. He has been active in the professional puppeteering world for over a decade, ever since he was studying at the Rhode Island School of Design. Brad performs with all forms of puppetry, from rod puppets and shadow puppets to Japanese bunraku puppets and marionettes. In 2007, Brad built and designed puppets of the 10 American Idol finalists for a Ford commercial which you can view here.

Come on "An Arabian Adventure" with PST!

THIS WEEK AT PST

Wed & Thurs | Feb 8 & 9 | 10:30am

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Go from PST to the Middle East in Tanglewood Marionettes' elaborate performance of a classic Arabian fairytale!

About the show: Featuring over a dozen beautifully hand-crafted marionettes and exquisite “story-book” style scenery, “An Arabian Adventure” tells the tale of a Persian prince who is thrown into a dungeon because of his love for a beautiful princess. Facing danger at every turn, the courageous prince must battle his way out of the underground prison to save his princess from a tragic fate.

The soundtrack features professional actors set to the background of classical music from favorite composers, as well as traditional Middle Eastern music. The program is presented with the marionettists in full view, so that the audience can witness firsthand the mechanics of puppet manipulation.

Replete with clever stage illusions and lighting effects, “An Arabian Adventure” is an action-packed drama that is sure to delight audiences of all ages while introducing them to the magical world of puppet theater.

About the performer: Tanglewood Marionettes is a New England based marionette theater formed in 1993 by Anne Ware and Peter Schaefer. Their specialty is combining adept puppeteers with classic tales to delight children of all ages. Besides performing at PST, they have also been seen at The Children's Museum in Boston, the Boston Athenaeum, the Yale Art Gallery, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and more. Tanglewood Marionettes has been awarded the UNIMA Citation, the highest award in puppetry, for both "An Arabian Adventure" and "The Dragon King."

Kick off February with Shadows Around the World!

THIS WEEK AT PST

Wed & Thurs | Feb 1 & 2 | 10:30am
Sat & Sun | Feb 4 & 5 | 1pm & 3pm

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Get a diverse introduction to shadow puppets when Nappy's Puppets comes to PST!

About the show: For thousands of years, man has manipulated puppets for a variety of reasons: religion, education, and entertainment. One of the oldest and most wonderful forms of puppetry is shadow puppetry.

Shadows Around the World explores the history of shadow puppetry and its development throughout the world. The program focuses on world cultures and history, the oral tradition of storytelling, and the development of shadow puppetry as an art form.

Recommended for ages 4 & up.

About the performer: Nappy's Puppets is dedicated to presenting quality puppet theater to audiences of all ages. The goal of each performances is to entertain, inspire and educate the audience on the range and scope of puppetry as an art form.

PREVIEW THE SHOW BELOW:

Puppetry comes to Arts Emerson in February!

FEBRUARY 07 - 12 AT ARTS EMERSON!

Can't get enough puppetry at PST? Go see Phantom Limb's 69˚S. at Arts Emerson! 69˚S. tells the true story of Sir Ernest Shackleton's 1949 treacherous trans-Antarctic expedition set against the current backdrop of our planet's changing environment and uncertain future.

Theatre, dance, puppetry, photography and film unite and take the audience on an artistic and emotional journey that explores the symbiotic relationship between humans and the environment.

Learn about Phantom Limb's world premiere production, background on the 1914 expedition, the puppetry, music and much more here, brought to you by The Hopkins Center, Dartmouth College.

Recommended for ages 10 & up. Use discount code PST69S5 to receive $5 off tickets! Restrictions apply; offer limited to 2 tickets per customer.

Learn more & order tickets here.


FREE PUPPETRY WORKSHOP BY PST'S OWN!
Curious to learn how the 69˚S. performers bring their puppets to life? Join Roxanna Myhrum, artistic director of PST after the Saturday matinee! This lively hour-long puppet performance workshop will cover puppetry basics including focus, breath and the physical vocabulary that transforms objects into characters.

