Mother Goose in Brookline this May!

"Puppeteers of New England"

Series of puppet shows that celebrate exciting and diverse 

work by puppetry artists from the Northeast.

It's a weekend filled with your favorite Mother Goose rhymes at Puppet Showplace...or rather...FATHER Goose!  Join Jim Napolitano of Nappy's Puppets from New Haven, CT for hilarious renditions of your favorite nursery rhymes. His signature shadow puppet style will have you in stitches!

If that's not enough laughs for you, then join us Saturday, May 17 for two special performances of "Mother Goose and Friends" by Sparky's Puppets from Providence, Rhode Island.  Help us celebrate these two amazing performers from New England during our "Puppeteers of New England" series. VIEW FULL CALENDAR

"Father Goose's Tales" by Nappy's Puppets

Thurs & Fri, May 15 & 16 at 10:30am

Sun, May 18 at 1 & 3pm

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About the show: There is trouble in the nursery! Mother Goose has taken the day off, and Father Goose must do all of her chores, including the storytelling! But try as he might, Father Goose just can't get the stories quite right. "Father Goose's Tales" is a hilarious modern retelling of favorite nursery rhymes, stories, and children's songs that will delight audiences of all ages. Each performance includes a puppet demonstration and lots of audience interaction!

About the performer:

Jim Napolitano, a.k.a. “Uncle Nappy,” is a Connecticut native and one of America’s most-loved shadow puppeteers. He is a graduate of the University of Connecticut’s Puppet Arts program, and has taught puppetry to students of all ages throughout New England. For over 20 years Nappy’s Puppets has toured nationally to theatres, festivals, libraries, and museums, delighting audiences of all ages with quality shadow theatre productions.

Jim has also worked extensively as a freelance artist and puppeteer. As a member of Bits and Pieces Puppet Theatre he performed musicals with giant puppets across the country and around the world, including at the National Cultural Center in Japan and the National Theatre in Taiwan. His television credits include Between the Lions, The Book of Pooh, and segments for Nickelodeon, Scholastic Home Video, and HBO Pictures. He currently resides in Connecticut with his wife and two children.

"Mother Goose and Friends" by Sparky's Puppets

Sat, May 17 at 1 & 3pm

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About the show: See your favorite tales come to life in this fun and interactive show, with the one and only Mother Goose as your guide! Watch Grandmother teach a wolf some manners in "Little Red Riding Hood." Then, help the hard-working "Little Red Hen" bake a loaf of bread. Meet "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" and "The Three Little Pigs." Finally, bring a "Gingerbread Man" to life with some make-believe ingredients...and a pinch of magic!

About the performer: Kathleen “Sparky” Davis began dramatizing stories with hand puppets while working as a children's librarian. Since 1980, Sparky's Puppets have delighted children and family audiences at schools, libraries and festivals throughout New England. Every summer, Sparky creates a special show for the Rhode Island statewide public libraries' summer reading program.

Sparky loves to see children's reactions to their favorite stories brought to life with endearing puppet characters. She is known for her quick wit and hilarious sense of humor. A preschool child at a recent show was heard to say. "It was so funny I burst out laughing!"

Dreams of the BIG TOP at Puppet Showplace!

FINAL SHOW of the CIRCUS SPECTACULAR series!

"Circus Dreams"

by Tuckers' Tales Puppet Theater

Thurs & Fri November 21-22 @ 10:30 am, 

Sat  & Sun, November 23-24 @ 1:00 & 3:00 pm

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Join us for our last week of circus fun at Puppet Showplace! Our friends Tuckers' Tales are here from Philadelphia, PA with a circus variety show full of silly clowns and zany characters. See you at the theatre!

About the show: Have you ever dreamed of being in the circus? Join Tuckers’ Tales on a journey of the imagination in two original Big Top tales. First, Jeffrey the Bear has wanted to be a circus clown for as long as he could remember. Will this little bear get his wish to become a big star? Then, a zany ringmaster and his clown “assistants” are determined to see the show go on, despite bungled magic tricks and escaping animals. The result is a lively variety show featuring lovable characters, constant surprises, and fun!

About the performer: Tuckers’ Tales is a puppet company based outside of Philadelphia. Co-directors and husband and wife team Marianne and Tom Tucker performed together as folk musicians for over a decade when they decided form their own puppet company in 1981. The Tuckers now have over two dozen original puppet productions in their repertoire, ranging from folk tales and legends to hilarious children’s variety shows. Every year Tuckers’ Tales appears at puppet, folk, ethnic and street festivals; and at craft fairs, shopping centers, theaters and schools around the country.

