The weather may be HOT, but our theatre is COOL!

PST IS READY FOR SUMMER!

New Schedule!

We are so excited about our summer programming, we've decided to have performances on Fridays!  With our new schedule for the summer, starting July 5th, we will have shows every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday both at 10:30am and 1:00pm!  Be sure to check out our Show Calendar for more details about the shows.

Air Conditioning!

As the weather gets hotter, PST is keeping cool with our newly installed Air Conditioners!  Just in time for the summer heat, we've made sure both of the air conditioners, one in our lobby and one in our theatre, are up and running smoothly.  All are welcome to see a puppet show, check out our store, take a break from the heat, and enjoy the cool air!

Marionette Stage! 

We love to play with puppets, and think it's really fun to share.  Now, not only can you play with hand puppets on a hand puppet stage in our lobby, but we've also got a new marionette stage so you can try out some of our marionettes!  Whether you can make a duckling puppet waddle or a ballerina puppet plié, visit our lobby to make your own puppet play!

Our Store!
Do you ever wish you could have your very own puppets to play with at home?  Well you can!  PST's store is all stocked up for summer with a great new selection of marionettes.  Also, our new Folkmanis hand puppets are great for big hands and little hands!  We have finger puppets, books, vintage puppet posters, and more, so feel free to stop in Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00am to 4:00pm to check out our store!

My NEW Favorite Thing

Hello all,

I am pink, furry and fabulous. Thats right its me, Bella Monster! Reporting live from Puppet Showplace theatre, the first puppetry center in New England. Thank you for visiting our blog. This post is about my new segment called 'My New Favorite Thing', by me! Every Tuesday I will update you with my new favorite thing, things like puppets, pink and strawberries.

This week my new favorite thing is Pinocchio! PST's new show coming out Fourth of July weekend. Pinocchio is a story about a puppet who wants to become a real boy. I'm a puppet, like Pinocchio, and I am on a quest to find out what it means to be real. What do you think it means to be real?





The trees outside are real and give us oxygen. I try to be kind and generous like the trees but they don't laugh and sing like me. The kids I meet are real! Kids play and learn like me. Together we learn from each other. But they aren't covered in fur the way I am.


So being real must come from inside. Being real can't always be seen or heard. The love we have inside is what makes us real. I'm Bella Monster, I'm proud to say I'm real and I know you are too!

Love,

                                                                    Bella Monster        

You're Never Too Old to Learn About Puppets!

SUMMER ADULT CLASSES 2012

Glove Puppetry Boot Camp

July 9th-30th, Mon nights, 6:30-8:30pm

Puppets and Play-Making In the Classroom

July 22nd-Aug 12th, Sun afternoons, 
3:30-6:00pm

Both run 4 Sessions, for ages 16+

$125/class (PST Members save 10%!) 
For more information, or to register, check out Our Website!

PST is proud to offer two new classes this summer for puppeteers, educators, parents, and anyone else curious about puppetry! Also, PST is in the process of applying to be a certified PDP provider for Massachusetts school teachers!  Call for updates, 617-731-6400 x 201.

The first, Glove Puppetry Boot Camp, will be led by our Artist in Residence Brad Shur.  

Learn more/buy tickets

Starting with basic exercises for manual dexterity and building towards complete character-based scenes, participants will acquire the movement vocabulary that allows their hands to express almost any emotion or action.

The second, Puppets and Play-Making in  the Classroom, will be led by Brenda Huggins. Learn more/buy tickets

Participants will learn how to use puppetry to facilitate character-based creative improvisation in the classroom, leading towards the development of scene-based dramatic scripts. In this step-by-step professional development series, participants will gain experience through hands-on craft activities, learning how to teach the basics of storytelling and puppetry to grades pre-k to 5th grade.

We are always looking to enhance our educational influence, and we have a goal to provide beneficial classes for educators.  A participant of previous a class at PST comments "These techniques could be applied over a whole host of projects."  Another said "Brenda was excellent!  She really took the time to mentor/critique and help us in every aspect... I feel that I learned a lot, gained confidence, and had a wonderful time." 

