Make Your Own Little Red Riding Hood Puppets

DIY Puppet Crafts!

Get ready for our upcoming show "Little Red Riding Hood" by WonderSpark Puppets with this fun project using recycled materials!

"Little Red Riding Hood" by WonderSpark Puppets

Wednesday August 6 - Saturday August 9, 10:30am & 1pm

Make your own Little Red Riding Hood cast in under 30 minutes! Recommended for children ages 4 and up, with adult supervision. Once completed, you can retell the classic fairy tale for your friends and family! 

MATERIALS:

• Toilet Paper Roll for each character

• Templates

• Scissors

• Glue or glue stick

• Coloring utensils (crayons, markers, etc.)

STEPS:

1. Print out each of the the templates HERE. You will need to print out the "Little Red Riding Hood" template, the "Grandma" template, and the "Wolf template." 

     2. Color each of the templates and the pieces for each of the characters.

     3. Cut out each of the templates and the pieces for each character. 

     4. Glue the colored templates onto the toilet paper roll and/or color the toilet paper rolls. 

     5. Attach the head and arms and tail to the characters.

     6. Put on your own puppet show with these new characters from the classic tale!

Nobody messes with Grandma!

40th ANNIVERSARY SEASON: SUMMER PUPPET ADVENTURES

UP NEXT: "Little Red Riding Hood" by WonderSpark Puppets

Wednesday August 6 - Saturday August 9, 10:30am & 1pm 

Grandmothers are always there to help you, love you, and give you treats! What happens when a girl tries to return the favor, but is stopped by a greedy wolf who wants to steal her basket of goodies? Join Little Red on her quest to outwit the wolf in this forest adventure by WonderSpark Puppets from New York City!

About the Show: Little Red loves to play games with her stuffed animals, especially her toy wolf! When she sets off on an adventure to deliver a basket of goodies to her Grandmother, she meets a REAL wolf who wants the basket all for himself. Find out how Little Red outsmarts her opponent and saves the day in WonderSpark's hilarious, interactive adaptation of the classic tale.

Chad and Lindsey

About the Performers: Founded in New York City by husband and wife team Chad Williams and Lindsey "Z." Briggs, WonderSpark Puppets infuse fun and whimsy into all their performances Z Briggs has worked as a professional puppeteer as a performer and builder on numerous projects including Lone Wolf Tribes' "Bride" (2009 UNIMA Award), and the character Lottie Lamb on the PBS kids show Seemore's Playhouse. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut's Puppet Arts program. Chad Williams is a filmmaker turned puppeteer, having shot and edited two puppetry documentaries for the Puppeteers of America. WonderSpark Puppets joyfully volunteers at Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital and has taught puppetry at the Children's Museum for the Arts in Manhattan.

To purchase tickets, visit us at the theater, buy online, or call the Box Office at 617-731-6400 x101

Make Your Own Elephant Finger Puppet

DIY PUPPET CRAFTS!

Get ready for our upcoming show "The Junlge Book: The Story of Mowgli's Fire," with this cute elephant finger puppet project!

"The Jungle Book: The Story of Mowgli's Fire" by The Frisch Marionettes 

Wednesday July 30 - Saturday August 2, 10:30am & 1pm

Make your own elephant finger puppet in under 15 minutes. Recommended for children ages 4 and up, with adult supervision. Once finished, you and your new elephant friend can go on safari adventures through the jungle!

MATERIALS:

• Elephant Finger Puppet Template
• Coloring utensils (crayons, markers, etc.)
• Scissors and/or craft knife

STEPS:

1. Print out the Elephant Finger Puppet template HERE.

     2.  Color in the elephant.

     3. Cut out the elephant and the circle where the trunk would be.

     4.  Stick your finger through the hole to make the trunk. 

     5. Now you can be creative, make your own set pieces and put on your own shows in the jungle!

Get Involved in Our Upcoming Adult Classes

Exciting times are around the corner as we near the last weeks of summer. We are getting ready to announce our adult classes for the 2014-2015 season, but first...

We want to hear from you!

Have you taken an adult class with us? Are you interested in taking one? Fill out our quick online survey and receive $25 off your next adult class registration!

You can find the survey HERE.

Welcome To The Jungle!

40TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON: SUMMER PUPPET ADVENTURES

UP NEXT: "The Jungle Book: The Story of Mowgli's Fire" by The Frisch Marionettes 

Wednesday July 30 - Saturday August 2, 10:30am & 1pm

There's a rumble in the jungle this week at Puppet Showplace! Join Mowgli on his adventures to save his animal family and realize where his heart belongs. Answer the call of the wild this week in Brookline!

Visiting all the way from Ohio, The Frisch Marionettes company is prepared to put on a fantastic performance that is our largest show ever! This is an awesome experience that you won't want to miss.

About the Show: In the wilds of India, a young boy named Mowgli is raised by wolves to obey the laws of the jungle. After surviving close encounters with the tiger Shere Kahn, Mowgli is finally returned to his mother. He tries to learn the ways of Mankind, and is especially curious about the glowing fire, which he calls “the red flower.” When Shere Kahn threatens to defeat Akela the Wolf to become Lord of the Jungle, Mowgli must return to the wild to save his animal family. Will he make it in time? Find out in this classic adventure story featuring appearances by Baloo the Bear, Hathi the Elephant, and two outrageous monkeys!