Here Come the Clowns!

CIRCUS SPECTACULAR!

Nov 7-24: VIEW FULL PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

UP NEXT: "Clown Circus"

by Paul Vincent Davis, 
performed by Brad Shur, artist in residence 

Sat & Sun, November 16-17 @ 1 & 3 pm

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From silly characters to not-so-ferocious lions, "Clown Circus" features a high energy cast of clowns in hilarious vaudeville bits that will have audiences in stitches! The show was created by award-winning puppeteer, Paul Vincent Davis, Puppet Showplace Theatre's artist in residence emeritus.

Our current artist in residence, Brad Shur performs "Clown Circus," passing on the traditions from the artist in residence before him. As protégé of master puppeteer Paul Vincent Davis, Shur trained extensively in glove puppetry and currently performs many of Paul's classic shows at venues across New England.

About the show: Clowns come in all shapes and sizes, but everything about them is larger-than-life. Join Dusty and his friends Pierrot, Zany and Guffaw for this fun, interactive variety show that features circus-inspired singing, dancing, storytelling, lion-taming, and more.

This colorful performance, originally created by master puppeteer Paul Vincent Davis, is a favorite for young audiences (and their grown-ups).

About the show's creator: Master Puppeteer Paul Vincent Davis is widely recognized as one of America's foremost glove puppeteers. For over 30 years he served as Artist in Residence at Puppet Showplace Theatre where he and founder Mary Churchill worked tirelessly to establish a home for puppetry in New England. Throughout his career, Paul was a dedicated member of the Boston Area Guild of Puppetry.

Davis created over a dozen full-length puppetry productions and received four prestigious UNIMA Citations of Excellence for his work. He was honored with the President's Award for Lifetime Achievement by the Puppeteers of America. Now retired from performing, Davis remains active as a teacher and mentor in the New England puppetry community. He is the subject of the bookPuppeteer by Kathryn Lasky and is currently writing his own book about the art and philosophy of glove puppetry.

About the performer: Brad Shur is a versatile puppeteer who has created and performed characters made of everything from pixels to papier mache. As the Artist in Residence at Puppet Showplace Theatre he performs regularly and teaches puppetry classes to students of all ages, Pre-K to adult.

Brad with a character from "Clown Circus"

Shur’s original works include "The Carrot Salesman," "Dr. Doohickey and the Monster Machine," "The Yankee Peddler: Stories and Songs from Old New England" and "The Magic Soup and Other Stories," recently featured at the Puppeteers of America National Festival 2013.

Brad with a character from "Clown Circus"

Shur is currently working on a new adaptation of "Robin Hood," set to open in January 2014. Prior to becoming the Artist in Residence at Puppet Showplace, Shur toured the country as a performer with Big Nazo (Rhode Island), Wood & Strings Theatre (Tennessee) and The PuppeTree (Vermont). As a builder Shur has designed and fabricated puppets for American Idol, Dollywood, Avenue Q, and the U.S.S. Constitution Museum. Shur is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design.

For more shows by Brad Shur, CLICK HERE

Can beans make wishes come true?

UP NEXT: 3rd Annual Fall Fairy Tale Festival Continues...

"Jack and the Beanstalk" 

by Spring Valley Puppet Theater 

Fri, October 4 at 10:30 a.m.

Sat & Sun, October 5 & 6 at 1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m.

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Bound up the beanstalk with Jack this week at Puppet Showplace! This exciting traditional retelling of the classic story is brought to life by Michael Graham of Spring Valley Puppet Theater from New Haven, CT. That's right, Michael is the magician behind the stage making the story come to life right before your eyes! How does he do it? Find out after the show when he brings out all of your favorite characters for a show and tell, question and answer demonstration.

About the show: Can beans make wishes come true? They can and do in "Jack and the Beanstalk," the award-winning puppet production of Michael Graham's Spring Valley Puppet Theater. When Jack trades the family cow for a few magic beans — which grow into a beanstalk overnight — he climbs it to find adventure and fortune. Along the way he meets a feisty and funny chicken, a magic singing harp, and one real rat of a giant. This popular classic features beautifully crafted hand and rod puppets, colorful scenic design, special effects, and an original script in which Jack, with the help of a clever chicken, saves the day!

