More Animal Superstars!

We are teaming-up this week with our friends at The Children's Book Shop on Washington Street in Brookline for recommendations of animal superstars you can find in children's stories. So after a performance of Tales of Beatrix Potter, December 3-6, or A Tale of the Monkey King, December 10-13, make sure to stop by The Children's Book Shop down the street from the theater for more exciting stories starring your favorite celebrity creatures!

Greetings from The Children’s Book Shop! Animal superstars make for great puppet playtime—and they make for great picture books, too! We’re excited to introduce you to some of our current favorite stories featuring fantastic animal characters. 

1. The Bear’s Surprise by Benjamin Chaud

Spring has finally arrived but when Little Bear wakes up, his Mama and Papa are nowhere to be found. Following a winding path that leads into holes, through pipes, and out of a washing machine, Little Bear ends up at the circus where he finds his Papa and Mama—performing! Little Bear, Mama Bear, Papa Bear, and even Tiny Bear become the stars of the circus, for the only thing better than a family of bears is a family of acrobatic ones.

2. Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio; illustrated by Christian Robinson

Mrs. Poodle has four little puppies Fi-Fi, Foo-Foo, Ooh-La-La, and Gaston. Though Gaston grows to be much larger than the rest, he always tries his hardest to be proper. Come springtime, when Mrs. Poodle takes her puppies to the park, she and Mrs. Bulldog realize there's been a horrible mistake: Antoinette and Gaston must have been switched at birth! Instead of switching back, they realize it’s more important to feel like you belong than to look like you belong. The bulldogs learn something about being proper and the poodles learn a little about playing rough… giving everyone the best of both worlds!

3. Frog on a Log? by Kes Gray; illustrated by Jim Field

Should a frog have to sit on a log, just for the sake of a rhyme? Though the frog would like to leave his painful perch, the cat insists that this is the way things have to be, as sure as cats sit on mats. The confused frog goes through animals from lions to gibbons asking the cat where they sit. Responding with clever rhymes, the cat seemingly has an answer for everything… even when the frog asks what dogs sit on!

4. Frog and Toad Storybook Treasury by Arnold Lobel

The Frog and Toad stories are absolute classics—as fun for those familiar with the iconic pair to return to as they are for new readers. For the first time, all of the stories—Frog and Toad are Friends, Frog and Toad Together, Frog and Toad All Year, and Days with Frog and Toad—are collected in one book, making it easy to (re)discover the friends’ adventures in their woodland habitat throughout the seasons. 

5. I Really Like Slop! by Mo Willems

What’s better than a pig and an elephant who are best friends? In the latest installment of Mo Willems’s Elephant and Piggie early reader series, Piggie makes her favorite slop and manages to convince Gerald to try it—despite the old shoe taste! Much like all of Mo Willem’s books, I Really Like Slop will leave you laughing and wishing for talking animals as best friends, too.

The Children’s Book Shop is a very short walk from the Puppet Showplace Theater, so if you’re up for more animal hijinks after enjoying expert puppetry and performance, come visit us at 237 Washington Street.

Meet the Artists: Eric Wright, Matt Singer, and Emily DeCola at The Puppet Kitchen

Puppet Showplace is serving up a delicious serving of puppetry for adult audiences this week as our Puppets at Night series presents, "What Are You Eating?", created by Eric Wright and Matt Singer, and directed by Emily DeCola. Just in time for Thanksgiving, the Puppet Kitchen's brilliant chefs arrive in Boston to cook-up a witty antidote to holiday indigestion. If you're feeling overwhelmed, lonely, confused and hungry for something (but you don't know what exactly), come sit and eat, and we'll work it out over something delicious. "What Are You Eating?" combines irreverent puppetry with original live music.  Recommended for ages 13+

Still hungry? Join us after the show Friday Nov 20 for an Opening Night Reception at The Middle Gray down the street. RSVP

What Are You Eating?
by Eric Wright and Matt Singer
Fri & Sat, November 20 & 21 at 8pm
Opening night reception, Friday November 20 at 9pm

Eric Wright and Matt Singer with Billy

Interview with Eric Wright

What is The Puppet Kitchen?

The Puppet Kitchen is a full-service puppetry studio that Emily DeCola, Michael Schupbach and I co-founded in New York's East Village. We design, build, perform, teach and direct puppetry in every style for events, screens, and stages all over the world.    
 