SAT, FEB 11 after the 2PM performance of 69˚S., 3:30-4:30PM
The Jackie Liebergott Black Box (“The Jackie”) at the Paramount Center

FREE for all 69˚S. ticket holders; Registration required.

Journey to Japan with Cat Mountain

THIS WEEK AT PST
Cat Mountain from Behind the Mask

Wed & Thurs | Jan 25 & 26 | 10:30am
Sat & Sun | Jan 28 & 29 | 1pm & 3pm

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Join PST on a trip to Japan as we follow Behind the Mask's elegant and creative adaptation of the tale of Sho and her journey!

About the show: Cat Mountain tells the story of Sho, a young servant girl, who journeys to a strange and far-off mountain, where she hopes to find her freedom and her lost cat. But as the people she meets on the way tell her – “ No one has ever returned from Cat Mountain!” Puppetry, dance, masks, and Japanese theater-styles all combine in Behind The Mask's original adaptation of this magical folktale.

Recommended for ages 4 & up.

About the performer: Eric Bornstein is truly an international mask-maker. Aside from receiving a MLA in Fine Arts from Harvard University, he also studied with masters in Bali and Italy. His work has appeared all over Boston, from productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream to the Harvard Yiddish Players' Shulamis, in museums like the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum, and with performing groups the Boston Lyric Opera and Boston Ballet. When he's not putting on exquisite shows, Eric keeps busy teaching classes on masks as well as offering residencies to schools in the state through Young Audiences of Massachusetts.

PST Presents: Puppet Showplace Slam!

SATURDAY AT PST

Puppet Showplace Slam
Sat | Jan 21st | 8:00pm

Puppets aren't just for kids. Join PST this Saturday from 8pm to 10pm for more mature shows that adult fans can enjoy.


About the slam: PST has shows for teens and adults? That's right, puppet fans. Every other month we stay open late on Saturday night to bring you a raucous evening of PG-13 puppet entertainment. We call it a "slam" because it's your only chance to get smashed in the eyeballs by every style of puppetry you can imagine. This slam features live music, and a brand new puppet show instigated by Ronald Binion, as well as the amazing punch and judy antics of Liz Joyce and from Goat on a Boat Puppet Theater.

The Princess, The Frog, and the Pea from Goat on a Boat

THIS WEEKEND AT PST

The Princess, The Frog, and the Pea
by Goat on a Boat
Sat & Sun | Jan 21st & 22nd | 1pm & 3pm


Goat on a Boat comes to Brookline all the way from Long Island, New York, to bring a fun new spin on classic fairytales!

About the show: Combining three well-loved stories, The Princess, The Frog, and The Pea delights audiences of all ages. A princess, a witch, an un-enchanted frog, a hoot owl and a neurotic pea who longs to be a hero are the stars of this mixed-up tale. Table top puppets.

Recommended for ages 3 & up.

About the performer: Liz Joyce is an accomplished performer whose puppets have entertained numerous audiences in the New England area. She has also appeared in festivals across the country, from New York to Chicago and even to Minnesota. Besides putting on shows, she serves as Regional Director for the Puppeteers of America and President of the Puppetry Guild of Greater New York.

Liz has also been in TV, appearing on long-running sitcom All My Children as Liz the Puppeteer. Recently she received an UNIMA Citation for her puppet operetta Sing a Song of Sixpence. The UNIMA Citation is the highest award in American puppetry.

Three Billy Goats Gruff This MLK Weekend!

THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND AT PST

Three Billy Goats Gruff
by Pumpernickel Puppets
Sat & Sun | Jan 14th & 15th | 1pm & 3pm
Mon | Jan 16th | 10:30am & 1pm


Local favorite performer, Pumpernickel Puppets of Worcester, MA. returns to our stage this holiday weekend with two performances each day!