About the performer: Michael Graham has performed with puppets since he was a young boy. He founded the Spring Valley Puppet Theater in 1977. Since then, he has performed throughout New England, primarily for schools and libraries. His work has been featured numerous times at regional and national festivals of the Puppeteers of America, and he is a recipient of the prestigious UNIMA citation of excellence. Michael designs and makes all of his puppets by hand, writes his own scripts, creates the scenery, and performs many of the voices.

He graduated from Western Connecticut State College with a degree in Elementary Education and Spanish, and has created many bilingual adaptations of folk tales. Michael has been a guest instructor at the University of Connecticut Puppet Arts program, the Institute of Professional Puppetry Arts (IPPA) at the O'Neill Theatre Center, and has presented casting and hand puppet construction workshops for puppetry guilds in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Learn more about Michael Graham and Spring Valley Puppet Theater: CLICK HERE

Fall Fairy Tale Festival: Labor Day Weekend Through Columbus Day!

Puppet Showplace Theatre presents...

3rd Annual Fall Fairy Tale Festival

August 31-October 14

FALL FAIRY TALE FESTIVAL KICK OFF WEEKEND!

CLICK TO VIEW FULL SCHEDULE

"Snow White & Other Tales"

by Perry Alley Theatre

Sat & Sun, Aug 31 & Sept 1

Shows at 1pm & 3pm

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Join friends and family for a scavenger hunt, special treats, and other festive activities all throughout Puppet Showplace Theatre's Labor Day weekend season kick-off event!

About the show: Three fairy tales come to life as you’ve never seen them before in this imaginative production by the award-winning Perry Alley Theatre. See "Little Red Riding Hood" as it might have been performed in Ancient Rome, play pranks with the medieval puppet cast of “The Princess and the Pea,” and get a taste of Dad’s unusual sense of humor in an original dinner-table retelling of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”

A show for the whole family: "Snow White and Other Tales" is a great show for all ages. The content is episodic, interactive, and silly, with lots of jokes that are appealing to younger audiences. The show is also very thoughtful and intellectually creative and appeals to parents and older children who will appreciate the verbal puns and tounge-in-cheek historical references.

Many different styles of puppetry: The show uses multiple styles of puppetry, including traditional glove puppetry, table top puppetry, and found object puppetry. This show is particularly recommended for those who are interested in creative variations on traditional puppetry performance. To prepare for the show, grown ups may want to explore different versions of fairytales with their children to see how an artist can modify the story.

Suggested story books: Can't wait for the show day to arrive? Check out these suggested books to get you into the fairy tale mood.  These stories aren't your typical renditions, but unique and creative retellings!  Read a fractured fairytale book like "The Stinky Cheese Man" or Compare Disney's "Snow White" to the Brother's Grimm edition or Pushkin's "The Tale of the Dead Princess and the Seven Knights"

Andrew and Bonnie Periale receiving 2013 Paul Vincent Davis award for life time achievement in puppetry.

About the artists: Andrew and Bonnie Periale founded Perry Alley Theatre in 1986 and moved to their current home and studio in NH in 1988. Together, they’ve produced a dozen major shows and many shorter pieces for touring. Andrew and Bonnie have performed at numerous national and regional festivals, at the Smithsonian Institution, the Center for Puppetry Arts (Atlanta), the Jim Henson International Festival of Puppetry and many other venues across the U.S. as well as in France and Italy.

They have produced the magazines for UNIMA-USA for 28 years, establishing Puppetry International magazine in the early 1990s. Recognition includes The Paul Vincent Davis Award, the George Latshaw Award, 3 Henson Foundation grants, 2 UNIMA Citations, an Emmy nomination, finalists in the International Festival of Film and Television and, from UNIMA-USA, a Lifetime Achievement award.

Learn more about Perry Alley theatre on their website: CLICK HERE

Hold Onto Your Underpants...

Squirrel On the Loose at Puppet Showplace!

Back by Popular Demand: "Squirrel Stole My Underpants" by Bonnie Duncan

Just when you thought you were having a bad day, nothing makes things more complicated than losing your underpants. However, you did not lose them by accident; they were stolen! In this exciting journey through the imagination, performer Bonnie Duncan takes us on little Sylive's adventure to retrieve her favorite pair of underpants from a silly sneaky squirrel.