Kevin Frisch

About the Performers: Kevin Frisch began his professional career in 1986 when he moved to New York City and joined Nicolas Coppola's The Puppetworks, Inc. of Brooklyn, New York. The next nine years were spent touring the New York Metropolitan area as well as performing in The Puppetworks permanent theatres in Brooklyn and at Macy's in Herald Square.

In 1995 Kevin established The Frisch Marionettes in Cincinnati, Ohio as an exceptional entertainment and educational experience for children and adults alike. The company now tours nationally to venues ranging from Atlanta’s Center for Puppetry Arts to schools and libraries across the Midwest.

Kevin has built puppets, masks and costumes for The Central Park Zoo, New York Aquarium, The Children’s Theater of Cincinnati and The Puppetworks Inc. of New York. His puppets have been seen in People Magazine, SHOWTIMES' "Twisted Puppet Theater", the PBS Documentary "The American Puppet," and onstage with The Cincinnati Opera as well as in the New York store windows of ‘Saks 5th Ave.’, ‘Bloomingdale’s’ and ‘Hermes New York’ and in the family film “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium” featuring Dustin Hoffman and Natalie Portman. Kevin and his puppets have appeared in television commercials for Joseph Toyota of Cincinnati. Most recently, his puppets have appeared in the hit television shows “2 Broke Girls” on CBS and “Warehouse 13” on the Syfy channel. 

To purchase tickets, visit us at theater, buy online, or call the Box Office at 617-731-6400 x101

Make Your Own Pirate Finger Puppets

DIY Puppet Crafts!

Get ready for our upcoming show "The Pirate, The Princess, and The Pea," with this fun pirate-themed project!

"The Pirate, The Princess, and The Pea" by Crabgrass Puppet Theatre
Wednesday 23 - Saturday 26, 1030am & 1pm

BUY TICKETS 

Make your own characters in under 30 mins. Recommended for ages 5 & up, with parental supervision. Be creative and have fun! Once you've finished, you and your new mateys can go on adventures for buried treasure and sail the seven seas!

This template can be found here.

MATERIALS:

• Pirate Finger Puppet Template
• Scissors
• Exacto Knife
• Coloring utensils (markers, crayons, etc.)
• Tape

STEPS:

      1. Download and print out the Pirate Finger Puppets template PDF HERE. 

     2. Color in the pirates, the swords, and the parrot.

     3. Carefully cut out the pirates, the swords, and the parrot. 

     4. Cut along the dotted lines on the pirate's hands with the exacto knife.

     5. Stick the sword handles and parrot tail into the slits in the hands.

     6. Tape Tab A to Tab B snugly around your finger.

     7. Put on your own puppet show with your new characters!

Pirates, Princesses, and Peas... Oh my!

40th Anniversary Season: Summer Puppet Adventures! 

UP NEXT: "The Pirate, The Princess, & The Pea" by Crabgrass Puppet Theatre

Wednesday July 23 - Saturday July 26, 10:30am and 1pm

Ahoy thar from Puppet Showplace Theater! You may know the tale of the Princess and the Pea, but what happens when a Pirate becomes part of the story? On this exhilarating quest for loot, tricks are played and wits are tested. Drop your ship's anchor in Brookline and see who finds the tremendous treasure first!

About the Show: In "The Pirate, The Princess, and the Pea," Crabgrass Puppet Theatre presents a thrilling voyage chock full of sea monsters, shipwrecks, and mistaken pirate/princess identities. A pirate and a princess are on a treasure hunt, searching for the same clues. The princess stays one step ahead by tricking the pirate at every turn. But when the princess is in danger from a giant octopus, she quickly discovers the benefit of having a loyal crew! Featuring colorful scenery, multiple styles of puppetry, and original pirate songs, you won't want to miss the boat on this fun adventure tale!

Bonny Hall and Jamie Keithline of Crabgrass Puppet Theatre

About the Performer: Jamie Keithline and Bonny Hall formed Crabgrass Puppet Theatre in San Francisco in 1982 and have delighted audiences across the nation with their whimsical humor and puppetry ever since. Their performing venues have included the Detroit Institute of Art, the Smithsonian, Paper Mill Playhouse, Tribeca Performing Arts Center, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. They have been awarded two Citations of Excellence from UNIMA-USA, the highest puppetry award in the United States, and in 2009, Bonny Hall was awarded a Design Commendation from the Arlyn Award Foundation. Since 2001, Jamie and Bonny have been living in Halifax, Vermont, a tiny town in the hills near Brattleboro, where they continue to create their award-winning productions. 

To purchase tickets, visit us at the theater, buy online, or call the Box Office at 617-731-6400 x101 

This show is funded in part by the NEST program of NEFA, made possible with funding from the NEA Regional Touring Program and the 6 New England state arts agencies. 

Summer Adult Class: Sign-Up Today

Glove Puppet Boot Camp!

