3/20 PuppetSLAM & Three Billy Goats Gruff

It's a busy weekend at the Puppet Showplace Theatre.

Pumpernickel Puppets performs the classic folk tale, "Three Billy Goats Gruff." This is the type of silly that everyone can enjoy. Shows are at 1pm and 3pm, Saturday and Sunday. I personally guarantee that you will love it.

And if you're planning on attending the PuppetSLAM Saturday evening, make your reservations now! The SLAM will sell out, so buy your tickets in advance. Tickets can be purchased here, or by calling our Box Office between 10am and 4pm at 617-731-6400. The SLAM begins at 8:00pm (so find a sitter for the kids).

Puppet Showplace Theatre on "The Sunny Side of the Street"

Artistic Director Roxanna Myhrum and Executive Director Kris Higgins join host Tod Gross on "The Sunny Side of the Street," which can be seen on NewTV, Newton Cable Access at the following times: Mondays at 2:30PM; Tuesdays at 9AM & 6:30PM; Wednesdays at 12:30AM & 9:30AM; Fridays at 5AM; and Saturdays at 9:30AM & 2:30PM.

PuppetSLAM is March 20th!

Hi all. We're getting excited for our next PuppetSLAM, coming this Saturday at 8pm. If you've never been or are unsure just what we're talking about when we say "PuppetSLAM", check out this article from this week's Brookline Tab.

We've got a great lineup of performers scheduled, including Brad Shur, Mike Cohen, Bonnie Duncan, Little's Creatures, Lorraine Gilman, Kyle Mackesey, Diane Kordas, and Dagen Julty. And Jon Little is revving up to host once again!

Tickets are $15 general admission and $13 for members and students. Call 617-731-6400 or click here to get yours today. PuppetSLAMs tend to sell out days in advance, so make sure you get yours soon.

We can't wait to see you at the show!

PST awarded $10k NEA Grant

The Puppet Showplace Theatre’s Mary Churchill Memorial Fund for Underserved Children has been awarded a $10,000 Challenge America: Reaching Every Community Fast-Track Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The Puppet Showplace Theatre (PST) will match the NEA’s grant to fund this vital program for the children of Boston’s low-income families.

Since the Mary Churchill Memorial Fund began in 2007, thousands of young children of Boston’s low-income families have enjoyed live puppetry performances at the Puppet Showplace Theatre. Though PST has received NEA funds in the past, the awarding of this grant marks the first year the National Endowment of the Arts will help fund this program. The grant will help in providing free performances for 1,000 kids spread throughout the 2010 calendar year.

The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established; bringing the arts to all Americans; and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Endowment is the nation’s largest annual funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases.

The Challenge America: Reaching Every Community Fast-Track Review Grants offer support primarily to small and mid-sized organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations – those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability.

Named to commemorate the passing of the theatre’s founder, the Mary Churchill Memorial Fund for Underserved Children is a subsidy program providing Boston’s low-income children with puppetry performances at little or no cost. At least 1,000 young children will be introduced to live performance by guest artists at New England’s first and only year-round non-profit theatre dedicated to the art of puppetry.

To contribute to the match for this grant please make a contribution here, or contact our Executive Director for more information at executive@puppetshowplace.org.

PuppetSLAM is this Saturday night at 8pm!

You know what makes PuppetSLAM so much fun? It's different from any other live theater you're likely to find. And the Slam we're cooking up for this Saturday night promises to be equally unique!

Diane Allison will be here, performing a segment of her show "Miriam," the story of a prophetess who finds herself on the wrong side of God (as told with humor, pathos, and one life-size puppet).

ALSO— Behind the Mask Theatre will be here with a excerpt of "The Masks of Odysseus", their original production of Greek mythology featuring fine acting, costumes, and hand-made masks!

Other performers include Little's Creatures and many others, including two brave audience volunteers!

You definitely don't want to miss this show!

TICKETS NOW ON SALE
CALL 617-731-6400 OR CLICK HERE

10/13 Incubator Cancelled

NOTICE - 10/13 Incubator Cancelled

Tonight’s Incubator has been cancelled. Please join us on Tuesday, October 27th for the next Incubator Session. About the Puppet Showplace Incubators:

Incubator (in ku ba´ ter) n : A place or situation that permits or encourages the formation and development, as of new ideas.

Every other Tuesday from 7 - 9 pm (go to schedule) PST hosts a "drop-in" session where emerging artists, veteran puppeteers, teachers, and puppet enthusiasts gather to discuss and develop creative ideas in a casual, informal environment.

Here artists of all media and genres, experienced or not, can experiment with new puppetry ideas, materials and styles. It's a place where knowledge is shared, constructive critique is the norm, and collaborations are born.

No matter where your interests lie, from traditional theatre to the avant garde, you're welcome at these sessions.