How did you become a puppeteer?

I've always had a wide range of interests: science, music, design, natural sciences, art, and theater.  In high school I became very interested in movie special effects - what we would call practical effects today - and I was also very influenced by the muppets and other puppet theater I had seen.  When I attended Sarah Lawrence College I met Dan Hurlin, who teaches the puppetry classes there, and I began to meet the community of puppeteers in New York that were creating exciting theater, as well as a supportive environment for new work. I knew almost immediately that if I focused on puppetry, and becoming a puppeteer, I would be able to combine all of my interests and never give any of them up.  I studied at the University of Connecticut's puppetry program, and attended the O'Neill National Puppetry Conference several times, meeting and learning from as many different people as I could. I practice a lot, say 'yes' to as much as I can, and take every opportunity I can to perform, build, and create more opportunities for other puppeteers.
 

Who are your collaborators to create this show, and what was the process to work with them?

I approached Matt Singer and Emily DeCola to help create the content of the show during a residency at the St. Ann's Warehouse Puppet Lab, and approached Michael Schupbach and the other folks at the Puppet Kitchen to help make the actual puppets for the show. At first, it was a very nerve-wracking and uncertain path to the creation of this show, because I wanted to fit a lot of message and substance into the show, while still keeping it entertaining, which I've never done before on my own work. Working with Matt and Emily to refine what that message was really great.  They're very generous with their ideas, and I always love working hard with close friends. We generated a lot of material (and cut a lot of cardboard) over the creation of this show, and I'm really pleased with what we've put together.
 

Who are the puppeteers/artists who have inspired you the most during your career?

I've always been inspired by good storytelling and entertainment that stretches or enhances reality. I also have really eclectic tastes, and love fine craftsmanship. I'm consistently inspired by the work from: The Muppets, Looney Tunes, Stan Winston Studios, Laika, Dan Hurlin, Mummenschanz, Philip Huber, Manual Cinema, Aardman Studios, Calvin and Hobbes, and Pixar.
 

What do you hope the audience will get out of their experience attending a performance of "What Are You Eating?"

I'd love the audience to remember how enjoyable it can be to share an experience together, whether it's a puppet show, a tasty dish, or even a question we've pondered.
 

What is your favorite part of the show?

I love that we've set our show up like a dinner party. I love greeting our audience as guests and sharing a snack with them afterward.
 

And the most important question, what is your favorite pie for Thanksgiving?

When we first performed the show at St. Ann's Warehouse, we served Occupie.  An Occupie is a chocolate dessert which has 70% of the sugar concentrated in the upper crust, making the bulk of the dessert pretty bitter, and forming an impenetrable ceiling of sugar which must be shattered in order to be enjoyed.  It's very rich, and appropriate for every occasion.  For Thanksgiving, though, I'll generally have pumpkin, pecan, apple, and a little of what you're having.

About the Artists:

ERIC WRIGHT (puppets) Performance credits include: The Firebird (City Center), Alice in Wonderland (New York City Opera), P.S. Jones and the Frozen City (New Ohio Theater) Compulsion (Yale Rep, Berkeley Rep, The Public), Disfarmer (St. Ann's Warehouse) Madama Butterfly (Metropolitan Opera), Peter and Wendy (Arena Stage), Powerhouse (Fringe Festival NYC), Petrushka (Lincoln Center), La Bella Dormente… (Spoletto Festival), Hiroshima Maiden (St. Ann's Warehouse) Don't Trust Anyone over 30 (Art Basel Miami). He is an Associate Artist of Sinking Ship Productions, and regular performer in Puppet Playlist. With Emily DeCola and Michael Schupbach, Mr. Wright is one of the co-founders and 'Head Chefs' of The Puppet Kitchen, a puppetry studio in New York's East village. www.puppetkitchen.com

MATT SINGER (music) Brooklyn-based with New Jersey roots, Matt has played premier New York venues including Bowery Ballroom, Joe’s Pub and Gramercy Theatre and toured the U.S., U.K., and Europe. Matt’s live performance has been described as a “joyous roots sound strung through an urban outlet” (Village Voice). With a combination of his “silly yet sincere” persona (The Deli), improvisational stage antics, and infectious melodies, Matt generates a cozy atmosphere at his shows, transforming his audience into a small community. Recently, he has collaborated with filmmakers, puppeteers and playwrights, co-creating three music videos, two of which were featured at BAM's Puppets on Film Festival.