Taught by: Puppet Showplace's resident artist, Brad Shur

Five consecutive sessions, August 11-15
at Puppet Showplace Theater

Register by July 15th: $195
Register after July 15th: $220
Members save 10% on registration!

REGISTER ONLINE or call the Box Office at 617-731-6400 x 101

In just a few short weeks, Brad Shur, Puppet Showplace Resident Artist will share all of his hand puppetry secrets! Join us this August for a super-fun glove puppetry performance techniques class that will give you the skills you need to put on your own puppet show.

There are few styles of puppetry that can convey great ranges of emotion as well was glove puppets (also known as hand puppets) can. Embodying some of puppetry's most famous characters, ranging from Punch and Judy to some of the residents of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood of Make-Believe, glove puppetry is one of the oldest and most versatile puppet traditions.

About this class: 

In a fun and rigorous environment, students will learn basic puppetry skills from resident artist Brad Shur, developing a repertoire of "movement vocabulary" that will help their hands express almost any emotion. Starting from manual dexterity exercises and building towards complete multi-character scenes, this boot camp will whip any puppeteer into shape, whether you are a seasoned performer or a first-time performer looking for a way to liven up story time.

About the instructor: 

Brad has been professionally involved in puppetry for almost 15 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.

If interested, please register online HERE or call the Box Office at 617-731-6400 x 101!

NEW! Summer Class for Adults

On-Camera Puppetry Intensive

Taught by: Ronald Binion, Puppeteer for "The Muppets", "Lazytown"

Three consecutive sessions, July 10th-12th

July 10th and 11th at Puppet Showplace Theater
July 12th at Brookline Interactive Group Studio

Register by July 4th: $170
Register after July 4th: $195

REGISTER ONLINE or call the Box Office at 617-731-6400 x 101

Popularized and immortalized in TV programs such as The Muppets and Sesame Street, on-screen puppetry is a medium that continues to be a popular choice for children's programming today. What is truly amazing about these shows is the amount of skill and artistry of the puppeteers behind the scenes.

About this class: 
In fun and supportive class, participants will learn Hand-and-Mouth puppet manipulation techniques, as well as devise, script, and record their own short scenes. Real world television production skills, such as using a flipped-image monitor, will be covered as well. 
This is an intermediate-level class; prior experience with puppetry, media production, or performing arts is requested, though past work with on-camera puppetry is not required.

About the instructor:
Ronald Binion began his professional career at the Center for Puppetry Arts where he gave more than 1500 performances across the entire spectrum of puppetry styles. In 1995 he moved to New York and spent many years building for the Muppets. In 2000, he began performing on the Disney Channel’s The Book of Pooh, for which he received an Emmy Nomination. Soon after, he became the head puppeteer on Comedy Central’s Crank Yankers followed by the puppet producer for Nick Jr.’s LazyTown. Ronald has also created characters for television commercials and conceived the short film AlienCow Puppet Show. In recent years, Ronald has helped use puppetry to deliver life-saving messages to children in the developing world through his work with the NGO “No Strings International.” As part of this effort, he regularly travels to countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, Kenya, Uganda, and Haiti to train local aid workers in the use of puppetry. 

If interested, please register online HERE or call the Box Office at 617-731-6400 x 101

A Very Special Cinderella Story

Puppeteers of New England

Help us celebrate 40 years at New England's puppet theater with these amazing performances by puppeteers from the Northeast! VIEW CALENDAR

UP NEXT: "A Woodland Cinderella" by Deborah Costine, Puppeteer!
Thur & Fri, June 5 & 6 at 10:30am
Sat, June 7 at 1pm & 3pm

About the Show:   In Deborah Costine's award-winning adaptation of the classic fairy tale, Cinderella is a woodland fairy who lives with her bossy stepmother and cranky stepsister in an enormous old oak tree. When the King of all woodland fairies hosts a great ball and commands that every single fairy maiden in the land must attend, Cinderella braves her fears and shows what it means to be a true princess. Beautifully hand-crafted puppets, interactive storytelling, and nature-inspired scenery make this a fun and memorable production for audiences of all ages. 

About the Performer: Debbie is an artist and naturalist whose mission is to inspire children to appreciate nature. 'A Woodland Cinderella' is her own version of the classic story that takes place in the forest. The show was awarded an UNIMA Citation of Excellence, the highest honor in American puppetry, in 2008. Debbie has also written two original nature stories for puppets: 'The Twig Family in the Oak Tree' and 'Turtle's New Home.' She has designed and performed dozens shows for young audiences since 1974, during which time she has created over 200 puppet characters. www.deborahcostinenaturepuppets.com 

Puppet Showplace Celebrates 40th Anniversary

40th Anniversary Legacy Gala

Monday June 2, 2014

6:30 - 9:30 PM

at the

George H. Wightman Mansion

43 Hawes Street

Brookline, Massachusetts 

Join us this Monday, June 2nd, at the beautiful George H. Wightman Mansion for an evening that celebrate our 40 year history as New England's puppet theater, as well as the art of puppetry! With performances by some of our favorite puppeteers, a silent auction of incredible items, cocktails, and delicious catering provided by Whole Foods Brighton, this will not be a night to miss!