Bonnie combines puppetry, dance, original music, and mime in a way that might just knock your socks off- or even your underwear! Will our lonely heroine rescue her underpants and discover the magic within herself? Join us on this adventure to find out!

Showtimes:

August 7-10
Wed-Sat
10:30am & 1pm
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About Bonnie Duncan...

Bonnie Duncan has come a long way since her days growing up in the south competing in dance and swimming competitions. After studying theatre and education in college, Bonnie continued into grad school learning how to make her own costumes while acting in original theatre pieces. The solo puppeteer creates her own award winning productions which she brings to theatres, museums and festivals across the country.

With every performance during her last visit to Puppet Showplace SOLD OUT, it goes to show that Bonnie Duncan's performances are not ones you want to miss!

LIVE MUSIC!

Every performance of "Squirrel Stole My Underpants" this week will be accompanied by live music.  What a special treat!

A Carol Collodi Classic at Puppet Showplace

National Marionette Theatre is Back...

We Aren't Lying! (Check our Noses)

"Pinocchio" by National Marionette Theatre
Wed-Sat, July 24-27 at 10:30am & 1pm

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The Syrotiak family has finally arrived in Brookline from their workshop in Brattleboro, VT bringing with them their absolutely stunning production of "Pinocchio".  This adaptation of a classic tale takes the stage for four days at Puppet Showplace and we couldn't be more excited!

Come follow Pinocchio on his series of adventures as he discovers that only by being truthful, selfless and kind to others will he realize his dream of becoming a real boy.

The Family Business...

From left to right: Peter Syrotiak, David J. Syrotiak, David A. Syrotiak

Founded in 1967 by David A Syrotiak, the National Marionette Theatre (NMT) has become known for its excellence in manipulation technique in puppet theatre for over 40 years. The family, David A Syrotiak, and his two sons, David J Syrotiak and Peter Syrotiak, have performed all over the country and even across the globe bringing their shows to libraries, schools, and festivals.

All three work together in order to make their productions a success in wowing their audiences. Artistic director, David A, has been given the well deserved title "Master Puppeteer" as he has won the UNIMA award for excellence in the field of puppetry for two productions.  David A is also the first recipient of the Paul Vincent Davis award in 2012 for leadership and excellence in the field of puppetry arts.  This award is named after Puppet Showplace Artist-in-Residence Emeritus, Paul Vincent Davis.

David J. has mastered his wood carving and sculpting skills, bringing them to other companies such as Vagabond Marionettes and Bennington Puppets. Peter, who joined the company in 1989 is known not only for his performing talents but also for his brilliant puppet making skills. More about NMT on their website: http://www.nmtshow.com/

This Week's Performers...

Honey Goodenough, puppeteer

For this week's run of performances at Puppet Showplace, the Syrotiak family will be joined by marionettist, Honey Goodenough.

About the artist: Honey Goodenough is a New York City based puppeteer, producer, educator, clown, and magician.

This performance is sure to come with familiar characters, a captivating story and a great experience. See you at the theatre!

Puppet Playtime is BAAAACCK!

PUPPET PLAYTIME

(For ages 3 and under)

Wednesdays at 10:30am through June 5, 2013

MAKE A RESERVATION

Revenge of the Furs! Puppet Playtime Returns to PST!

by Guest Blogger: Phil Berman

March went out like a crocheted lion, April showers brought May flowers to blossom, and the shining sun over the city can only mean one thing: Puppet Playtime is back at PST for four more shows this spring!

Last week Brenda, Bella Monster and I traveled back to the garden where we met a potpourri of friendly (and hungry) bugs. We even got the chance to take our show on the road last Sunday as we performed for the annual Duckling Day Parade at the Boston Common.

On Wednesday, the three of us will embark on a new camping adventure to explore the night sky with our intrepid audience members. Come for the canoeing and stay for the stargazing as we spend a night in an imaginary forest together with all of our puppet friends.

See you at the theater!

Phil Berman

Performer/Co-Creator Puppet Playtime

Bunnies-a-Bound at PST!

Brer Rabbit & Brer Bear

"Brer Rabbit Tales" by Magical Moonshine Theatre

Thurs | March 28 | 10:30 AM

Fri | March 29 | 10:30 AM & 1 PM

Sat | March 30 | 1 PM & 3PM 

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Kick off Easter weekend with the most infamous trickster rabbit of them all- Brer Rabbit!  Not enough bunny for you? Not to worry! We have more bunnies through next week in "The Carrot Salesman" performed by Brad Shur, PST Artist-In-Residence!

