Lisa the Wise
A classic Russian fairy tale with a contemporary twist, told with imaginative shadow puppetry!
Artist: Sarah Nolen of Puppet Motion — and the Resident Artist of Puppet Showplace!
Length: 45 minutes, can be followed by a 15 minute puppet demo and Q&A
Age Group: 4 - 10
Puppetry Style: Shadow Puppets
Curriculum Connections: Folk tales, bravery, creativity, shadow & light
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When Lisa, a brave young girl with a heart of gold, meets Baba Yaga, the most famous witch in the woods, an epic battle of wits ensues. Dancing houses, enchanted dolls, and hilarious "ghost servants" bring this classic Russian fairy tale to life with a contemporary twist. Imaginative shadow puppetry lights the way in this hilariously spooky story about the experiences that make us wise.
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Space Requirements
Minimum space dimensions of stage area (not including audience seating)
Width: 12’ • Depth: 8' • Height: 8'
Space must be clean and free of furniture or other obstructions at arrival. If the stage is not ready when the performer arrives, she may not be able to begin the performance on time.
Lighting and Sound
This show travels with its own PA system and microphone. “Lisa the Wise” requires at least two standard outlets available within 20' of the stage. Because the show is performed on a shadow screen (52’’ x 30’’), the room light will need to be turned off for the duration of the show.
Running Time
Full show running time varies between 45 and 50 minutes. The show can be shortened to between 30 to 45 minutes to accommodate a limited time window.
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Arrival & Setup
The performer will arrive two hours before the scheduled show time. The space will be ready for the audience to enter 15 minutes before show time. If load-in is more than 100 yards from car to stage, above the ground floor, or involves any other complication, please inform us ahead of time. Ramp access is necessary to load into a location. The show is loaded in on a cart, so all passageways to the space must be 32’’ wide or more. If the space is above the ground floor, the performer must have elevator access.
Parking
This show travels in one vehicle. If parking is not available on the premises or within the immediate area, let us know so that we can plan to arrive earlier to allow for parking time.
Strike and Load-Out
This show can be struck within one hour and a half, barring any of the issues mentioned in the “Arrival & Setup” section (parking far away, performance space on higher floor in building etc.)
About the Artist
Sarah Nolen is a puppeteer and filmmaker known for her versatile work across multiple puppetry styles. Originally from Texas, Sarah lives in Waltham, Massachusetts, where she works as a freelance puppeteer, director, and puppet builder for both stage and screen through her company, Puppet Motion.
Currently, she is the third-ever resident artist at Puppet Showplace Theater, touring family puppet shows and teaching puppetry to all ages. Most recently, Sarah was a shadow puppet fabricator for A.R.T.'s The Odyssey (2025), built a puppet and puppeteered in Adam McKay's Don’t Look Up (2021), and directed Sandglass Theater's latest puppet production Feral (2024). In June 2025, Sarah premiered Party Animals, a new touring family puppet show with original music by Phil Berman.