EMILY DECOLA (direction) is a proud co-founder of the Puppet Kitchen; working with partners Eric Wright and Michael Schupbach and a crowd of talented craftspeople and interns. Her performance, direction and design credits include: Compulsion and Hamlet (Public Theater), Peter & Wendy, Prelude to a Death in Venice and La Divina Caricatura (Mabou Mines), My Fairytale (Stephen Schwartz, world premiere, PCPA Theaterfest), Master Peter's Puppet Show (Castleton Opera Festival - Maestro Loren Maazel), A Soldier's Tale (Orchestra of St. Luke's) Pericles, Revengers Tragedy & Women Beware Women (Red Bull Theater), Animal Farm (Synapse Productions), Taylor Mac's The Lily's Revenge (HERE Theater) John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean (New World Stages) and LazyTown (Nickelodeon).

Meet the Artist: Deborah Costine, Puppeteer!

Our Animal Superstars series continues this week with "The Three Pigs and Other Tales," performed by Deborah Costine, Puppeteer! See your favorite pig pals brought to life in this delightful shadow puppet show for our younger audiences. "The Three Pigs," "The Three Billy Goats Gruff," and "Stone Soup" play out on a whimsical stage, where intricately designed silhouettes appear on a shadow screen. The puppeteer is also visible above where she can talk and interact with the audience through out this magical show. Recommended for ages 3 to 6.

The Three Pigs and Other Tales

By Deborah Costine, Puppeteer!

Thursday & Friday, November 12-13 at 10:30am                                                                                  Saturday & Sunday, November 14-15 at 1:00pm & 3:00pm

The Three Pigs

Deborah Costine

Deborah Costine is an artist, author, amateur naturalist and award-winning professional puppeteer who has been presenting performances throughout New England for over thirty years. She has a degree in Art Education, teaches workshops about puppetry and art in education, is a proud mother, and has a deep care and respect for young children. She is a winner of the UNIMA-USA Citation for Excellence and received a grant from the Jim Henson Foundation, for the production of her original show: “Turtle’s New Home. Debbie grew up in Lancaster NH in a region known as “The Great North Woods.” There were no visiting assembly programs and the only puppet Debbie had ever seen was Bunny-Rabbit on “Captain Kangaroo.” When she was ten she made a puppet all on her own- a papier maché clown that still sits in her studio today. In 1974 Debbie co-founded the well-known “Gerwick Puppets” with Len Gerwick. The company toured throughout much of New England presenting over 5,000 performances, mostly in schools. Debbie now also performs solo as Deborah Costine Nature Puppets, creating shows inspired by on her interest in nature and the environment. Deborahcostinenaturepuppets.com

Make Your Own Spooky Ghost Puppet

DIY Puppet Crafts!

Still telling ghost stories from Halloween? Now you can create your own spooky ghost story with these DIY ghost puppets!

ON STAGE NOW: Halloween Extravaganza! "Dr. Doohickey and the Monster Machine" by Resident Artist, Brad Shur. Thurs & Fri, Oct 29 & 30 at 10:30am, Sat & Sun, Oct 31 & Nov 1 at 1pm & 3pm.

Materials:

• Cheesecloth
• Mod Podge
• Toilet Paper Tube
• Aluminum Foil
• Scissors
• Black Construction Paper
• Tape

Steps:

1. Create a form for your ghost using the toilet paper tube as a body and by balling up aluminum foil to create a head. Tape two aluminum foil arms on the sides:

2. Cut several strips cheesecloth that can be draped over the form without too much excess. Make them fairly wide, about 3-4 inches:

3. Mix one part water to two parts mod podge in a separate cup. Dip the strips of cheesecloth into the paste mixture, squeeze out the excess, and drape the strips onto your toilet paper tube and aluminum foil form:

4. Once you've draped all of your cheesecloth strips, leave your ghost to dry. Once dry, carefully remove the hardened cheesecloth from the toilet paper tube and aluminum foil form. The cheesecloth may still be a bit moldable. Cut out a nose and mouth from black construction paper and glue it onto the ghost's face with regular mod podge:

5. Tell your own ghost stories with your new friend, and be sure to share them with us when you come to Trick or Treat on Station Street!