We are proud of the positive learning experiences that we have provided in the past, and welcome you to take part in these upcoming classes!

Last Chance To Support This Year

Dear Friends,

As President of Puppet Showplace Theatre's Board of Trustees, I am a dedicated supporter of "New England's Puppet Theatre." As our fiscal year comes to a close we would like to send a special thank you to everyone who could celebrate with us for our 38th birthday as New England's only continuously running puppet theatre. All you puppet fans helped raise over $6,000 at our birthday gala event! You continually help make Puppet Showplace Theatre a success.


- Adam Courville, 
President PST Board of Trustees

For those of you who couldn't make it, it's not too late to celebrate with us. With our fundraising target being $37,000 we only need an additional $4,000 by June 30th to ensure our goal for the fiscal year. We only have three days left until our fundraising closes so we hope you consider making a donation of any size to help build a large impact. 

As always we strive to promote and present the magical world of puppet theatre to a broad community in order to educate and enlighten audiences of all ages. We are optimistic that you do too. Thank you for all your support and stick around for all the fun we have in store for you in the future at Puppet Showplace Theatre!

Spend your July 4 weekend with Pinocchio at PST!

THIS WEEK AT PST!

Thu	July 5	10:30am & 1pm
Fri	July 6	10:30am & 1pm
Sat	July 7	10:30am & 1pm

It's the classic tale of Pinocchio, but this time with marionettes!

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About the show: Carlo Collodi's epic about a puppet who wants to become a real boy is a classic example of storytelling at its best. Our adaptation is a faithful re-telling of this childhood favorite. Follow Pinocchio as he goes on a series of adventures and discovers that only by being truthful, selfless and kind to others will he realize his dream of becoming a real live boy.

Recommended for ages 4 & up.

About the performer: One of the oldest running marionette theaters in the US, National Marionette Theatre was founded in 1967 by artistic director David A. Syrotiak. For over 40 years, this award-winning company has been entertaining audiences around the world and are noted for their amazing manipulation technique and imaginative fully staged productions.

The company has received critical acclaim both here in the United States and abroad and was the first American marionette theater to receive the prestigious UNIMA award for excellence in puppetry. These days, shows are performed by David and Peter Syrotiak, sons of the artistic director. They have been building and performing with the company since their teenage years and are dedicated to keeping the tradition of professional puppetry alive in the United States.

Our stage is dark this week at PST!

PUPPET NAP-TIME AT PST!
a.k.a....
DARK WEEK: Mon, June 18th through Mon, June 25th

It's been a wonderful, fasted-paced season for us here so far at Puppet Showplace Theatre, and our puppets need a little time to recuperate before the summer.

DARK WEEK INFO:

• The box office is CLOSED from 6/18 through 6/25, and will re-open at 10:00am on Tues, 6/26.
• There will be a Tag Sale in the PST Lobby, Wed 6/20 from 10:00am to 4:00pm.
• There are NO SHOWS the week of 6/25 through 7/2
• The box office will be CLOSED on 7/4 in observance of Independence Day.

Although our puppets will be hibernating, PST staff will be scrubbing down the floors, and finishing up the rest of our spring cleaning all week long! The office will be closed, but staff will make every effort to return phone calls as soon as possible, if you leave us a message at 617-731-6400.
Tickets can be purchased online HERE.

We are excited to present two shows a day Wed through Sat beginning July 5th as we kick-off our "Summer Puppet Spectacular" season with a performance of Pinocchio by fan favorites, National Marionette Theatre.  See you at the theatre in July!

Pinocchio by National Marionette Theatre

July 5, 6 & 7 | 10:30am & 1pm

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Free frozen treats on Sat, July 7th 

provided by Whole Foods Market, Brighton!

Community TAG SALE at PST this Wed!