The George H. Wightman Mansion 

PERFORMANCES:

Throughout the evening, we will have performances taking place all over the Mansion, including live music. Many of our favorite puppeteers from across the years will be performing in rotation, so everyone will be able to see their talent and skill.

-Featured Performers-

Tanglewood Marionettes

Dream Tale Puppets

Crabgrass Puppet Theatre

Great Small Works

Resident Artist Brad Shur

Brenda Huggins and Phil Berman

Ronald Binion

John Lechner

Mask Ensemble with Avital Peleg

Michelle Finston and Christine Dempsey

Gavin Cummins

With musical performances by: 

Brendan Burns & Tony Leva, Phil Berman & Paul Watkins

FUNDRAISING

Aside from our performances, we will be having a silent auction inside of the Mansion. There will be many items available to bid on, the majority of which were donated by our very generous partners in the community. Check out a sampling of our wonderful donors below:

Fundraising Goals:

All Legacy Gala contributions will support our three major fundraising initiatives:

Artists' Fund:

As New England's puppet theater, we are always expanding our roster of artists. This fund provides audiences access to regional premieres of exceptional puppetry productions from companies they may not have seen before.

Facilities Fund:

As a cultural destination, we are planning upgrades and renovations to the spaces that make up the theater, enhancing the physical aspects of what makes our theater a gateway to creativity and self-discovery.

Mary Churchill Memorial Fund

: As a community partner, we are committed to increasing access to live performing arts for school children regardless of their ability to pay. Named for our founder, this fund is exclusively available to school groups who otherwise would not be able to attend our performances, in order to reach a broader audience of children.

HONOREES

Join us in honoring these remarkable individuals in the areas of excellence in puppetry arts and exceptional creative leadership!

PAUL VINCENT DAVIS AWARD:

Dr. John Bell & Trudi Cohen

Great Small Works

John Bell is Director of the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry and an Associate Professor of Dramatic Arts at the University of Connecticut. He and Trudi Cohen met as puppeteers in the Bread and Puppet Theater where they both worked from 1975 to 1986; and are founding members of the Great Small Works theater collective, based in NYC.

John received his doctoral degree in theater history from Columbia University in 1993 and is the author of many books and articles about puppet theater, including co-editing the forthcoming Routledge Guide to Puppetry and Material Performance. Trudi has been producing director of Great Small Works’ three most recent International Toy Theater Festivals in Brooklyn, NY; and John is artistic director of the 2015 Puppeteers of America National Festival. Trudi and John play in the Second Line Social Aid and Pleasure Society Brass Band, and are organizers of the annual HONK! Festival of Activist Street Bands in Somerville, MA.

CREATIVE LEADERSHIP AWARD:

Dr. Susan Linn

Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood

Susan Linn is Director of

Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood

. Her book, Consuming Kids: The Hostile Takeover of Childhood launched the movement to reclaim childhood from corporate marketers.

Dr. Linn is also an award winning ventriloquist and children’s entertainer and is internationally known for her innovative use of puppets in child psychotherapy, which she pioneered at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Among many other honors, Dr. Linn received a Presidential Citation from the American Psychological Association for her work on behalf of children. Her work with puppets has been honored by the Union Internationale de la Marionette and Puppeteers of America.

GETTING EXCITED? WE ARE! 

Frogs, Frogs, and More Frogs!

"Puppeteers of New England"

Series of puppet shows that celebrate exciting and diverse  work by puppetry artists from the Northeast.

We're going froggy this weekend here at Puppet Showplace! Join Andrew and Bonnie Periale of the Perry Alley Theatre for a hopping good time as they perform the well-known tale "The Frog Prince," along with two other froggy fables.

"The Frog Prince and Other Frogs"

by Perry Alley Theatre

Thurs & Fri, May 29 & 30, at 10:30 am

Saturday, May 31, at 1 & 3 pm

No performances Sunday

BUY TICKETS

ABOUT THE SHOW:

Hop along with Perry Alley Theatre through the wonderful world of Frogs. This show includes the beloved “Frog Prince,” in which an exceedingly silly Princess is helped by an enchanted frog and learns not to make promises she can’t keep. Then, in "The Evolution of Frogs"-- Dive with us into the depths of ancient oceans to follow the evolution of one-celled creatures into clams, worms, fish and finally ancient frogs—a riveting romp through pre-history. Finally, in "Frog and Eggplant"--Two friends are dissatisfied with their lives, and wish they could trade places. A spirit overhears them and grants them their wish, with disastrous (and hilarious) consequences!

ABOUT THE PERFORMERS:

Andrew and Bonnie Periale founded Perry Alley Theatre in 1986 and moved to their current home and studio in NH in 1988. Together, they’ve produced a dozen major shows and many shorter pieces for touring. Andrew and Bonnie have performed at numerous national and regional festivals, at the Smithsonian Institution, the Center for Puppetry Arts (Atlanta), the Jim Henson International Festival of Puppetry and many other venues across the U.S. as well as in France and Italy. They have produced the magazines for UNIMA-USA for 28 years, establishing Puppetry International magazine in the early 1990s.