About the show: Brer Rabbit is more "April Fool's" than the Easter Bunny, but his antics are hopping great fun! In this hilarious show by Magical Moonshine Theatre (on tour from California!), our famous floppy-eared trickster continually tries to outwit the likes of Brer Fox and Brer Bear. Magical Moonshiner Michael grew up in Alabama, listening to the tales of Brer Rabbit, filled with lore, wisdom and shenanigans. In Tales of Brer Rabbit he and wife, Valerie, blend together some of their favorite folktales, adding a little banjo music and singing to create a show that is clever fun for children and adults alike.

The Carrot Salesman by Brad Shur, PST Artist-In-Residence

Thurs | April 4 | 10:30am
Friday | April 5 | 10:30am & 1pm
Sat & Sun | April 6 & 7 | 10:30am & 1pm

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"The Carrot Salesman" is the original story of a door-to-door carrot salesrabbit who is not very good at his job. But through his unsuccessful efforts to sell carrots to elephants, jellyfish, moles, and robots, he discovers a way to help all of the animals. Performed with colorful two-dimensional table-top puppets and fun audience interaction. This show is recommended for ages 3 and up.

ABOUT THE PERFORMERS:

Magical Moonshine Theatre has been recognized for fine quality programming, with emphasis on puppetry, mask and music since 1979. MMTheatre performances have been seen coast to coast in the U.S., as well as internationally with performances in 15 countries in 8 different languages. The group has received numerous awards and honors on the national and international level. MMTheatre director and founder Michael Nelson studied puppetry at the International Puppetry Institute with the late Jim Henson of the Muppets. http://www.magicalmoonshine.org/

Michael & Valerie Nelson

ABOUT BRER RABBIT TALES:
The tale of the trickster Brer Rabbit originated in African Folklore and then carried on by African slaves in the New World. Once there it acquired attributes of similar Native American tricksters. The legend was popularized in the United Sates in the stories of Joel Chandler in the late 1800’s. The overall theme is a small, weak, but clever ingenious force can overcome a larger, stronger, but dull-witted power. Brer Rabbit continually outsmarts his bigger animal associates, Brer Fox, Brer Wolf, and Brer Bear.

Join us for a Japanese folktale at PST!

"The Singing Turtle" 
by Paul Vincent Davis, performed by Brad Shur
Thurs & Fri | March 14 & 15 | 10:30 AMSat & Sun | March 16 &17 | 1 PM & 3 PM

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Recommended for ages 4 and up. 

ABOUT THE SHOW:
A young, hard working farm boy, Taro, is desperate to earn money to buy medicine for his mother. He is helped by an amazing singing turtle in this heart-warming Japanese folk tale. Dancing dragons, beautiful costumes, and traditional music make this a memorable show for audiences of all ages.

Paul Vincent Davis

CREATED BY:

Paul Vincent Davis joined the Puppet Showplace Theatre in 1977, as its first Artist in Residence. Today Paul serves on our Board of Trustees and is widely recognized as one of the foremost hand puppeteers in the country. He has received numerous awards, including four "Citations of Excellence in the Art of Puppetry" from UNIMA-USA (the highest award given in puppetry) and the distinguished President's Award from Puppeteers of America. 

Brad with The Singing Turtle

PERFORMED BY:

Brad Shur has been PST's Artist in Residence since 2009. Brad has been professionally involved in puppetry for almost 15 years. He began as a performer with the Providence puppet and mask company Big Nazo while studying film and animation at the Rhode Island School of Design. He has worked in various capacities with Wood & Strings Theatre (Tennessee), and Vermont PuppetTree, and as a builder has designed and fabricated puppets for American Idol, Dollywood, and other theaters and performers from Austin, Texas to Boston, Massachusetts.

JAPANESE FOLKTALES

A folktale is a type of traditional story that tries to explain or understand the world. Japanese folktales reveal information about the history, life and customs of Japan. These stories were often orally passed down from one generation to another and teach the importance of patience, honesty and hard work. The elements of Japanese folktales are similar to those of traditional American folktales. The characters are often animals and royalty and the plots are magical worlds of transformation. Kindness is rewarded and evil is punished. In Japan, folktales are often told through a series of large pictures depicting the important scenes of the story. This is called a Kamishibai or paper play.