TAG SALE: Wed, June 20th, 10am to 4pm
ITEM DROP OFF: Tues, June 19th, 10am to 4pm


We're finishing up our spring-cleaning at PST, and invite you to stop by for a tag sale in the lobby.  Find items like gently used office supplies, storage racks, toys, books, electronics, and more: ranging in price from .50 to $50.

We will accept drop-offs Tues, June 19th from 10am to 4pm, or the day-of. Suggested items include: Gently used and sanitized clothing, jewelry, housewares, toys, books, computers, other electronics and office supplies.

Tag Sale in the PST lobby!

Wed, June 20th, 10am to 4pm

Donation drop off: Tues, June 19th, 10am to 4pm

OooOooOoo... a musical mystery comes to PST!

THIS WEEK AT PST!
The Case of the Missing Woodpile
by Gerwick Puppets

Thu	June 14,	10:30am
Fri	June 15,	10:30am
Sat	June 16,	10:30am & 1pm

It's a mystery! It's a musical! Get your detective gear, and help us find out who done it!

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About the show: Marylou and Bruce star in this musical mystery. They’re busy with all sorts of summer activities, when suddenly the pile of wood for a chicken coop they want to build disappears! The audience joins the puppets to solve the mystery! With original music.

Recommended for ages 3 & up.

About the performer: Since 1974, Len Gerwick and The Gerwick Puppets have performed well over 5,000 shows! They perform at schools, libraries, and other events around New England and the rest of the country.

Len Gerwick got his start as a puppeteer at the ripe old age of 13, when he performed puppet shows at his family’s, friends’ and neighbors’ birthday parties in The Bronx, New York City. Soon he started traveling all over the city to perform! 

A Woodland Cinderella visits PST!

THIS WEEK AT PST!

Thu	June 7	10:30am
Fri	June 8	10:30am
Sat	June 9	10:30am & 1pm

It's a totally original version of Cinderella from Deborah Costine, Puppeteer!

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About the show: In this original version of Cinderella, the King of all Woodland Fairies wants his son to marry a fairy princess, but he knows that they are very hard to find. So the King hosts a great ball and commands all the young fairy maidens to attend. He hopes that the missing fern fairy princess will come. Will he find her? 

Recommended for ages 3 & up.

About the performer: When Debbie was 10 years old, she made her first puppet. She had no idea how to go about it, but she made a papier mache puppet which sits in her puppet studio today!

Debbie designs and performs shows for young audiences, and was recently awarded a UNIMA Citation of Excellence for her show “Cinderella, A Woodland Fairy Princess” in 2009. The UNIMA Citation of Excellence is the highest honor in American puppetry.

Puppet-Playwriting Workshop for Adults at PST

STAGESOURCE: WRITING IN 3D, PLAYWRITING AND PUPPETRY

Tues, May 29th at 7:00pm

$20 for StageSource Members, $30 for non-members

Click Here to find out more information or to order Tickets!

If you like playwriting and puppets, do we have the class for you!  Come and learn about how the use of puppets in storytelling can contribute to your written work.  This workshop features Roxie Myhrum, Bonnie Duncan, Faye Dupras, and Brad Shur and is moderated by Pat Gabridge.  If you would like to write a puppet play, or incorporate puppets into your script/production, this is a fantastic opportunity to learn from the experts.

The use of puppets dates backs to the very beginning of theatre, and now more and more new plays and theatre productions are using puppets as ways to help tell the story.  Recent examples include Paula Vogel's Long Christmas Ride Home and the production of Wild Swans at American Repertory Theatre.  In addition, the Puppet Showplace Theatre in Brookline presents puppet shows for both children and adults, all year long.

Calling all kids ages 7-12: let's make monsters!

MONSTER MAKERS:  PUPPET BUILDING AND DESIGN CAMP!

Deadline to register is June 8th!

6-25 through 6-29

8:30am-4:00p
Ages 7-12
To Register: Call the Brookline Rec Department at 617-730-2069. We still have room for more campers so apply today!