Recognition includes The Paul Vincent Davis Award, the George Latshaw Award, 3 Henson Foundation grants, 2 UNIMA Citations, an Emmy nomination, finalists in the International Festival of Film and Television and, from UNIMA-USA, a Lifetime Achievement award.

www.perryalley.com.

Traditional Tales Enchant Brookline This Week

"

Puppeteers of New England

"

Series of puppet shows that celebrate exciting and diverse

work by puppetry artists from the Northeast.

"The Three Wishes And

A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing"

by Spring Valley Puppets

Thurs & Fri, May 22nd and 23rd, at 10:30 am

Sat & Sun, May 24th and 25th. at 1:00 and 3:00 pm

BUY TICKETS

This week is filled with delightful mischief as two popular fables take the stage at Puppet Showplace! Join Michael Graham of Spring Valley Puppets from New Haven, CT as he and h

is hand-crafted glove puppets weave a magic all their own.

"The Three Wishes"

"Thoroughly enjoyable! Informative! Exceptional quality!" 

- 

Comprehensive Arts Program - New Haven, CT

"A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing"

"

...[A] delightful performance! Beautiful scenery and charming puppets ... 

a professional production that delighted the students and staff.

" 

- 

Parkway School - Greenwich, CT

About the show:

Stunning craftsm

anship and delightful special effects bring two traditional tales to life in this elegant puppet production. In "The Three Wishes," a magical elf wreaks havoc in the household of an elderly woodcutter and his wife while teaching us a lesson about getting stuck in our routines. Then, a little lamb proves that she's not so helpless in an original adaptation of "A

Wolf in Sheep's Clothing". Based on Aesop's popular fable, this story is enlivened with a colorful Mexican setting, a humorous communication gap, and a surprise ending!

About the performer:

Michael Graham

has performed with puppets since he was a young boy. He founded the Spring Valley Puppet Theater in 1977. Since then, he has performed throughout New England, primarily for schools and libraries. His work has been featured numerous times at regional and national festivals of the Puppeteers of America, and he is a recipient of the prestigious UNIMA citation of excellence. Michael designs and makes all of his puppets by hand, writes his own scripts, creates the scenery, and performs many of the voices. 

He graduated from Western Connecticut State College with a degree in Elementary Education and Spanish, and has created many bilingual adaptations of folk tales. Michael has been a guest instructor at the University of Connecticut Puppet Arts program, the Institute of Professional Puppetry Arts (IPPA) at the O'Neill Theatre Center, and has presented casting and hand puppet construction workshops for puppetry guilds in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

www.springvalleypuppets.com

Mother Goose in Brookline this May!

"Puppeteers of New England"

Series of puppet shows that celebrate exciting and diverse 

work by puppetry artists from the Northeast.

It's a weekend filled with your favorite Mother Goose rhymes at Puppet Showplace...or rather...FATHER Goose!  Join Jim Napolitano of Nappy's Puppets from New Haven, CT for hilarious renditions of your favorite nursery rhymes. His signature shadow puppet style will have you in stitches!

If that's not enough laughs for you, then join us Saturday, May 17 for two special performances of "Mother Goose and Friends" by Sparky's Puppets from Providence, Rhode Island.  Help us celebrate these two amazing performers from New England during our "Puppeteers of New England" series. VIEW FULL CALENDAR

"Father Goose's Tales" by Nappy's Puppets

Thurs & Fri, May 15 & 16 at 10:30am

Sun, May 18 at 1 & 3pm

BUY TICKETS

About the show: There is trouble in the nursery! Mother Goose has taken the day off, and Father Goose must do all of her chores, including the storytelling! But try as he might, Father Goose just can't get the stories quite right. "Father Goose's Tales" is a hilarious modern retelling of favorite nursery rhymes, stories, and children's songs that will delight audiences of all ages. Each performance includes a puppet demonstration and lots of audience interaction!

About the performer:

Jim Napolitano, a.k.a. “Uncle Nappy,” is a Connecticut native and one of America’s most-loved shadow puppeteers. He is a graduate of the University of Connecticut’s Puppet Arts program, and has taught puppetry to students of all ages throughout New England. For over 20 years Nappy’s Puppets has toured nationally to theatres, festivals, libraries, and museums, delighting audiences of all ages with quality shadow theatre productions.

Jim has also worked extensively as a freelance artist and puppeteer. As a member of Bits and Pieces Puppet Theatre he performed musicals with giant puppets across the country and around the world, including at the National Cultural Center in Japan and the National Theatre in Taiwan. His television credits include Between the Lions, The Book of Pooh, and segments for Nickelodeon, Scholastic Home Video, and HBO Pictures. He currently resides in Connecticut with his wife and two children.

"Mother Goose and Friends" by Sparky's Puppets

Sat, May 17 at 1 & 3pm

BUY TICKETS

About the show: See your favorite tales come to life in this fun and interactive show, with the one and only Mother Goose as your guide! Watch Grandmother teach a wolf some manners in "Little Red Riding Hood." Then, help the hard-working "Little Red Hen" bake a loaf of bread. Meet "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" and "The Three Little Pigs." Finally, bring a "Gingerbread Man" to life with some make-believe ingredients...and a pinch of magic!