Kamishibai

MORE TALES FROM JAPAN! 

Let's take a look at more stories from the rich tradition of Japanese folktales:

In “Tongue Cut Sparrow” an old wood cutter rescued a little sparrow he found crying for help in the woods. His wife however disliked animals and one day cut the sparrows tongue out, after realizing it ate all of their starch. The bird flew away prompting the man to search for it once he returned home and noticed it was gone.

The man found the sparrow in “the sparrow’s inn.” The sparrows offered the man a gift and he had to choose between a small and large basket. Being a selfless person the man choose the smaller basket and upon returning home discovered in was filled with treasure. This prompted his greedy wife to search for the sparrow and get a gift of her own. She choose the large basket and the sparrow warned her not to open it until she got back home, but she did not heed the advice. The basket was filled with snakes and poisonous bugs which chased her over cliffs.

A long time ago in the story of Kachi-Kachi Yama, an old man and his wife lived at the foot of a mountain. They lived in perfect harmony with their vegetable garden. One morning the old man caught a raccoon dog (Tanuki) eating his vegetables and yelled at him until he ran away. However he came back and ate all the man’s vegetables. This made the man so mad, one day he caught the raccoon dog and tied him up. When the man was not around the raccoon dog cried and apologized to the man’s wife so she would let him go, but he bit her leg before he escaped.

Even madder the man set off into the mountain to get some medicine for his wife’s leg. On the way he meet a rabbit and explained what happened. The rabbit said, “I’ll get revenge on him for you.”

The rabbit went to the mountain with a rice ball and gathered some hay. When the raccoon dog passed the rabbit offered him the rice ball if he would carry the hay. He agreed but when he put the hay on his back the rabbit set the hay on fire. Once he was burned he regretted his previous actions.

That night he went to the old man’s house and apologized to him and his wife and they all shared a delicious meal together. 

Silly Ghosts and Ghouls come to PST!

PST HALLOWEEN EXTRAVAGANZA 2012!

PST Halloween event, 2011 "Spooky Story Station"

October 19-28

View Show Calendar

For two weeks this October, Puppet Showplace Theatre will be taken over by sweet and silly spooks. The “Halloween Extravaganza” will take place on October 19 - 28, featuring two different Halloween themed puppet shows, and an off-site appearance at the Brookline Lincoln School’s annual “Pumpkinfest.” 

Audience members are welcome to attend performances in costume! 

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:

Dr. Doohickey’s Monster Machine by Brad Shur, PST Artist in Residence

Friday October 19 | 10:30am Saturday and Sunday October 20 & 21 | 1pm & 3pm 

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Dr. Doohickey thinks that the world would be much more exciting if people were a little more like monsters, don’t you? Join the doctor and his assistant Reginald the Rabbit as they use music, machines and a little magic to bring funny monsters to life. Moving-mouth and shadow puppets. Recommended for ages 4 & up. Tickets: $12/general admission, $8/PST members. 

About the artist: Brad Shur, PST Artist in Residence has been professionally involved in puppetry for over 10 years. He first began as a performer with the Providence puppet and mask company Big Nazo while a student at the Rhode Island School of Design and has toured nationally with Wood & Strings Theatre, a marionette company out of Tennessee. As a teaching artist, he teaches workshops and classes for students of all ages.

The Witch Who Wasn’t by Wayne Martin Puppets

Friday October 26 | 10:30am Saturday and Sunday October 27 & 28 | 1pm & 3pm 

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“The Witch who Wasn’t” is a delightful tale about a little witch who can’t do anything the least bit scary and who dreads attending her first Halloween witches convention. Her short story is followed by visits from a happy juggling pumpkin, a roller-skating demon, and a compliment of scarecrows, witches, ghosts and silly monsters all performing unique tricks for your treat in this hilarious Halloween-themed variety revue. Hand puppets, rod puppets and marionettes. Recommended for ages 4 & up. Tickets: $12/general admission, $8/PST members.

About the artist: Wayne Martin has been featured in numerous award winning television programs and commercials. These include critically acclaimed educational and training films and his very own television series and specials that have earned him two Emmy Award nominations. At the top of his profession for nearly forty years, Wayne’s credits include guest appearances with Symphony Orchestras and work as principal manipulator for industry greats, the Heiken Puppets, Sid and Marty Krofft Productions and Jim Henson’s Muppets, among others. Having designed and built over two thousand puppets to date, Martin’s act has appeared with such established artists as Bob Hope, Dolly Parton, The 5th Dimension and The Temptations.