DIY Puppet Crafts: Make your own Cow Finger Puppet!

Get into the spirit of our upcoming show: Jack and the Beanstalk, by making your own cow finger puppet! Impress your friends with your cow and just remember, don't trade it for any magic beans! To continue your adventure, make sure to check out Jack and the Beanstalk, by Crabgrass Puppet Theatre this weekend!

Jack and the Beanstalk
by Crabgrass Puppet Theatre
Saturday October 10th - Sunday October 11th at 1pm and 3pm
COLUMBUS DAY Monday October 12th at 10:30am and 1pm

MAKE YOUR OWN COW FINGER PUPPET: RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 4 AND UP

MATERIALS
Cardstock Paper
Scissors
Pencil
Glue Stick
Markers

STEPS
1) Outline a cow design in pencil.

2) Trace over the cow in marker.

3) Color in the cow with markers to your liking.

4) Use scissors to cut out your cow design.

Ask an adult if you need help!

5) Using the same piece of paper, cut out a small rectangle about the width of the cow.

6) Use a glue stick to attach the ends of the rectangle to the back of the cow. It helps if your fold down the ends before gluing them down. This will be the handle for your finger puppet! Let the cow sit for a minute or two to allow the glue to dry.

7) Put on a puppet show for your friends and family!

Calling all Members: Get involved!

Dear Fellow Puppet Showplace Theater Member,

We need your help! Puppet Showplace Theater is looking to add dedicated, enthusiastic and creative individuals for our Fundraising Committee and we think you might be the perfect fit.  As a member, we know you support Puppet Showplace and really appreciate it! Have you ever thought “Gee, I’d really like to do more to ensure the future of the theater and in turn, the art of puppetry”?  Well now’s your chance.

Gala fundraising event, "Carnival of Wonders" June, 2015

We’re looking for 6-10 folks to help out.  Committee members are called on to do a variety of things throughout the year to support the staff.  Responsibilities can be for on-going campaigns (like soliciting donations for auction items, sponsorships, etc.) or can be for specific events (the year-end Gala, for example).  

In whatever capacity you choose over whatever time commitment you can afford, you’d be giving Puppet Showplace a huge boost and getting a lot of satisfaction in return.

Puppet Showplace Board Treasurer, David Levenson with grandchildren Aaron and identical twins (it’s true) Maya (left) and Lillian (right.)

As a board member, treasurer and grandparent, I know the importance of Puppet Showplace's role in the world of puppetry.  Please give some thought to helping us continue our good work.  To join the committee (or any other committee for that matter), please contact  Managing Director, Cat Meilus at business@puppetshowplace.org, or 617-731-6400 x 102 by October 15th.  Looking forward to hearing from you!

Thanks,

David Levenson

Meet the Artists: Brad Shur and Paul Watkins

Get ready to see this week's upcoming show "Robin Hood," performed by the Puppet Showplace Artist in Residence, Brad Shur! This imaginative re-telling gives thematic story elements an updated twist told against the classic backdrop of late 18th century England. The performance also features an original score by composer Paul Watkins, Puppet Showplace's very own Box Office Manager.

Robin Hood
by Brad Shur, Resident Artist
Saturday & Sunday, Sept 26 & 27 at 1 & 3pm

Paul Vincent Davis, Robin Hood Glove puppet, and Brad Shur

Robin Hood Glove puppet

Paul Watkins

Brad Shur is a versatile puppeteer who has created and performed characters made of everything from pixels to papier mache. As the Resident Artist at Puppet Showplace Theater he performs regularly and teaches puppet classes to students of all ages, Pre-K to adult. As protege of master puppeteer Paul Vincent Davis, Shur trained extensively in glove puppetry and currently performs two of Davis' classic shows at venues across New England. "Robin Hood" was Shur's first original glove puppet show. Shur's other original works include "The Carrot Salesman," "Dr. Doohickey and the Monster Machine," "Tall Tales! Stories and Songs from Old New England," and "The Magic Soup and Other Stories," featured at the Puppeteers of America National Festival 2013. Prior to becoming the Resident Artist at Puppet Showplace, Shur toured the country as a performer with Big Nazo (Rhode Island), Wodd and strings Theatre (Tennessee) and The PuppTree (Vermont). As a builder Shur has designed and fabricated puppets for American Idol, Dollywood, Avenue Q, and the U.S.S. Constitution Museum. He is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design.