About the performer: Kathleen “Sparky” Davis began dramatizing stories with hand puppets while working as a children's librarian. Since 1980, Sparky's Puppets have delighted children and family audiences at schools, libraries and festivals throughout New England. Every summer, Sparky creates a special show for the Rhode Island statewide public libraries' summer reading program.

Sparky loves to see children's reactions to their favorite stories brought to life with endearing puppet characters. She is known for her quick wit and hilarious sense of humor. A preschool child at a recent show was heard to say. "It was so funny I burst out laughing!"

Local Folklore Kicks-off “Puppeteers of New England” Series!

As we count down the days until our 40th Anniversary, we have invited the region's top puppetry companies to share their work on our stage through June 14.

“The Yankee Peddler” 

by Brad Shur and Chris Monti [ MASSACHUSETTS ]

May 1 & 2 (Thur & Fri) | 10:30 am
May 3 & 4 (Sat & Sun) | 1 pm & 3 pm

BUY TICKETS

Discover local myths and old legends through the use of shadow puppets and live music at Puppet Showplace Theatre. “The Yankee Peddler” features music and anecdotes sure to entertain and please all ages. Meet a singing bear, dancing chicken and a mammoth wheel of cheese! Yes, CHEESE!

Chris Monti sings the tale of a mischievous fox headed to a local town in, "The Fox"

About the Performance:

Have you ever wanted to sing along with a sea shanty? Or dive deep into a fox's den? Then join us for a whirlwind tour of New England's lesser-known folklore! Along the way, you'll help make the world's largest wheel of cheese, sail the ocean with the giant sailor Alfred Bulltop Stormalong, and meet a very fashionable bear. Drawing from three hundred years of stories, songs, and local history, there is sure to be something for everyone from the peddler's cart!

VIDEO CLIP listen to folk song, "Cluck Old Hen" from “The Yankee Peddler: Stories and Songs from Old New England” here:

About the Performers:

Brad Shur is a versatile puppeteer who has created and performed characters made of everything from pixels to papier mache. As the Resident Artist at Puppet Showplace Theatre he performs regularly and teaches puppetry classes to students of all ages, Pre-K to adult. As protégé of master puppeteer Paul Vincent Davis, Shur trained extensively in glove puppetry and currently performs two of Davis’ classic shows at venues across New England. Shur’s original works include The Carrot Salesman, Dr. Doohickey and the Monster Machine, The Yankee Peddler: Stories and Songs from Old New England, and The Magic Soup and Other Stories, recently featured at the Puppeteers of America National Festival 2013. Shur is currently working on a new adaptation of Robin Hood, set to open in January 2014. Prior to becoming the Artist in Residence at Puppet Showplace, Shur toured the country as a performer with Big Nazo (Rhode Island), Wood & Strings Theatre (Tennessee) and The PuppeTree (Vermont). As a builder Shur has designed and fabricated puppets for American Idol, Dollywood, Avenue Q, and the U.S.S. Constitution Museum. Shur is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design.

Performers Brad Shur (left) and Chris Monti (right)

Chris Monti is a writer, singer, and musician based in Somerville, MA. He has released three records: Home, Locust Grove, and Swampland Flowers on CMO Records. Chris has opened for and toured with country-blues great Paul Geremia, and has had the pleasure of playing music with the Providence Wholebellies (led by harmonica wizard Chris Turner), with Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, and with composer Steve Jobe (playing the gigantic Bosch Hurdy-Gurdy). Monti regularly performs for children all over New England in schools, hospitals, and community settings. In addition to guitar, Monti plays harmonica, banjo, mandolin, dobro, piano, lap steel, and kazoo.

Bella Monster loves the music from “The Yankee Peddler!” CDs with Brad and Chris’s music are now available for purchase! Call the Box Office: 617-731-6400 x 101 for more details.

April Vacation Week at Puppet Showplace!

"Animal April" 

Series of puppet shows featuring your favorite 

animal characters concludes with...

"Trickster Tales!"

by Barefoot Puppets

Fri, Apr 25 at 10:30am

Sat & Sun, Apr 26 & 27 at 1 & 3pm

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April vacation week is HERE! Joining us from Richmond, Virginia, the Barefoot Puppets are performing two titles during the 2014, April school vacation week. Both shows feature exciting animal character and nature themes! Learn about Galapagos Island in "Galapagos George", and then travel to West Africa with Anansi the Spider in "Trickster Tales!" VIEW CALENDAR

"Trickster Tales" by Barefoot Puppets; Richmond, Virginia.

About the show: Can a spider defeat an elephant at tug-of-war? Overpower a python? Capture a cloud of hornets? With Anansi the Spider, world famous trickster, all things are possible...if you only have a plan! This show brings traditional stories from West Africa to life with expressive rod puppets, original music, and lots of puns. Performed on a large, twelve-foot stage with colorful scenery and amazing scene changes. It's a high-energy show with lots of laughs!

Heidi Rugg, Barefoot Puppets and Galapagos George.

