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Current News

Puppet Showplace Theatre News

New on the Web Site
New in the Theatre...
New Family Show For Halloween
From Our Executive Director
Thanks from PST
Adult Season News

New Calendar Format!

Members and those on our mailing list have discovered by now that we have gone to a new bimonthly calendar format.

By sending a large-format postcard instead of the usual newsletter, we can not only show you color photos of the shows—giving you a better sense of the productions—but for the same amount of money we can send the calendar to almost twice as many families.

In this transitional month, as we redesign our web site to be more informative and intuitive, we are offering these few news items here, but as we get into the rhythm of the new system and site we'll try to offer as much news here on the web site as you used to get in the printed calendar. Thanks for your patience during this transition as we endeavor to serve and inform you better and more efficiently.

The Staff of PST, along with the help of some friends, just completed our annual two weeks of theatre maintenance.

As usual, we’ve painted the stage, put another coat of magenta latex on the lobby floor, done all the back filing, gotten rid of the mystery science projects in the refrigerator (Hmmm.... do you think this has been here since the April fundraiser? Um—never mind—maybe I don't want to know!), washed the bench pads, and shored things up for another season.

Unlike other years, we added a task this year... winnowing out the detritus that had built up for 30 years in the basement. Like anyone who's ever cleaned a basement, we found our share of "Now why would someone have saved THAT?" along with several precious discoveries.

A number of no longer usable puppets were adopted by members of the local puppetry guild and given good homes, and excess lumber and some ancient technical equipment were given to some smaller theatres. In the end though, goodly portion of the junk was dragged up the stairs and tossed into a dumpster.

We're trying to convince ourselves that this "trash aerobics" is part of the company health plan, but we're all grateful that we won't have to practice it again for another year.... or 30!

PST Premieres New Show by the Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers for Halloween Weekend

As is our tradition, we are offering a PST premiere as our production for the Halloween Weekend. We do this in honor of our late founder Mary Churchill who believed that Halloween is the one child-oriented holiday that does not exclude anyone.

We are especially excited to be presenting as our premiere the Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers' brand new show "The Legend of the Banana Kid," subtitled "Chucky Goes West." Fans of this very talented and wildly popular company from Maine will remember Chucky from his last adventure in "Everybody Loves Pirates." This is one show where the staff will be as excited to see the show as everyone else in the audience.

Remember that on October 30th and 31st we encourage children and their adults to come in costume if they like. We'll have a "parade" across the stage before the show so everyone can show off their costume, and there will be cider and treats in the lobby after the show. Tickets for that weekend only are $10, $8 for members. This is one of our most popular companies, so make your reservation early!

From the Director

The good news is that Puppet Showplace Theatre is opening on September 18th for our 31st season of bringing masterful and innovative puppet theatre to both family and adult audiences, and that we have a wonderful upcoming season for our loyal patrons and new friends alike. The unhappy news is that this very nearly did not occur. The financial picture for most arts non-profits is difficult these days, and for a theatre like ours which presents over 350 shows a year with an undersized staff, and on what is essentially a shoestring budget, the situation is especially precarious. Because we have managed to maintain our normal schedule without interruption, patrons and friends may believe that adequate funding is in place. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth.

If we could pay the performers and the phone bill and liability insurance with the accolades we receive, we would have no problems, but such is not the case. If we are not able to stabilize the financial situation within the course of the coming months, closing our doors may be the only realistic option.

We know that what we do is appreciated because we hear that again and again from patrons, including grandparents who used to bring their children and who are now introducing their grandchildren to the joys of puppet theatre. In reality, though many patrons praise what we do and thank us, very few ever donate to the theatre. This may come as a surprise since the quality of what we do is undisputed, and since we are one of very few organizations in the Boston area providing high quality theatre for children, the only one providing shows for preschoolers, and the only one providing programming year round. Because the theater has become something of a Boston area institution folks likely take it for granted that the theatre will always be here, but we fear this is not the case.

Unless a wealthy benefactor magically appears who will provide a huge windfall (and we would be thrilled if someone reading this decides they fall in this category), several things must occur if Puppet Showplace is to survive and thrive. We need to see an increase in our donor base, our patrons and friends who make the commitment to support us financially. Corporate sponsorship must be sought, and we welcome patron suggestions for possible companies to approach. PST's Board must grow, and must include members with expertise in fundraising, marketing and the arts who have the energy to put that expertise to work toward the ongoing fiscal health of the theatre.

We remain deeply optimistic about the productions this theatre can bring to our audiences and are very excited by the continuing and increasing quality of what we have to offer. The staff is one of the most committed and skilled that I have encountered in the course of my work with non-profits. They can only do so much.

I invite others who care about the future of the theatre to become more involved. You will be welcomed with profound appreciation.

Joe Callahan
Executive Director

ThankYous are sent out to these generous people and organizations who help us keep PST afloat in treacherous financial waters:

The New England Foundation for the Arts
The Jim Henson Foundation
The Associated Grantmakers Summer Fund
The Massachusetts Cultural Council
Chobbe Hoy of Chobee Hoy Realty
The __________ Foundation
Jovonna Van Pelt
Will Cabell
Deborah Costine
James Fedolfi of Hardrader Consulting
Siobhan Carew of Matt Murphy's Pub
Steven Grossman
Lin Sassman

Adult Season

For a short while we were afraid that funding shortages might force us to cancel our 2004/2005 season of Puppets at Night. This seemed tragic to us since so many people enjoy the exciting shows we've been presenting—our staff included!

In the end we decided that we could manage the financing (and allow for better publicity of the great shows we'll be presenting) if we turn our usual pattern of shows a bit topsy turvy. Rather than alternating our full evening shows with our PuppetSLAMS, we will begin and end the season with PuppetSLAMS in October, November, December, and May, and then present an intensive monthly series of evening-length shows in January, February, March and April. Those on our mailing list can expect to see a brochure for the 2005 shows in their mailbox in November.

The full season's schedule will be posted here before the end of September.

Meanwhile, be sure to make plans to attend the first PuppetSLAM of the season on Saturday, October 2nd at 8 PM. That show will be at our own theatre in Brookline Village, and will be a very special evening curated by professor Bart Roccoberton from the University of Connecticut, and featuring current students and alumni of the seminal Puppetry training Program at the University of Connecticut. Tickets are $12, or $9 for PST members, students, and low income persons.