Paul Watkins is a composer and trombonist from San Jose, CA. He holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in music and psychology from the University of California, Davis, and is graduate of the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA with a  Master of Music degree . His music has been performed by Fifth House Ensemble, Freya String Quartet, Meridian Arts Ensemble, flutist Erinn Frechette, pianist Adam Marks, mezzo-soprano Jen Beattie, and the UC Davis Summer Symphony, among others.

At UC Davis, he was the recipient of the President’s Undergraduate Fellowship, the Outstanding Senior Award, and the Olga Brose Valente Memorial Prize for excellence in Music Composition (twice). His primary composition teachers include Kurt Rohde, Ross Bauer, Laurie San Martin, John Morrison, and Paul Brust. In his music, he has taken interest in exploring dense counterpoint, non-linear structures, visual and theatrical elements, improvisation, and forced audience participation.

DIY Puppet Crafts: Make your own Deer with moving legs!

Are you feeling adventurous this week? We've got a special DIY deer craft that's perfect for you! Get into the spirit of Robin Hood this weekend with this exciting deer craft with moving legs! Of course, to continue your adventure, make sure to check out Robin Hood, by our resident artist Brad Shur, with musical components by our very own  box office manager Paul Watkins!

Robin Hood
by Brad Shur, Resident Artist
Saturday September 26th - Sunday September 27th
1pm and 3pm

MAKE YOUR OWN DEER WITH MOVING LEGS: RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 5 AND UP!

MATERIALS
Construction Paper
Scissors
Sharpie or marker
Hole Puncher
Brass Fasteners

STEPS
1) Use a marker to design your own deer body, without legs. Design legs separately. Use scissors to cut out all parts.

2) Punch out holes using the hole puncher in the darkened areas below:

3) You should get something like this:

4) Align the holes of the leg and body together...

5) And insert brass fasteners through the holes to secure the legs to the body.

6) Create an adventure with your new moving deer!

Meet the Artist: Pumpernickel Puppets

Who's behind the adventures to Mystery Mountain and the visits to the Great Green Dragon? Meet Pumpernickel Puppets! Inspired by a puppet show from a very young age, John McDonough founded Pumpernickel Puppets with a love and passion for puppetry that is contagious to all audiences.  Straight from Worcester, Massachusetts, Jonathan McDonough brings to us this week a fun and interactive show, Sir George and the Dragon!

Sir George and the Dragon
by Pumpernickel Puppets
Saturday September 19th - Sunday September 20th
1pm and 3pm

Jonathan McDonough poses with one of his puppets!

Candid shot from Sir George and the Dragon!

The Pumpernickel Puppets are the creation of John McDonough of Worcester, Massachusetts. John was four years old when he saw his first puppet show, and he immediately knew that he wanted to be a puppeteer. By his teens, John was presenting shows all over the New England area. The Pumpernickel Puppets have had the honor of appearing at the Puppet Showplace Theatre, the Boston Children’s Museum, the Institute of Professional Puppetry Arts at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C., the Cultural Olympiad at the Center For Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, Georgia, and the prestigious International Festival of Puppet Theatre sponsored by the Jim Henson Foundation at the Joseph Papp Public Theatre in New York. For each production, John creates and performs all of his own puppets, which range from small hand puppets to larger-than-life figures.

DIY Puppet Crafts: Make your own dragon shadow puppet!

Get into the spirit of our upcoming show: Sir George and the Dragon, by making your own dragon shadow puppet! Easy step-by-step instructions can be found below. Don't forget to check out Sir George and the Dragon this weekend, by Pumpernickel Puppets!

Sir George and the Dragon
by Pumpernickel Puppets
Saturday September 19th - Sunday September 20th
1pm and 3pm

MAKE YOUR OWN DRAGON SHADOW PUPPET: RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 3 TO 6

 

MATERIALS
Black cardstock paper
Plain white paper
Pencil
Masking Tape
Scissors
Bamboo skewers (or chopsticks)

STEPS
1. Draw out in pencil your own design of a dragon, (or anything you want to be your shadow puppet). 