About the performers: Having spent most of her early childhood barefoot in Hawaii, it only seemed natural that Heidi Rugg would name her company Barefoot Puppet Theatre. Performing barefoot is very fun – but it's also very useful for operating the foot pedal sound system her husband engineered. Barefoot Puppet Theatre began miles away from Hawaii, though, in Richmond, Virginia. Heidi founded the company in 1997 after apprenticing as a puppet builder with Handemonium Puppets in Washington, D.C. In 2001, with a growing touring schedule and a growing family, her husband Sam Rugg joined the company to help with building stages, managing accounts, and handling the technical side of lighting and sound. For more information, please visit www.barefootpuppets.com.

Animals Teach A Lesson In Friendship

Animal April continues with...

“The Carrot Salesman” 

by Brad Shur, Artist in Residence 

with live music performed by Chris Monti

EASTER WEEKEND!
Apr 17 (Thu) | 10:30 am
Apr 18 (Fri) | 10:30 am & 1 pm
Apr 19 ( Sat) | 1 pm & 3 pm

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Join Mr. Bunni, star and sympathetic hero of “The Carrot Salesman” as he searches for new customers and new friends. This show features beautifully designed, 2-dimensional puppets created by Artist in Residence, Brad Shur, a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. Imagine a giant pop-up book that comes to life right in front of your eyes! This gentle and interactive show is perfect for ages 2 & up.

About the Performance:

Join Mr. Bunni, a door-to-door vegetable salesman, as he journeys beneath the earth, into the sea, and even to outer space in search of new customers. Will he ever sell enough carrots to please his boss? Or will his new friends teach him a valuable lesson? This imaginative table-top performance features a live actor, colorful 2D paper puppets, and plenty of audience interaction. 

LIVE MUSIC!

All performances of "The Carrot Salesman" will feature live music performed by local musician, Chris Monti.

Brad Shur and Chris Monti in rehearsal for "The Carrot Salesman"

About the Performer:

Brad Shur is a versatile puppeteer who has created and performed characters made of everything from pixels to papier mache. As the Artist in Residence at Puppet Showplace Theatre he performs 6-7 different shows each year in multiple puppetry styles. He also teaches puppetry classes to students of all ages, Pre-K to adult.

Brad Shur in "The Carrot Salesman"

Prior to becoming the Artist in Residence at Puppet Showplace, Brad toured the country as a performer with Big Nazo (Rhode Island), Wood & Strings Theatre (Tennessee) and The PuppeTree (Vermont). As a builder, Brad has designed and fabricated puppets for American Idol, Dollywood, Avenue Q, and the U.S.S. Constitution Museum. Brad is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design.

More Animal Adventures at Puppet Showplace!

"Animal April"

Series of puppet shows featuring animal characters and nature themes continues with...

“Raccoon Tales” 

by Paul Vincent Davis, Artist in Residence Emeritus

performed by Brad Shur, Artist in Residence
Apr 10 & 11 (Thu & Fri) | 10:30am
Apr 12 & 13 (Sat & Sun) | 1 pm & 3pm

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If you look carefully among the trees and bushes of the forest, you might see a creature peeking from behind the leaves! Meet a trickster raccoon, red coat bushy-tail fox, timber wolf, and brown bear in "Raccoon Tales," a collection of Native American tales from the Seneca tribe of New York. Join us for an exciting week of trickster tales staring the cleverest raccoon around!

Red Coat Bushy-Tail Fox

About the Show:

Get transported into the forest with the trickster Ring-Around-His-Tail Raccoon as your guide! The animals in the forest are always getting into trouble playing tricks on each other. Will they ever learn their lessons? "Raccoon Tales" features three humorous vignettes inspired by the Native American just-so-stories 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." The show is performed with hand-crafted glove puppets made by Paul Vincent Davis.

About the Seneca tribe:

Seneca is pronounced "SEH-neh-kah." It comes from the name of one of their villages, Osininka. In their own language, the Senecas call themselves Onandowaga, which means "people of the mountain." The Senecas originally lived in New York state.  Many Seneca people still live in New York today, but others were forced to migrate to Oklahoma or Canada.

There are lots of traditional Seneca legends and fairy tales. Storytelling is very important to the Seneca Indian culture.

Click for more info!

About the performer:

Brad Shur is a versatile puppeteer who has created and performed characters made of everything from pixels to papier mache. As the Artist in Residence at Puppet Showplace Theatre he performs different shows each year in multiple puppetry styles. He also teaches puppetry classes to students of all ages, Pre-K to adult. As protégé of master puppeteer Paul Vincent Davis, Shur trained extensively in the art of glove puppetry and currently performs two of Davis’ classic shows, "Raccoon Tales" and "Clown Circus," at venues across New England.

Prior to becoming the Artist in Residence at Puppet Showplace, Brad toured the country as a performer with Big Nazo (Rhode Island), Wood & Strings Theatre (Tennessee) and The PuppeTree (Vermont). As a builder, Brad has designed and fabricated puppets for American Idol, Dollywood, Avenue Q, and the U.S.S. Constitution Museum. Brad is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design.

Paul Vincent Davis with Brad Shur, and Robin character from Brad's new glove puppet show, "Robin Hood"

Circus Artist Defies Multiple Sclerosis in NEW Puppetry Performance

PUPPETS AT NIGHT PRESENTS...