We love monsters at PST, like our friends Reginald and Bella!  (pictured right) Our vision for creating this programming is to provide a high quality arts education alternative to summer childcare.  

We have a lot of fun planned for this summer!

About the Camp: Can you imagine the world’s craziest monster? Do you like making stuff by hand? Then Puppet Showplace Theatre wants YOU for Monster Makers! In this new one-week summer camp kids will experience the process of puppet design, resulting in the creation of original hand-crafted monster puppets. 


Led by PST’s Artist in Residence, Brad Shur, students will explore the materials and mechanisms used by professional puppet builders to create the creatures that only exist in their imaginations. Students will also take on mini-projects that exercise core artistic skills such as drawing and sculpting. Craftsmanship, attention to detail, and project-planning skills will also be learned along the way. In addition to puppetry activities, campers will enjoy fun recreational outings led by counselors from the Brookline Recreation Department.

The Lazy Fox versus The Armadillo! Only at PST.

THIS WEEK AT PST!

Thu	May 31	10:30am
Fri	June 1	10:30am
Sat	June 2	10:30am & 1pm

Watch two classic tales come to life when Spring Valley Puppet Theater comes to PST!

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About the show: Can a very lazy Fox trick an Armadillo? Perhaps...but in this Spring Valley Puppet Theater production of "The Lazy Fox," the Armadillo has a few tricks up HIS sleeve! This program, based on an Argentine Folk Tale, features enchanting hand puppet animals and a large rod puppet Sun. It is combined with "A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing," adapted from the Aesop fable. This popular story is enlivened with a colorful Mexican setting, a humorous communication gap and a surprise ending where a helpless little lamb proves that she is not so helpless after all!

Recommended for ages 5 & up.

About the performer: Michael Graham, puppeteer and director of Spring Valley Puppet Theater, has been performing since 1966 throughout New England, primarily for schools and libraries. He has performed at regional and national festivals of the Puppeteers of America. He designs and makes his puppets, writes his own scripts, creates the scenery, and does a number of the voices.

Michael graduated from Western Connecticut State College, and studied with the renowned puppeteer Albrecht Roser from Stuttgart, Germany, at the University of Connecticut.

Happy Birthday PST!

Puppet Showplace Theatre Birthday Gala

Saturday June 2nd, 7:00-10:00pm

Tickets: $50, $38 for members (in honor of our 38th year!)
Sponsor a VIP table for $300 (6 seats)

For more information and to purchase tickets, Click Here!

Hello everybody!  It's Bella, your favorite pink monster here, and I want know how you are planning to help PST celebrate their birthday this June?  One way is to come to our birthday party on Saturday the 2nd, from 7pm to 10pm.  There's going to be swingin' live music,  tasty refreshments from local restaurants, a silent auction, special guests, and puppet surprises!

Another way to help us celebrate 38 years as New England's oldest continuously running puppet theatre is with birthday presents! Everybody loves birthday presents, including PST.

See you at the theatre!

- Bella Monster

Can't attend the gala?

Give PST a Birthday Gift!

If you would like to send us a birthday donation, please click the donate button to the left. All donations help us continue our programming for children and adults throughout the year!

See the delightful Fairy Circus at PST!

THIS WEEK AT PST!

Thu | May 24 | 10:30am

Sat & Sun | May 26 & 27 | 1pm & 3pm

Watch classical music meet marionettes in Tanglewood Marionettes' Fairy Circus!

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About the show: You’re invited to an enchanted garden with surprises around every corner! The Fairy Circus features classic trick puppets and beautifully handcrafted marionettes. The puppets will dance, play instruments, juggle, contort, transform, and fly through the air with the greatest of ease, all to the music of favorite composers!

Recommended for ages 4 & up.

About the performer: Peter Schaefer was born into a family of puppeteers and has been performing with hand puppets, rod puppets and marionettes since he was a child. After refining his skills with a local puppet company for several years, Peter purchased a marionette show from a retiring Boston puppeteer and launched his own company: Mountain Marionettes. After touring nationally for two years, in 1993 Peter decided to join with a fellow puppeteer and form a new company: Tanglewood Marionettes.