SPECIAL EVENT

Pumpkinfest @ Lincoln School Sunday October 21, 12-4pm 

Click for event info

Bella Monster sure could use YOUR help to get into the Halloween Spirit!

Join Puppet Showplace Theatre artists at Brookline’s Lincoln School for an afternoon of FREE monster-related puppet activities and crafts. Learn about mouth puppetry, make your own monster puppet, and meet some of our favorite furry monsters including Bella, PST’s “Monster in Residence.”  

Jack Tuesday: Fairytale Investigator comes to PST

THIS WEEK AT PST

The 2nd Annual 
FALL FAIRYTALE FESTIVAL Continues with..

Jack Tuesday: Fairytale Investigator
PST PREMIERE!
by Lionheart Puppets
Sat & Sun | Sept 8 & 9 | 1pm & 3pm
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Put on your thinking caps, and dust off your detective gear to help us find out who done it this week at PST! Join Jack Tuesday on his adventure to help Little Bo Peep find her lost sheep.

About the show: Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep and doesn't know where to find them...But Jack Tuesday's the guy who can figure out why someone would try to hide them! Audiences will love this original "whodunit" mystery show, starring a cast of familiar storybook characters and the world's greatest (and only?) fairytale detective.

Hand and rod puppets, recommended for ages 3 & up.

About the performer: The Lionheart Puppet Company is owned and operated primarily by Matthew K. Leonard, who holds a BFA in Puppet Arts from the University of Connecticut. Mr. Leonard has worked for other puppet companies including, Purple Rock Productions, The Great Arizona Puppet Theater and the Paper Moon Marionettes. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Guild of Puppetry.

Crabgrass Puppet Theatre Stops by for some Magic Soup

From Left: Roxanna Myhrum (PST Artistic Director), Jaime Keithline (Crabgrass), Brad Shur (PST Artist-in-Residence),  and Bonnie Hall (Crabgrass) on the set of "Magic Soup."

As New England's oldest and only puppet theatre open all year round, Puppet Showplace Theatre is also an important center to support the work of local puppetry artists, and where puppeteers come to support each other's work.

On Thursday, August 9th, Crabgrass Puppet Theatre from Halifax Vermont came to Brookline to take a special behind the scenes look at PST Artist-In-Residence, Brad Shur's newest production, "The Magic Soup and Other Stories".  This puppet show is on stage for one more day this month, Saturday August 11th with performances at 10:30am and 1pm  BUY TICKETS and will return to the stage during Thanksgiving week for PST's "Feast of Food and Folktales" this November.

Jaime and Bonnie of Crabgrass have been creating puppet theatre together since 1982, and were impressed with Brad's new show.  Here's what they had to say about the performance: "What a great show! It is so exciting to see that young puppeteers like Brad are making such strong new work" and "Brad is a wonderful actor, and the design is beautiful and well done."

Crabgrass Puppet Theatre will be on stage next week, August 15th through 18th, with a brand new performance of "Jack and the Beanstalk." More Info.  Join us for a special post-show reception to meet the performers and enjoy refreshments sponsored by the Boston Area Guild of Puppetry after the 10:30am show on Saturday, August 18th.

The Perfect Recipe for an Awesome Puppet Show!

THIS WEEK AT PST

Magic Soup and Other Stories
by Brad Shur, PST Artist-In-Residence
Wed-Sat | August 8-11 | 10:30am & 1pm

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PST is thrilled to welcome our Artist-In-Residence back to the stage this month with his newest show:"Magic Soup and Other Stories", a collection of Yiddish folk tales told with great humor and exciting mixed puppetry styles.  What ever your favorite ingredient for good theatre, Brad's "Magic Soup" is sure to make you laugh, clap and have a great time!

About the show: Uncle Murray is coming over for dinner, but there's no food in sight! A young man's search for a family recipe ends up bringing folk tales to life...in his kitchen. Based on a collection of traditional Yiddish stories, "The Magic Soup" teaches that it is those with wit, humor and imagination who have the best chance of filling their bellies -- and fulfilling their dreams.