"Reverse Cascade"

by Anna Fitzgerald, UCONN Puppet Arts Program

Apr 10-12 (Thur-Sat) at 8pm

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Join us this April for another exciting "Puppets At Night" performance for adult and teen audiences. The Boston premiere of “Reverse Cascade” is a powerful theatrical tribute to circus artist Judy Finelli, who fights to remake her performance career after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Created by Finelli’s student Anna Fitzgerald (UCONN Puppet Arts Program), “Reverse Cascade” features virtuosic manipulation, found-object puppetry, and original music. Recommended for ages 13+.

What happens when the skills you have spent your life acquiring are stripped away from you by a debilitating disease? Do you give in, or find a well of deeper inner strength? Can we truly ever abandon what we love? Find out in this inspirational true story.

Found object puppetry brings to life the inspiring story of circus performer Judy Finelli.

About the Performance:

After building a career as a circus performer and juggler with remarkable physical control, Judy's body began to fail her. For years, she searched for an answer and was eventually given a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. Slowly, Judy lost control of her body, her spirit, and the juggler that was inside of her. But the circus called her back, and Judy found new ways to challenge herself, pushing her body to the limits once again.

"Reverse Cascade" by Anna Fitzgerald

Through the simple magic of found object puppetry and live music, this production will lead you through a story inspired by Judy Finelli's amazing journey from legs, to wheels, to new heights. Students from University of Connecticut's famed Puppet Arts Program are proud to bring the Boston premiere of one of its newest works to Puppet Showplace Theatre.

VIEW PREVIEW VIDEO

About the Performer: 

Anna Fitzgerald is a puppeteer from Baltimore, MD and an MFA candidate in Puppet Arts at the University of Connecticut. She has performed at The Green Mountain Puppet Festival, Baltimore’s Artscape and Whartscape, EnvisionFEST Hartford, and in theaters around the country. Anna began working in puppetry as a company member in Liebe Wetzel’s Lunatique Fantastique in San Francisco. 

She co-founded UnSaddestFactory Theater Company in Baltimore producing, directing and performing in several original plays and organizing and producing three sold out Ten Minute Play Festivals.

Before moving to Connecticut, she studied Theater at The Baltimore School for the Arts, Mime and Social Theater with The San Francisco Mime Troupe, Justice at American University, Clown at lthe Clown Conservatory of San Francisco. She continues to write and perform her own puppet work on stage while dabbling in short stop motion films and exploring the new possibilities of visual arts.

www.annafitz.com

Post Show Discussion:

Following the Thursday April 10th performance, Boston opera star Barbara Quintiliani, also diagnosed with MS, will lead a post-show discussion on “Opportunities and Obstacles for Artists with Disabilities.”

Throughout the run, paintings from “Snow on the Brain,” Marguerite McDonald’s visual exploration of her own experience living with MS, will also be on display. This discussion and exhibit are co-presented with VSA Massachusetts, the state organization on arts and disability.

About MS:

Multiple Sclerosis, or MS, is an unpredictable disease that damages the central nervous system.

Find out more: 

Life in Spite of MS

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Nature and Animal Stories at Puppet Showplace!

Animal April

Series of puppet shows featuring your favorite creatures!

VIEW FULL CALENDAR

UP NEXT: "Turtle's New Home"

by Deborah Costine, Puppeteer!

Thurs & Fri, April 3 & 4 at 10:30am

Sat & Sun, April 5 & 6 at 1 & 3pm

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Join us this Spring at Puppet Showplace for a series of puppet shows featuring your favorite animal characters. Adventure with animals from Galapagos Island, journey into the forest with a trickster raccoon from Native American stories, or travel to the jungles of africa to meet your favorite Spider Anansi and his friends.  First in the series is an original story by local puppeteer Deborah Costine about animals native to New England. VIEW FULL CALENDAR

"Turtle's New Home" by Deborah Costine, Puppeteer!

About the show:

New England animals are the stars of this charming story about friends in a wetland habitat. The little pond where Blanding the turtle has lived for many years is no longer safe because a road has been built between there and the place she goes to lay her eggs. When she meets young Castor the Beaver, who is eager to build a dam, she sees that her problems might be solved! Along the way, we also meet a young boy and his nature-loving babysitter who learn together how to look closely at nature.

"Turtle's New Home" by Deborah Costine, Puppeteer!

About the performer:

Debbie is an artist, naturalist and National award-winning puppeteer whose mission is to inspire the love of nature in children. She co-founded The Gerwick Puppets in 1974 and, with Len Gerwick, designed, and built 14 productions during which time she created over 200 puppet characters and presented over 5,000 performances throughout New England.

Deborah Costine, Puppeteer and the cast of her UNIMA award-winning show, "A Woodland Cinderella"

Eventually Debbie formed her own solo company -and produced shows appropriate for ages 3 and up, Including “The Three Pigs and Other Tales, “The Twig Family in the Oak Tree” and “A Woodland Cinderella.” “Turtle’s New Home” is the newest production and received funding from the Jim Henson Foundation. It is an endearing story about friendship, habitat needs and “puppet” children learning how to look closely at nature. www.deborahcostinenaturepuppets.com