"You can have your party at my house!"

A young audience member poses with Sarah and one of the show’s puppets.

That was the sweet exclamation from the audience during one performance of Party Animals by Sarah Nolen of Puppet Motion (and the resident artist of Puppet Showplace), during the show’s premiere run on June 7 - 15. 

Blending hand puppetry and original rock ‘n’ roll music composed by Phil Berman, Party Animals tells the story of five furry friends as they prepare to throw a birthday party. When things start to go awry, original music and teamwork help the birthday crew get "back on track."

“In ‘Party Animals,’ we get to use music as an exuberant outlet. Each character handles their tantrums, distractions, and nerves with music, song, and dance,” shared Sarah. “Not all emotions have perfect labels, or fit into a certain box, and so I hope that the show reminds folks to seek out music next time they feel off — when you’re in a funk, listen to some funk!”

Young audience members meet the puppets and puppeteer after the show.

Audience members familiar with Sarah’s earlier work joined us once again — alongside many who were visiting Puppet Showplace for the very first time. One returning parent shared, “My daughters loved ‘Lisa the Wise!’ We HAD to come and see this one too!” And for first-time guest Pam, the experience made an impact: her three-year-old was “still singing ‘Back on Track’" — an original song from the show.

Throughout the run, the theater echoed with laughter, music, and spontaneous audience participation. Kids eagerly called out advice to the characters, shrieked gleefully at a wrapping paper dragon, and some even threw up a 🤘 during some particularly head-bangin’ songs. The blend of catchy tunes, quirky characters, and expressive puppetry clearly resonated — not just with children, but with grown-ups too. "This was so great for all ages! Even grown-ups! Thank you!" shared one audience member.

Young audience members post with pieces from the dress-up station.

In addition to the festive atmosphere of the performance, a sense of celebration carried through families’ entire visit. With free popcorn, a dress-up station, outdoor games, bubbles, and more, the theater felt less like a venue and more like a gathering place. In fact, audience member Jennifer described it as “a complete experience.”

It takes a village

The final stages of the show's development involved coordinating a full creative village — Sarah worked with a team of artists and collaborators who worked hard to bring the world of Party Animals to life.

Puppets in-progress.

“So much of puppetry is a collective aid. Many of us know one another through puppetry events, we share and borrow tools from each other, work on each other’s projects, getting to know one another through collaborations,” explained Sarah. “I felt so supported by the community of artists who collaborated with me on this show.”

The band and Sarah at the recording studio.

The show features original music, written and composed by Phil Berman, performed by studio musicians Poh Hock Kee on electric guitar, Dylan Jack on drums, Tony Leva on bass, plus Phil Berman on acoustic guitar and vocals, and Sarah Nolen on vocals — with the help of sound engineer Forrest Pettengill.

Sarah led the design and build of the puppets, set, and props, working with artists Bonnie Duncan, Carole D’Agostino, Amanda Gibson, Abigail Baird, Faye Dupras, and Jessica Simon. Jonathan Little contributed props illustration and Marta Kaemmer assisted with color consulting and fabric draping.

Vincent Campbell assisted Sarah in assembling the puppet booth for the show — which can be easily transported for touring bookings!

Puppeteer and artist friends supported Sarah as her first audience at an invited dress rehearsal.

Party Animals also benefited from staged readings and feedback from Bonnie Duncan, Natasha Mirny, Veronica Barron, Ash Winkfield, Harry LaCoste (and his children!), Michelle Mount, Carole D’Agostino, Jessica Simon, and Dan Milstein.

To support its development, Party Animals received a 2022 Family Grant from the Jim Henson Foundation. Sarah also participated in the 2025 Creative Entrepreneurship Fellowship with the Boston Arts and Business Council for the intensive final 6 months of development. The show ultimately premiered through Puppet Showplaces’s Incubator Program for New Works in June 2025. The Incubator has premiered 20 shows for family audiences in the last 11 years, which have gone on to be seen by over 50,000 people in at least 18 U.S. states and 6 countries.

A rockin’ success & special guests

Puppet Showplace’s current resident artist, Sarah Nolen, poses with the theater’s first resident artist, Paul Vincent Davis.

After two successful weekends, the Party Animals premiere run closed with a super special guest — Paul Vincent Davis, the first Resident Artist of Puppet Showplace. Fellow puppeteers, friends, board members, and current and former Puppet Showplace staff gathered in the theater’s back courtyard for a small reception after the show.

All in all, over 984 people came out to enjoy:

  • 🎟️ Eight public performances

  • 🎂 Four private birthday parties

  • 🚌 Three school field trip shows

  • 🎭 One special invited dress rehearsal

  • ☀️ Plus, one outdoor performance at Emerson College’s UnCommon Corner on the Boston Common!

Puppeteers, friends, board members, and current and former Puppet Showplace staff gathered in the theater’s back courtyard for a small reception with Paul Vincent Davis after the final performance.

In addition to stellar reviews from the audience, Sarah and the show garnered media attention: in The Boston Globe and WBUR

We’re grateful to everyone who helped make Party Animals an unforgettable premiere — from the families who filled the audience to the artists who showed up to support Sarah.

Missed it? We hope to bring the party back soon! In the meantime, check out what else is coming up at Puppet Showplace Theater,follow Sarah on Instagram @puppetmotion, and check out her website.  

And, you can support the development and premiere of works like this by making a donation →