Over his career, Peter has brought his unique marionette artistry to hundreds of thousands of children and families across the country!

 

Coming to the PST near you: Little Red Riding Hood vs. the Wolf!

THIS WEEK AT PST

Thu | May 17 | 10:30am

Sat & Sun | May 19 & 20 | 1pm & 3pm

The tale of Red Riding Hood - with tabletop puppets!

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About the show: Little Red is sent into the big woods to deliver a basket of goodies to her sick Grandmother, but is hounded by a hungry wolf who wants the basket for himself. Will Little Red be able to outsmart the wolf and save her Grandmother?

Recommended for ages 4 & up.

About the performer: Located in New York City, WonderSpark Puppets performs award-winning puppet theater in all sorts of venues. Theaters, schools, libraries, children’s museums, and even your living room, you never know where WonderSpark Puppets will be appearing next.

Founded by husband and wife team Chad Williams and Lindsey “Z.” Briggs, WonderSpark Puppets infuse fun and whimsy into all their performances. WonderSpark is happy to perform puppet shows for kids and adults alike.

Are you ready for Dr. Doohickey's Monster Machine?

THIS WEEK AT PST!

Thu &  Fri | May 10 & 11 | 10:30am

Fri | May 11 | 3:30pm AFTER SCHOOL SHOWTIME

Sat & Sun | May 12 & 13 | 1pm & 3pm

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What comes out of the monster machine, only Dr. Doohickey knows... but you can too, at PST!

FREE SNACKS and behind the scenes with Artist in Residence, Brad Shur for the 3:30pm performance on Fri, May 11th.

Celebrate Mother's Day with a Puppet Show on May 13th, and get a FREE Finger Puppet!

About the show: Dr. Doohickey thinks that the world would be much more exciting if people were a little more like monsters, don’t you? Join the doctor and his assistant Reginald the Rabbit as they use music, machines and a little magic to bring funny monsters to life.

Recommended for ages 4 & up.

About the performer: Brad has been professionally involved in puppetry for nearly 10 years. He first began as a performer with the Providence puppet and mask company Big Nazo while a student at the Rhode Island School of Design and has toured nationally with Wood & Strings Theatre, a marionette company out of Tennessee. Brad recently finished working with the Vermont PuppetTree as a freelance puppet designer and performer.

He has experience in teaching workshops and classes for students of all ages and hopes to be known in the future as an Arts Educator. Brad has a passion for performance and describes his style as “carnival barker” driven by interactive audience dialogue.

PST Celebrates 38 Years This June, 2012!

When: June 2nd, 7pm to 10pm

Where: Puppet Showplace Theatre 

32 Station Street, Brookline MA

Tickets: $50, $38 for members

Sponsor a VIP table: $500 or $300 to bring your friends!

RESERVE TICKETS/ MORE INFO

On June 2nd, 2012, Puppet Showplace Theatre will celebrate its 38th year as the first continuously running puppet theatre in New England.  Since 1974, PST has presented excellent puppetry performance and education programming for youth, families and adults. Join us for a special Birthday Gala, as we celebrate the Puppet Showplace Theatre's 38th birthday, and help us raise funds to continue our legacy for decades to come! 

Our featured guest will be author/educator/entrepreneur Peter H. Reynolds, who has inspired audiences around the world to discover their own creativity. Peter will share his own inspiring connection with the theater, and will be presented with the first PST Creative Leadership Award for his work in arts and education.

The evening will feature live music, delectable refreshments and beverages, a silent auction, birthday cake and special surprises!

The evening also includes the presentation of the very first Paul Vincent Davis Award, named for the theater's co-founder and former Artistic Director who will be there to present it. The award honors exceptional artistry, mentorship and service in the field of puppetry. 

Can't make it to the gala?

You can still show your support by sending the theater a birthday present, by clicking HERE.  Every donation helps ensure we will be around for another 38 years!