Similar workshops have developed and flourished in places like Atlanta and New York, adding breadth and richness to the puppetry of those cities, and now the same thing is happening here!

Join us in this exciting project!

A $5 donation is suggested to cover costs, but no one is turned away. For more information, call 617.731.6400, or email us at artistic@puppetshowplace.org with "incubator" in the subject. To see the full schedule visit www.puppetshowplace.org/incubator.html

FREE Family Movie Nite 8/22 – Babe!

Saturday, August 22 is our final FREE Family Movie Nite of the summer!

Bah Ram Ewe! It's Babe, the story of the little pig that could. Babe, a pig raised by sheepdogs, learns to herd sheep (with a little help from Farmer Hoggett), wins over the barnyard, and learns the value of friendship and determination.

This summer, Puppet Showplace Theatre has been pleased to present a series of puppet movie favorites on the big screen. All shows have been presented FREE! with a suggested donation of $4.

Doors open at 6pm. Movie starts at 6:30pm.

FREE Family Movie Nite 8/15 – James and the Giant Peach!

If you are unfamiliar with this film or the book by Roald Dahl, please watch the trailer above. The film is stop-motion animation, in the style of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Corpse Bride (this film's director, Henry Selnick, directed Coraline and Nightmare).

Based on the Roald Dahl book of the same name, James and the Giant Peach is the story of an orphan who, on a journey to New York City, befriends kind, human-like bugs who live inside a giant peach.

Featuring the voices of Richard Dreyfuss, Susan Sarandon, and David Thewlis, among others. This film is rated PG.

FREE Family Movie Nite 8/8 - Follow That Bird!

Before The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, there was Follow That Bird, Big Bird's road-trip adventure movie.

Here's a quick synopsis: Big Bird wants to get to know other birds. But when he goes to live with a crazy bird family–the Dodos of Ocean View, Illinois–he decides he would be happier back with his friends on Sesame Street. He has to count on the help of old and new friends to help him to make it back home.

Like other Muppet movies, a handful of celebrities make cameo appearances peppered throughout the film. In the clip above, country singer Waylon Jennings sings with Big Bird. Other stars making appearances include Chevy Chase, John Candy, Dave Thomas, Joe Flaherty and Sandra Bernhard. (89 min, G)

FREE Family Movie Nite 8/1 – The Muppets Take Manhattan

In the third movie starring the Muppets, Kermit rounds up the gang to take Broadway by storm, despite a few obstacles in the way (like Kermit's own, momentary amnesia). Other highlights include the introduction of the Muppet Babies (see clip above) and Kermit and Miss Piggy's wedding, done as a big Muppet musical number featuring all of the Muppets and many of the Muppet characters from Sesame Street. (94 min, G)

Deborah Costine, Puppeteer! in the News

Deborah Costine, friend of the Puppet Showplace Theatre, has been in the news a lot this year. Back in October 2008, she and Len Gerwick celebrated the 5,000th performance of Gerwick Puppets with a special show at the Puppet Showplace Theatre.

As if that wasn't great enough, at the National Puppetry Festival earlier this month in Atlanta, Deborah and her production of "A Woodland Cinderella" were honored with an UNIMA Citation of Excellence!

UNIMA (Union Internationale de la Marionette) is an international puppetry organization that has honored exceptional puppeteers and their productions yearly since 1975. The Citation of Excellence is UNIMA's highest honor, and one of the highest honors in the field of puppetry.

Don't miss Deborah's next visit to the Puppet Showplace Theatre: September 16 & 17, when she'll be performing "The Twig Family." Tickets will be available soon via the PST Box Office and our website.

Congratulations Deborah!


Read more about Deborah Costine and UNIMA:

Southborough Puppeteer Pulling A Few Strings (MetroWest Daily News)

UNIMA-USA

FREE Family Movie Nite 7/25 - Coraline!

If you are unfamiliar with this film and are unsure if it will be appropriate for your children, please watch the trailer above. The film is stop-motion animation, in the style of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Corpse Bride (Henry Selnick directed Coraline and Nightmare, as well as James and the Giant Peach), and like those movies has scenes and themes that may be too dark for younger audiences.

Based on the Neil Gaiman story of the same name, Coraline is a young, frustrated girl who crawls through a secret passage in her new home and discovers an alternate version of her life. On the surface, this parallel reality is eerily similar to her real life - only much better. But when her adventure turns dangerous, and her counterfeit parents try to keep her forever, Coraline must count on her resourcefulness, determination, and bravery to get back home - and save her family.

The film is rated PG and features the voices of Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, John Hodgman and Ian McShane. We do not recommend this film for ages below 7.

Review the Puppet Showplace Theatre on yelp.com!

You may have used yelp.com to find a restaurant, but did you know you can use it to find other great local destinations? Help us get the word out about our family-friendly entertainment by reviewing the Puppet Showplace Theatre and telling the world about your experience at one of our shows.