About the show: Two classic tales make up this wonderful show. In The Three Billy Goats Gruff, the quick-witted billy goats outsmart the troll, but the troll isn’t really mean – he’s just green, has a snaggletooth, and lives under a bridge. In The Lion and the Mouse, two unlikely friends – one very big and one very small – learn to help each other to solve their problems.
Performed with colorful, friendly hand puppets.

Recommended for ages 3 and up.
About the performer: For over thirty five years the Pumpernickel Puppets have captivated audiences of all ages. John McDonough and his puppets present over two hundred fifty shows a year at schools, libraries and private parties throughout the New England area.

The Pumpernickel Puppets have had the honor of appearing at The Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, The Center for Puppetry Arts, Atlanta, GA and the prestigious International Festival of Puppetry sponsored by the Jim Henson Foundation in New York.

Raccoon Tales by Brad Shur

THIS WEEK AT PST!

Raccoon Tales by Brad Shur
Wed & Thurs | Jan 11th & 12 | 10:30am


PST Artist in Residence, Brad Shur is back on stage this month with Raccoon Tales!

About the show: The animals in the forest are always getting into trouble playing tricks on each other. Will they learn their lessons? Three humorous tales inspired by the Native American tales of the Seneca tribe: How the Fox and the Raccoon Trick Each Other; Why the Blue Jay is Blue and the Gray Wolf Isn’t; and, Why the Bear has a Stumpy Tail. Hand puppets.

Recommended for ages 4 and up.

About the performer:
In the Fall of 2009 the Puppet Showplace Theatre (PST) announced the arrival of Brad Shur as the theatre’s new Artist in Residence. Brad made his debut at PST’s Halloween Extravaganza with his premiere “Doctor Doohickey’s Monster Machine.”Brad Shur has been professionally involved in puppetry for over 10 years. He began as a performer with the Providence puppet and mask company Big Nazo while studying film and animation at the Rhode Island School of Design. He has worked in various capacities with Wood & Strings Theatre (Tennessee), and Vermont PuppetTree, and as a builder has designed and fabricated puppets for American Idol, Dollywood, and other theaters and performers from Austin, Texas to Boston, Massachusetts.

You can catch Brad at least once monthly at Puppet Showplace Theatre, performing any one of six shows in his repertoire: "Raccoon Tales," "Here Come the Clowns," "The Singing Turtle," "Dr. Doohickey's Monster Machine," "The Carrot Salesman," and his newest production "The Magic Soup and Other Tales."

Puppetry Class for Adults!

Body Puppetry and Bharatanatyam
A 2-week movement intensive in stylized storytelling, classical Indian dance-theatre, and the creation of new work.

Instructor: Veronica Barron
Four sessions, January 9 - 19.
Monday and Thursday nights, 6:30 to 9:30 pm
Cost: $145 (PST members save 10%!)


About the class: Physical eloquence is a much sought-after skill across the performing arts. How might the highly stylized forms and storytelling structures of bharatanatyam, a classical dance-theater form from South India, enrich the work we do as puppeteers, theater artists, storytellers?

In this rigorous intensive, participants will work toward increased awareness, specificity, and control of their own movement while getting a taste of a performance philosophy that works from the outside in, using external physical shapes to generate internal emotional experiences for both audience and performer. In the first phase of the class, students will learn a traditional story-dance sequence, practicing eye exercises, mudras (hand shapes), and bhavas (emotional mask shapes). In the second phase, participants will deconstruct this dance sequence, identifying the body vocabulary and narrative tools used in order to use these new tools in conjunction with existing skills. Each participant will then create an original dance-theater composition based on a favorite story or myth. This intensive will leave artists armed with both improved physicality awareness and new tools for the creation of original work.
For ages 16 to Adult.

Travelin' Jack & Company by Applause Unlimited

THIS WEEK AT PST
Travelin' Jack & Company
by Applause Unlimited

Jan 4 & 5 at 10:30am | Jan 7 & 8 at 1pm & 3pm


Happy 2012! Winter Puppet Adventures continues into the new year with Applause Unlimited's unique performance of american folk tales all week long. See you at the theatre!


