Photos courtesy of performers Zilu Wang, Brzezinski & Schap, DonaldCreative, and host Tyler Kitten
Showtimes & Tickets
$20 Early Bird Access Price — limited quantity available! / plus $2 service fee
$25 Regular / plus $2 service fee
$30 Day of Show / plus $2 service fee
$50 Supporter / plus $2 service fee
$10 Card to Culture (WIC, EBT, MassHealth, ConnectorCare) Learn more →
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Aug 15 (Sat) 2026: 8:00 pm
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About the Show
Ever seen shower curtain shadow puppetry? Or sex ed from a mole? No? Well, you should — these are just a few examples of past Puppet Slam acts! A couple times a year Puppet Showplace Theater stays open late to showcase the region's finest short-form puppetry acts... for adults! Each piece is performed by a different artist, and the content ranges from the hilarious to the profound. Performers include veteran professionals and first-time puppeteers, and acts often feature musicians, dancers, circus performers, and other artists.
So, what are you waiting for? Join us for an evening of short-form puppetry for adults, featuring a range of puppetry styles and a guaranteed good time.
This summer’s slam is set to run the puppetry gamut — from explorations of synesthesia and neurodivergence to somatic symbols, marine animals to transmogrifying creatures, hilarious hand puppets to haunting shadow performance — featuring works by Zilu Wang, Brzezinski & Schap, Tough Luck Puppets, EZRA, DonaldCreative, Evolve Puppets, Kate Brehm and Bonnie Duncan, and MORE!
Recommended for adults and teens 16+
Mixed puppetry styles
Language: English
From: All over!
This event is partially supported by The Puppet Slam Network.
About the Host
Box Office Manager by day, Award Winning Draglesque performer by night, Tyler Kitten is an emcee, visual artist, drag and burlesque performer, actor, dancer, clown, puppeteer, and all around silly goose located in the Boston area. They are the current reigning Mx. Gay Boston 2026, winner of Boston Drag Gauntlet cycle 10, and recipient of a 2026 Mass Cultural Council Grant for Creative Individuals. You can catch them all serving looks that stretch the imagination anywhere there is a slightly raised platform.
About the Performers
Tough Luck Puppets
Tough Luck Puppets is the puppetry outfit of C.J. Opperthauser, who manages a public space in downtown Portland, Maine, plays in a jazz band, and really likes puppets.
DonaldCreative (Donald Parkes)
Donald became fascinated with puppets when introduced to him, as part of early autism therapy. He began creating sock puppets at five years old, making up voices and echoing animal sounds. Soon he was building puppets, performing shows, and conducting children's classes.
Bonnie Duncan and Kate Brehm
Music by Brendan Burns
Bonnie and Kate have been puppeteers for a long time. We both like to move and have a long history making silly performances.
Brzezinski & Schap
Brzezinski & Schap is a shadow puppetry duo creating performances using moving shadow screens, innovative lighting textures, and blurred lines between puppeteer and shadow character. Their premiere production, Flying Lessons, was a whimsical, full-length shadow play that toured across the U.S. with support from the Jim Henson Foundation.
Janoah the Jester
Genderqueer juggler-ist and unicyclist-er "Janoah the Jester" – Janoah Bailin (ze/zir) – creates and teaches colorfully chaotic circus for all ages. Janoah learned unicycling in the empty after-hour corridors of zir middle school and now tours joy and whimsy across North America, leaving behind a wake of tumbled juggling props.
Evolve Puppets (Tanya Khordoc)
Edward Einhorn, Playwright; Tristan Allen, Composer
Evolve Puppets has been creating innovative puppetry in and around NYC for more than two decades. Tanya Khordoc (Co-Artistic Director) (she/her) has performed, designed, built and directed puppet theater at venues such as HERE, St. Ann’s Warehouse, the Puppeteers of America National Festival, the Eugene O’Neill National Puppetry Conference, and the Children's Museum of Manhattan. She has worked with UTC61 in the 24/7 Festival and on Unauthorized Magic in Oz, and directed, designed and performed Edward Einhorn's one-woman show about synesthesia, Taste of Blue.
Zilu Wang MT-BC, founder of Let's/Zheng Improv
Let’s/Zheng Improv is a community centered around improvisation theater, applied improv, multi-media experimentation, and socially engaged art in bilingual settings (Chinese and English). We use improv to build bridges between different cultures. It was founded by Zilu Wang (she/her) in 2022, sustained and nourished by community members from Boston, Chicago, New York, Beijing, Shijiazhuang, and beyond. We believe everyone has stories and knowledges (not limited to subjects in textbooks or taught in school) to share, as we all have unique ways to connect with the world and each other. To learn more, please follow us on instagram @lets_zheng_improv.
Goop Factory (Ezra, Dax, Morrigan, Maddy)
Goop Factory is known for making lots and lots of Goop. Likely, more Goop than you’ve ever seen in your life. Can you handle this much? Do you like Goop? Goop Factory is not responsible for any Goop related oops. Would you care to have some Goop with us? May I Goop your interest? All Goop is ethically sourced and no puppets were harmed in the making of this Goop. Do not eat the Goop. Thank you for your time.