About the performer: Brad has been professionally involved in puppetry for almost 15 years. He began as a performer with the Providence puppet and mask company Big Nazo while studying film and animation at the Rhode Island School of Design. He has worked in various capacities with Wood & Strings Theatre (Tennessee), and Vermont PuppetTree, and as a builder has designed and fabricated puppets for American Idol, Dollywood, and other theaters and performers from Austin, Texas to Boston, Massachusetts.  Brad performs almost every month at PST and teaches classes and workshops to students ages 3 to adult.

All of the puppets Brad uses in his performances come from his workshop, where he builds them by hand from wood, paper, plastic, foam and fabric.

Vacation Week Continues with "A Wild & Furry Puppet Adventure!"

"A Wild & Furry Puppet Adventure" by
Theatre of Life

TUES, WED, & THURS | April 19, 20, & 21 | 10:30AM & 1PM

About the show: Sammy Snail would rather watch TV and play videos than play outside. A crazy set of events sends Sammy on a wonderful adventure into the natural world, and encourages recycling, preserving habitats and outdoor nature exploration. With lots of songs and audience interaction!

An Upbeat musical opener will have audience singing and signing our connection with the natural world and conservation of resources. This show encourages families to turn off lights and appliances, carpool, take a bus, ride a bike or walk. Plant a tree. Buy locally. Recycle & conserve through local food choices are some of the ways to be a good steward of the Earth. There is growing evidence linking the lack of nature in children's lives and the rise of obesity, attention disorders and depression.

About the performer: Lesley Smith is a renowned ventriloquist, puppeteer and singer/songwriter employing the vehicles of humor, dynamic vocals and puppetry to entertain corporations, festivals, school children and their families across the country. As a New England Foundation for the Arts touring artist, the Theatre of Life Puppets has become a premier educational entertainment troupe.

Lesley was chosen from puppeteers across the world to attend the Eugene O'Neill Puppetry Conference in 2005 as an Emerging Artist. This is the same conference that launched Tony Award winning "Avenue Q". That same year, their website www.sammysnail.com won the 2005 NH internet awards for Best Children's Site and top honors as Best of Show out of 200 nominated sites and agencies represented in the contest. Sammy Snail's website was designed by the creative team of Hatchling Interative Studios.

Lesley's early career was in theater, starring in many productions at Durham Center Stage, regional theater, commercials and industrials. She toured professionally as a lead vocalist and bass player in bands of every description, genre and style and still had time to work full time as Director of Recreation Programs and Parks for the town of Newmarket NH for nine years. Lesley's passion is singing gospel and spiritual music in churches across the U.S. Lesley resides with her husband Mark Abramczyk, three sons; Trey, Rowan and Bo and their 110 lb dog Gracie in Durham NH.

Theatre of Life Puppets provides workshops, artist-in-residencies, keynotes and special events for elementary and middle school students, adult groups, organizations and businesses. They specialize in one-of-a-kind comedy skits and in conflict resolution, bully prevention, tobacco prevention, social competency skills, nutrition and environmental education.

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More about...The Firebird by the Puppet People

Inspired by the Russian folktale and popular ballet of The Firebird, watch as even the impossible is possible, as the mythical firebird comes to life and Ivan and Princess Yelena team up to break the enchantment placed over their kingdom. This 50 minute magical puppet fantasy features beautifully handcrafted marionettes, lavish costumes, vivid sets, and a large body puppet; masterly accompanied by Stravinsky's musical score from the ballet of The Firebird.
Husband and wife team Mark Carrigan and Michelle Smith-Carrigan have been entertaining people for over 20 years. They have performed at many schools, theatres, festivals, libraries, museums, community centers and churches throughout New York State, Massachusetts and Vermont. Learn more about them at their website.

Don't miss this single-run season-closing show, the only time The Puppet People will be here this year!

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Sunday 8/29 @ 1:00 pm

or call the Box Office at 617-731-6400

November 26th Tanglewood Marionettes Present "The Dragon King" at 10:30 am

For the Thanksgiving Holiday week we will be presenting the Tanglewood Marionettes newest production "The Dragon King" Nov 26th at 10:30 am, Nov 28th, 29th & 30th at 1 pm & 3 pm.

Please note November 26th was originally "Raccoon Tales" and has been changed to "The Dragon King". "The Dragon King" is recommended for ages 3 & up. For complete show description http://puppetshowplace.org/showdesc/nov29.html