About the show: An itinerant puppeteer with a hand puppet booth and a knack for tall tales entertains family audiences in this original show, much as puppeteers did in America's colonial days. Three American folk-tales are told with hand puppets by a single puppeteer who serves as both narrator and character in the show. Based on a Jack tale, a slave story-song, and a morality tale, these stories reflect the depth, scope, and humor of early American storytelling. The first story, "Foolish Jack", is a Jack tale about Jack's adventures when he first leaves home. The second story is the story of "Why Dogs Chase Cats". The final story is "A Bundle of Troubles" and, like most morality tales, teach us a valuable life lesson: count your blessings, not your troubles. As contemporary as it is classic, this show is a delight for the whole family.

Recommended for ages 3 & up.

Vacation Week Programing...

SPECIAL VACATION WEEK SCHEDULE:

Mr Punch's Christmas Carol
|Tues&Wed| Dec 27- 28|10:30am, 1:00pm, 3:00pm
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Hansel & Gretel
|Thu&Fri| Dec 29-30|10:30am,1:00pm, 3:00pm
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The Velveteen Rabbit
|Sat&Sun| Dec 31- Jan 1| 1:00pm & 3:00pm
|Mon| Jan 2| 10:30 & 1:00
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Winter Vacation is officially here and we are off to a great start! Today we were so fortunate to have a lovely donation of cupcakes from Party Favors to give away to everyone in the theater (That's Bella with her delicious treat) . In fact for the rest of our vacation programing( thru the 31st) a different bakery will be donating some a treat to our patrons. We are so lucky to have such amazingly generous businesses right here in our neighborhood! and providing our friends with a holiday treat is just our way of saying thanks for all your support.

Looking forward to next week... There are so many puppet shows!! Kicking us off on Tuesday and Wednesday Crabgrass Puppet Presents
" Mr. Punch's Christmas Carol." There are three shows scheduled for both days to allow maxim puppet viewing possibilities!

Then, on Thursday and Friday, check out the National Marionette Theatre with their performance of "Hansel and Gretal," again with three shows per day. Finish off 2011 and start the new year with Applause Unlimited's performance of " The Velveteen Rabbit" on Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 and 3:00 pm and Monday at 10:30am and 1:00pm. WOW That is a lot of Puppets!!!! Just a reminder, since vacation week is a very busy we definitely recommend ordering your tickets ahead of time and showing up at least 15 minutes before the start of the show. See you at the Theater!

Get Into The Holiday Spirt With " Christmas Mouse" by Wayne Martin Puppets

Wed - Sat| Dec 21-24 | 10:30am|

Christmas almost here,
Enjoy the season with a holiday puppet show! Come into puppet showplace this week for "Santa Mouse" and get into the spirit. During our vacation week programing (starting Fri Dec 23rd) we will also be offering free baked goods to our patrons that have been generously donated by local bakeries. Let the holidays begin!

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About The Show:
"Santa Mouse," the timeless and beloved Michael Brown story, is magically brought to life through the artistry of award winning puppeteer Wayne Martin. Martin’s beautifully crafted puppets tell the charming tale of the little mouse with no name, living in great big house who upon giving a special gift to Santa one Christmas Eve becomes Santa Mouse, the helper Santa could never do without!

Following this charming yuletide tale you’ll board the North Pole Express and meet Rudolph, Peter and Penelope Penguin, Frosty and Martin’s trademark Juggling Christmas Tree, who breathlessly lights up and illuminates the way for the jolly old elf himself! All of these oversize hand puppets and marionettes perform special tricks in this festive open stage production!

Restrictions:

Recommended for ages 3 and up.

New Puppets Have Arrived!

Puppet Showplace's Puppet Store is Stocked

Christmas is about a week away, Hanukkah starts on Tuesday night...You need gifts!! Well luckily, just in the nick of time Puppet Showplace has gotten in a new shipment of puppets that are now on sale in our lobby. We have new Folkmanis puppets and adorable marionettes with removable strings for easy disentanglement.
We have Fun finger puppets. We have peepers ( yes, you can make a puppet with only your hand and a pair of eyeballs as our intern Paul's hand is displaying in the picture to the right)... Wow we have a lot of potential presents!

