Support Puppetry This Spring at PST!

Just as a garden needs care and attention to thrive, a small theater depends on the generous support of members and donors in order to survive!  Please help us reach our fundraising goal this spring, so we can continue to bring the magic of puppetry to audiences of all ages! MAKE A DONATION

GUEST BLOGGER: Maria Finison, PST Board Member

Maria and her daughter, Stella!

As a local Brookline resident, fan of the Puppet Showplace Theatre, and current board member, I was happy to be asked to write about our upcoming birthday party celebrations on the puppet blog!

We are very excited this year to be hosting two events for families, friends and supporters.  This is a great opportunity to learn more about the Theatre and all it does for the Brookline and Greater Boston community - all while eating cupcakes! 

On June 2^nd from 1:00 to 4:00pm- we will be hosting a family-friendly Birthday Party to celebrate PST’s 39^th Birthday.  The event will include fun games, puppet shows, and a Giant Puppet Parade down Station Street to the John Murphy Playground.  During the event there will be cupcakes and a raffle to help support the Theatre. MAKE RESERVATION

On June 4^th from 7:00 to 9:00pm- we will be hosting our annual fundraising party with our Garden Party Gala.  For this event, we will be transforming the Theatre into an enchanted garden.  The evening will include performances by emerging artists including our very own Artist in Residence Brad Shur who will be presenting a piece of digital puppetry.  In addition, the Showplace is giving two awards to two outstanding individuals and artists.  The first is the Paul Vincent Davis Award for Puppetry that will be given to Andrew and Bonnie Periale of Perry Alley Puppet Theatre.  The second, our Creative Leadership Award, will be given to Norah Dooley who is the Founder of massmouth, inc.  an organization devoted to the art of storytelling. MAKE RESERVATION

I hope to see many of you at the Theatre for these events.  We are very excited to celebrate with our community of supporters all that we have accomplished this year!

-Maria

Guest Blogger: Author/Illustrator Peter Reynolds

Peter Reynolds

Fuel for a Creative Journey

by Peter H. Reynolds
www.peterhreynolds.com

Award-winning author/illustrator Peter H.Reynolds talks about why he's a supporter of Puppet Showplace Theatre. YOU can support the theater too by donating to our annual winter appeal.
Help keep our theatre open another 39 years! 
MAKE A DONATION

I am tapping away on my computer here in my office with a puppet hanging near me. Reminds me of my childhood and how lucky I was.

First stroke of luck was not being born alone. I arrived with my twin brother, Paul - a friend to talk to, adventure with, protect and defend, listen to, and explore the world with. We also were lucky to be born into a large-ish family of seven, so the house at 26 Samuel Road in Chelmsford, MA was buzzing with activity. Add to this scenario the fact that our parents were a British duo powered by resilience of having survived a world war, our mother a teenager in London and Dad stationed in Egypt. They ventured to Canada and then America in search of stability and peace. They brought with them however the whimsy and humor of Britain, and their love of books. Paul and I grew up in a house filled with inspiration for aspiring storytellers.

One of Peter's Pelham marionettes.  Did you know PST sells other Pelham puppets in the puppet store? Call 617-731-6400 for more info!

In my office, hung near my desk is one of the Pelham puppets bought on one of the birthday expeditions our mother would take us on. Year after year it was the same, a trip to Newbury Street in Boston, including lunch at the English Tea Room and the long-awaited visit to F.A.O. Schwartz across the street. There we were allowed to choose a gift, and that gift was always a Pelham puppet. Made in England, these marionettes were really a cut way above the cheap marionettes at the big toy store near our house. Our mother's pride of everything British underlined how special these were, as we gingerly pulled them out of their boxes on the train trundling its way back to the Lowell train station where Dad would be waiting to pick us all up.

Once home, Paul and I would inspect our collection. Over the years we added a beautiful puppet stage which gave us the official platform to share our marionettes with local kids. While we did a pretty impressive job for little kids, it was a trip to the Puppet Showplace in Brookline that blew the lid off things. Wow. We sat in the little theatre, jaws dropped, watching professional puppeteers transforming wood and strings into real worlds - not only with movement and voice, but lighting, sound effects, and music. It was magical! These extraordinary productions also allowed us to meet adults with talent and imagination. It planted that seed in us that when we grew up, we'd like to be just like them.

Marionettes at PST: Hansel & Gretel by National Marionette Theatre, Dec 20-23, BUY TICKETS

I like to think that we did indeed grew up to be creative kindred spirits. Not all kids get the experiences that Paul and I got and often grow up as their imagination, bravery and joy fade slowly over time. I am thankful I had a twin to share the creative journey with, a family that supported storytelling and whimsy, and experiences in the community, like Puppet Showplace, to nurture and fuel our imaginations and keep that fuel burning long into our adult years.

I am happy to say that my job as Chief Visionary Officer of FableVision Studios, co-owner of a book and toy shop, The Blue Bunny, and author/illustrator of picture books for all ages - all of these have roots in a creative childhood. I am one of the lucky ones. I do what I love and I love what I do - and that is a wish I have for all children - and adults too!

I'd love to encourage you to support one of my childhood inspirations, Puppet Showplace Theatre. I have personally made a contribution to support the great work of this historic and important gem. I hope you will too.

Bella "Lends a Hand!"

HOWDY PUPPET FANS!

Bella Monster here, your favorite, furry and fabulous puppet friend! I love being at Puppet Showplace Theatre, there is always so much to see. Not just the puppet shows, but the workshops, the store, the special events, and all the wonderful people here. I sometimes like to lend a hand around the theater. Have you heard about the "Lend A Hand" campaign? Let me show you what goes on!

You can also read more about it on the Puppet Showplace Theatre website. CLICK HERE

TICKET MONSTER: To to right here, I am helping at the Box Office, processing ticket orders. We get a lot of school groups visiting the theater, families with young children, nanny's, and even grandparents who bring their grandchildren.

I LOVE to "Lend A Hand" at PST. Here are a few more ways that I like to help out around the theatre:

RETAIL MONSTER: I sometimes help organize items in our puppet store. The puppets and I get along well, we can relate to one another.

DISPLAY MONSTER: Here I am helping put up our winter decorations. We've got some great shows coming up this season, including some world premieres!  VIEW CALENDAR

VOLUNTEER MONSTER: Here I am helping to get the playbills ready for the show. This week is "Tales From Snowy Lands" by Sparky's Puppets, what a hilarious show! BUY TICKETS

WAYS FOR YOU TO "LEND A HAND"

Everyone works hard at Puppet Showplace Theatre to produce wonderful programs all year long.  Although I am sure that I am VERY helpful, there is only so much that one monster can do!  Puppet Showplace Theatre needs YOUR help in order to keep doing what we do.

The best way you can "LEND A HAND" is to make a donation to the theater during our Winter Appeal. Not only is your donation tax-deductible, and will help pay for the amazing programs here, but you will also be helping preserve a historic institution that's been inspiring audiences since 1974. How cool is that? 

MAKE A DONATION

Well, I've got to go now, Bradley needs me to help untangle the marionettes. Bye!

Love you lots!

-Bella xoxo