There's a Slam coming, Mr. Wayne...

A PUPPET SHOWPLACE SLAM!

May 19, 8 - 10:30pm

It's time for our bimonthly Puppet Showplace
Slam, adult puppet fans!

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About the slam: Puppet Showplace Theatre has shows for teens and adults? That's right puppet fans. Every other month we stay open late to bring you the finest in "grown up" puppet entertainment. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll go home googly-eyed. May's slam features special guests Z. Briggs and Chad Williams of WonderSpark puppets.

Sing-A-Long Your Favorite Song at PST!

THIS WEEK AT PST:

Sing Along with Nappy's Puppets  by Nappy's Puppets
Thurs | May 3 | 10:30am
Fri | May 4 | 10:00am NEW SHOWTIME!
Sat & Sun | May 5 & 6 | 1pm & 3pm

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Puppet Showplace Theatre is happy to present, as a kick off to our final month of music filled puppetry magic this May, a super fun shadow puppet sing-a-long with Jim Napolitano and Nappy's Puppets!  Join us for your favorite tunes and tons of laughs, all week long!

About the show: How many of these songs do you know: Little Bunny Foo-Foo? Five Little Ducks? The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly? Five Little Monkeys Jumpin’ on the Bed? Puppeteer Jim Napolitano has gathered together the greatest Sing-A-Long songs of all time! Join in the fun as Nappy’s Puppets presents some of the silliest songs around.

About the performer: Jim Napolitano is a native of Milford, Connecticut, and a graduate of the University of Connecticut’s Puppet Arts Program. Under the guidance of Bart Roccoberton, Jim studied puppetry and performed in productions such as The Faerie Ring, A Christmas Carol, and the student-produced television program The Egghead and Shivley Show.  After completion of his degree, Jim worked with Bits and Pieces Puppet Theatre performing giant nine-foot-tall puppet musicals. He performed around the country and around the world, including the National Cultural Center in Japan and the National Theatre in Taiwan.

Jim is now working as a freelance artist and performer. His credits include The Weinervill Chanukah Special, Thanksgiving Weekend with Stick Stickley, and The Manners Song, all on Nickelodeon, as well as programs for Scholastic Home Video and HBO Pictures. Jim has also performed on and designed puppets for the PBS program Between the Lions.

Jim’s teaching experience includes five years as Performing Arts Counselor at St. James Summer Camp, four years as a substitute teacher, four years at Saturday Academy teaching puppetry to middle school students, and professional development workshops for the art teachers in the Milford school system. In addition, Jim has led workshops at the New Victory Theatre in New York City and taught Adult Education for the Milford and Norwalk Continuing Education Programs.

Yarr! Thar be Pirates at PST!

THIS WEEK AT PST

Sat & Sun | Apr 28 & 29 | 1pm & 3pm

Arr! These pirates be coming to PST with plenty-a tales! Romper Rhythm and Puppets be presenting the story with hand and shadow puppets!

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About the show: Pirate Long John Silver and his parrot, Flint, find a sea chest full of stories: “How the Whale Got His Throat,” “A Little Mermaid,” and “Ocean Born Mary.” Tales are told with a twist, silly and not scary, with lots of laughs, sing-a-longs, audience participation, and yo ho ho!

Recommended for ages 3 & up.

About the performer: Diane Kordas has been performing music for children and families since 1992, and puppet shows since 1998. Her classic and original stories with puppets, music, humor and audience participation are enjoyed by children and families at libraries, schools, outdoor events, parties, daycares and preschools throughout New England.

Diane Kordas is a member of Puppeteers of America, Children’s Music Network, and the Boston Area Puppet Guild. After her successful children’s music recording, Hello, How Are You?!, she recorded a second CD entitled Dinosaur Stomp which went on to win the 2005 Children's Music Web Award for Best Recording for Younger Children ages 5 to 8, and Best Educational Seasonal or Religious Recording for Younger Children ages 5 to 8.