Puppets are wonderful gifts for children of all ages. They encourage strong development of hand eye coordination, fine motor skills, story telling, and imagination. Whether you are looking for a beautiful hand puppet or a small finger puppet to top the perfect present, we have what you need. The store is open Tuesday thru Sunday so come on in and check out our puppets!

This week at PST...Let it Snow with The Snowflake Man by Puppet Kabob



Wen & Thurs | Dec 14 & 15| 10:30|
Sat & Sun| Dec 17 & 18|1: 00 & 3:00|
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Ever Wanted to Take a Picture of A Snowflake? Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley did. This week Puppet Showplace Theatre presents The Snowflake Man by Puppet Kabob a show tells the story of the first man to ever photograph a snow flake!

About the Show:

The story of "The Snowflake Man" is inspired by Wilson Bentley. This self-educated farmer and scientist attracted world attention in 1885 when he became the first person to capture the image of a single snow crystal with a camera he connected to a microscope. "The Snowflake Man" is a unique trunk show of Czech-style marionettes and props backed by a pop-up book of water color paintings telling the story of "Snowflake" Bentley.
This show combines art, science, and New England history to magical effect. The Snowflake Man was awarded a 2011 UNIMA Citation of Excellence. This show is sponsored in part by a Creation Grant from the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Recommended for ages 5 and up

Experience The A.R.T. This Winter!



The Snow Queen
Presented by American Repertory Theater
December 10, 2011 - December 31, 2011

Hey Puppet Showplace Folks, it's me again, your favorite pink monster reporting to you from Harvard Square, Cambridge! I just went to see The Snow Queen at the A.R.T., and it was EPICALLY AWESOME- a beautiful storybook adventure for the whole family filled with puppets, masks and more!

About the Show: Hans Christian Andersen's beloved fairy tale "The Show Queen" comes to life in this delightful new stage adaptation for children and their families. When a young boy named Kai is taken away by a wicked enchantress, his best friend Gerda must embark on a perilous journey to the north pole to rescue him. Using puppets, music and magic, this exuberant, heart-warming production will take you on a theatrical journey to a magical kingdom and the Snow Queen's icy palace.

Directed by Allegra Libonati, with original puppets by Michael Kane and featuring members of the ART Institute Class of 2012. Dec. 10-31. American Repertory Theater, Loeb Drama Center, Cambridge. $15. 617-547-8300.

Learn More: Find more info, rehearsal photos, activities and more on the A.R.T. website!

The Clowns Are Coming To Town!

This Week at PST:

Clown Circus by Brad Shur
Wen & Thurs | Dec 7 & 8| 10:30|
Sat & Sun| Dec 10 & 11|1: 00 & 3:00|
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This week our Artist in Residence Brad Shur presents Clown Circus! Come on in and watch his cast of clowny characters as they bring songs & stories to excite and entertain. With shows on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, there are plenty of chances to come in and clown around with this PST favorite!

About the Show:

Clowns come in all shapes and sizes, but everything about them is larger-than-life. Join "Dusty" and his friends Pierrot, Zany and Guffaw for this fun, interactive variety show that features circus-inspired singing, dancing, storytelling and more!

Restrictions:

Recommended for ages 3 and up.
 

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Our Mission

Puppet Showplace Theater is dedicated to presenting outstanding puppetry to diverse audiences through performances, workshops, and community outreach activities.

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Puppet Showplace Theater is supported by...

 

Puppet Showplace Theater is supported by the New England Foundation for the Arts through the New England Arts Resilience Fund, part of the United States Regional Arts Resilience Fund, an initiative of the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations and the Mellon Foundation, with major funding from the federal CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan from the National Endowment for the Arts.