Puppets, Sprinkles, & Joy: How working at Puppet Showplace made me realize that life can be all sunshine and rainbows

— From Amarachi Okeke

Working at Puppet Showplace for the summer helped me realize that puppetry spreads joy to people, audience members, and puppeteers. Normally, when I come to think of a summer internship, my mind goes straight to silent office spaces where my only job as an intern was to aid the workers with coffee and arrangements concerning files they’re likely to never open again. Puppet Showplace Theater was different. With open arms, they took me in, showing me the ropes of what it meant to be a box office intern. Never once did I have to bring coffee to anyone, but rather, they gave me the freedom to act responsibly under the pretense of being one of them, which I quickly became.

During shows, I acted as an usher, and I was granted the privilege to watch them alongside the audience. From the voices of the characters to the way the children in the audience reeled with giggles, I enjoyed each and every moment. “How could something so domestic yield such reactions from these elementary schoolers?” I thought. That’s not even what gets me, it’s the fact that most, if not all, of the puppeteers were very interactive and accommodating towards the audience; asking them questions about the whereabouts of the puppets or even simply just acknowledging their presence.

I was able to meet and interact with different puppeteers and artists, some from within New England, others from places as far as Kerala, India — all of them eager to share the work they were so passionate about. One particular puppeteer that really caught my attention was none other than our resident artist, Sarah Nolen. Over the couple of days she came to the theater, prepping and performing for vacation week programs and field trips back to back, I was lucky enough to have been able to chat with her alongside my fellow interns.

“How long does it take you to set up the stage?,” “Can you see the audience behind those black curtains?” Question after question we threw at Sarah, only for her to answer each one more avidly than the last. I was fascinated — watching someone do a profession they love so much.

That was the moment when it hit me; Puppetry wasn’t just about silly puppets, it brought joy! Not just to audience members and those watching but to the puppeteers themselves. After seeing such a unique form of art bring a positive impact to a wide range of people, it made me feel inspired. As an artist used to drawing for a younger audience, I strongly resonated with this: I also like to use my art to leave positive impacts on people, and now, I plan on taking it further.

Puppet Showplace has brought as much joy as it did memories. If there’s one more thing I could take away from my time here as an intern, it’ll be how no matter the age or time period, puppetry can be used to spread joy to all.

Behind the Curtains at Puppet Showplace Theater

— From Kevin Zhou

Working in a box office might seem like a straightforward job, but during my time as an intern at Puppet Showplace Theater, I have learned that it’s much more than selling tickets and working on a computer all day. At Puppet Showplace, I developed valuable skills in patience, communication, and problem solving.

From answering phone calls, to selling merchandise to customers, I learned how critical it is to ensure smooth transitions at all times in the theater. One responsibility at Puppet Showplace Theater for me was helping families check-in for the puppet shows. By talking with both children and adults, I built strong communication skills and real connections with puppet enjoyers.

During shows, I usually would sit in a special chair to usher the crowd and help maintain a respectful audience so that everyone can enjoy the show. Whether it’s helping kids find their seats or making sure adults stay off their phones, this specific job requires an immense amount of patience and great communication skills. Sometimes, kids will run up to the stage anytime before or after the show and I have to figure out a way to block them from reaching the puppeteer or any equipment!

These experiences positively shaped new skills that I have now. When performances are not occurring, the box office might seem inactive. In truth, we are busy with customers who reach out over the phone about tickets, showtimes, and any other questions. We also ensure that the theater is thoroughly cleaned and the lobby is neatly organized. People often mistake box offices as just a place to purchase tickets or buy merchandise, but there is much more work that the box office does to prepare for a show.

Being an intern at Puppet Showplace Theater taught me not only about the importance of backstage work, but also about how much time and effort goes into arranging puppet shows. As a student interested in business, I am constantly searching for more ways to expand my perspectives. The opportunity for me to work in a completely different environment and field of work is one that I’m glad I took, despite the fact that I’m not pursuing theater or puppetry. I found that even in an arts establishment, I still can grow crucial skills that will in the future help me find new careers in my field of interest.

A Final Reflection

— Calla Paragiri

Hello! It's Calla again. You may remember me from our latest Tholpavakoothu blog post, where I talked about the origins of the performance and how it is represented in our modern world. The show was presented on August 1, and I'm happy to say it was a rewarding experience watching the performance unfold, especially with all my new knowledge on its history and practice!

I’ve been working at Puppet Showplace Theater for about 6 months now, taking on various tasks in different areas despite having no prior work experience. Overall, my internship has taught me so many useful abilities and helped me refine my skills, whether it's just talking to customers in a specific way, or gaining new perspectives on Puppet Showplace through helping digitize the theater’s archival materials. Every part of my internship experience at Puppet Showplace Theater has become a building block towards my professional profile and preferences.

I’d categorize what I do here into two sections: Backstage and Front of House.

Backstage can range from cleaning up our workspace to making excel sheets. However, my first experience here wasn’t either of those, it was actually window painting! It was a nice way to transition into my first job because art is one of my biggest passions. It wasn’t long before I was assigned projects more relevant to running the theater, such as the intern archival project. The project began through the initiative of digitizing Puppet Showplace’s physical archives so current and future staff could have easier access to files from 1974 onwards. Our history is a large part of the role we’ve played in our town and community, as well as an indication of our impact in the performing arts world.

Speaking of community, what else would Puppet Showplace thrive on the most if not its audience and members? This brings us to Front of House, where I get to directly interact with our patrons. I started with check-ins for our weekend shows. It gave me the chance to talk with parents, children, and other adults who came to enjoy our shows. Whenever there was a rush, I’d greet everyone with a kind smile and demeanor, but on certain occasions I could start up conversations and begin recognizing the regulars.

I’ve also moved onto more challenging tasks. Over this summer, I was assigned to take over the on-site management for our Summer Outdoor Series shows at the UnCommon Corner stage in the Boston Common. This experience has helped me be more independent in my work, and helped me build more solid relationships with our customers. While I definitely enjoyed these demanding tasks, none of my experiences compare to the night I did check-ins for our Tholpavakoothu show. I remember setting up our box office table, pulling up the check-in list, and looking up to see people lined up in front of me. Most of them wanted to get Pay-What-You-Can tickets, and I wasn’t fully used to our purchasing system. That’s when I channeled all my focus to process credit cards. It was a test of agility, precision, and keeping people engaged to support the theater. Luckily, it turned out to be a success!

Every hour of my time working here at Puppet Showplace Theater has contributed to a significant growth in my professional abilities, from doing simple office tasks, to getting up on a stage and introducing a show to an expecting audience. I never thought I’d grow so much from these few months at a Puppet Theater, but now I’m leaving with new knowledge about myself, great support from the lovely staff here, and a newfound interest in the performing arts as well!

Thank you to our Summer Interns!

Puppet Showplace is honored and grateful to have worked with these three bright students!

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