When you review us, you're not only helping others discover the magic and wonder of attending a Puppet Showplace Theatre performance–you're helping to promote the art of puppetry as entertainment and an educational tool, and the Showplace as a worthwhile family destination.

Review Puppet Showplace Theatre on yelp.com

FREE Family Movie Nite 7/18 - Labyrinth!

If you are unfamiliar with this film and are unsure if it will be appropriate for your children, please watch the clip above. Many of the film's puppets are fantastical creatures like the goblins, gargoyles and others beyond description in this clip (not to mention big-haired David Bowie in tights). And though the puppets are, for the most part, goofy–and the good guys win in the end–not all of them are goofy and there are a lot of dark scenes.

Labyrinth is the story of Sarah (Jennifer Connelly), her baby brother, and the Goblin King (Bowie). Sarah has to rescue her baby brother from the mean Goblin King before time runs out, but first has to navigate the Goblin King's confusing and confounding labyrinth! This film is one of Jim Henson's most fantastical movie creations.

The film is rated PG. We do not recommend this film for ages below 7.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!

Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there. Found this cute gift idea to share, if you haven't gotten a gift yet.

Father's Day Craft: Golf Cover Buddies By Marie LeBaron

Is it "Golf or Go Home" at your house? Then these fun and friendly sock puppets are the perfect cover for Dad's golf clubs this Father's Day.

for the complete instructions visit: http://www.alphamom.com/holiday/2009/06/golf_cover_buddies.php

Don't forget "Puss in Boots" by Spring Valley Puppets performs today at 1pm & 3pm. Tickets for Dad's are FREE today!

Cinderella, A Woodland Fairy Princess Coming to PST June 6 & 7

Deborah Costine, Puppeteer, is back at the Puppet Showplace Theatre the weekend of June 6 & 7 with her Cinderella story, Cinderella, A Woodland Fairy Princess.

In Deborah's unique adaptation of the familiar fairy tale, The King of All Woodland Fairies wants his son to marry a fairy princess, but they are very hard to find. So the King hosts a great ball and commands that every single fairy maiden in the land must attend. The King hopes that the missing Fern Fairy Princess will come, because he knows the secret to identifying a true fairy princess.

This hand puppet show features a wonderful woodland puppet stage, a memorable cast of characters (including the King and the mean stepsister Stonilola) and the engaging hand puppetry of Deborah Costine.

Join us for this enchanting take on the perennial favorite! Call 617-731-6400 or click the link below to purchase tickets.

BUY TICKETS

Where Are The Wild Things? At the PST Puppet Store!

That's right! The PST Puppet Store now has Where The Wild Things Are hand puppets, just like you know them from the award-winning book by Maurice Sendak.

Make sure you check them out the next time you're at the theatre – for a show or just to browse!

The PST Puppet Store is located in the lobby of the Puppet Showplace Theatre, and is open 10 AM to 4 PM, Tuesday through Sunday. Call us at 617-731-6400 with any questions.

The Dragon King is Coming June 13 & 14!

Tanglewood Marionettes is back at the Puppet Showplace Theatre the weekend of June 13 & 14 with their newest production: The Dragon King.

Join us for an underwater fantasy based on Chinese folklore that tells the tale of the fearless Grandmother who journeys to the bottom of the sea to meet the Dragon King, ruler of all things water. Grandmother seeks answers from the King as to why he has forsaken the land above during a terrible drought.

The show features colorful sea creatures (including a lively hermit crab, a timid octopus and illuminating jellyfish), inventive scenery, beautiful marionettes and puppets (including a Dragon King that will knock your socks off!) and an exciting, engrossing adventure.

These shows are sure to sell out fast! Call 617-731-6400 or click the link below to purchase tickets.

BUY TICKETS

New PST Animation: Take the T to PST!

Back in January of this year, Professor Jason Wiener at the New England Institute of Art approached PST about the theatre's participation as a client for his advanced animation class. The class assignment was to create a 30-second animation highlighting whatever the client wanted. For PST, that meant showcasing how easy it is to get here using the Green Line 'D' train (since we're right across the street from the Brookline Village station!).

Now, not even six months later, the class has produced a wonderful animation. We're still in the process of adding it to the Puppet Showplace Theatre website, but until we find a suitable spot, please enjoy it here!

And remember–we're right across the street from the Brookline Village T station on the Green Line 'D' train. So next time you attend a performance, consider taking the T: You won't have to worry about traffic or finding a place to park!

The Boston Phoenix Loves PST!

As part of their annual Best Of... issue and website editorial, The Boston Phoenix has named the Puppet Showplace Theatre as its Best Way to Get Creeped Out by Puppets. What an honor! 

Make sure you check out the rest of their Best Of... picks and enjoy the rest of the best of Boston!