2. Use scissors to cut out your drawing. 

3. With a pencil, trace your drawing onto a black piece of paper.

4. Cut out your drawing from the black paper. 

5. To create more surface area on the pointed end of the skewer, attach a piece of masking tape onto the end.

6. Now tape the skewer to the dragon. You now have your own shadow puppet!

7. Put on your own puppet show for all your friends! You can use a blank piece of paper and shine light behind it, while placing your shadow puppet in front of the light, to make your shadow puppets come to life!

DIY Puppet Crafts: Make your own Rat Rod Puppet!

Our show this weekend, The Pied Piper of Hamelin, features many friendly, dancing rats! Make your own dancing rat with easy step-by-step instructions below. Check out The Pied Piper of Hamelin this weekend, by CactusHead Puppets!

The Pied Piper of Hamelin
by CactusHead Puppets
Saturday September 12th - Sunday September 13th
1pm and 3pm

Can you spot the rat?

MAKE YOUR OWN RAT ROD PUPPET: RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 4 AND UP!

MATERIALS
Construction Paper
Masking Tape
Scissors
Glue
Sharpie marker
Bamboo skewer or chopstick

STEPS
1) Use a marker to design a rat body onto construction paper. If you would like, you may leave out the ear for now and design an ear on a different colored paper.

2) Draw and cut out an ear using scissors.

3) Cut out the rat body using scissors.

4) Using a gluestick, attach the ear to the body to create the rat. Set aside for now.

5. Attach a piece of masking tape to the end of the skewer or chopstick like so:

6) Now take the skewer and tape it to the rat body.

7) Give your new puppet some cheese, make it dance around, and throw your own puppet show at home! :)

Meet The Artists: CactusHead Puppets

Our 5th Annual Fall Fairy Tale Festival continues this week with a performance sure to brighten your day with colorful and silly characters! Developed in Puppet Showplace Theater's Incubator program for new works, "The Pied Piper of Hamelin" is designed and performed by the brilliant CactusHead Puppets. Founded by a husband and wife duo, this company is known for producing fun shows that bring excitement to audiences everywhere. 

The Pied Piper of Hamelin
by CactusHead Puppets
Sat September 12 - Sun September 13

John and Megan Reagan rehearse one of their productions

CactusHead Puppets are known for their playful performance style and exuberant creativity. The West Springfield-based company was founded in 2010 by husband and wife team John and Megan Regan. Since then, they have created six shows based on favorite, familiar folktales and have toured throughout Western New England. John and Megan are both graduates of the University of Connecticut's Puppet Arts program. Megan is originally from the Kansas City area, where she worked with Paul Mesner Puppets. John is from Western Massachusetts, and is honored to be performing in the same libraries where he saw puppet shows growing up. Megan collects pop-up books, and John has a love for giant monster movies. Both John and Megan were interns at Puppet Showplace Theater, and they are excited to return to Boston to share their work as professional puppeteers!

Meet the New Leadership Team!

Greetings, Puppet Showplace Friends,

Cat Meilus and Roxie Myhrum here, checking in with you after an exciting summer season. While you were enjoying the Summer Puppet Adventures shows on our stage, we were having our own behind-the-scenes adventures as the theater’s new leadership team!

Cat Meilus, Managing Director and Roxie Myhrum, Artistic Director

In July, the Puppet Showplace Board of Trustees voted to create a new Managing Director position and promoted Cat into the role from her position as the Operations Manager. They also voted to make Roxie’s position as Artistic Director full time, with increased leadership and fundraising responsibilities.

Roxie Myhrum, Artistic Director

With a combined 9 years of experience at Puppet Showplace, we are both eager to tackle these new roles. Since 2010, Roxie has overseen massive expansion in our programming, from performances by international guest artists to Puppet Playtime shows for toddlers. Cat started at Puppet Showplace as a Box Office Associate in 2012 and quickly rose through the ranks to become the Audience Services Manager and then Operations Manager. She brings extensive experience working with our 24,000+ patrons, members and donors, and has an in-depth knowledge of our behind-the-scenes operations and reporting systems.

Cat Meilus, Managing Director

Our goal is for Puppet Showplace to become one of New England’s top cultural destinations. To do this, we need to invest in artists, infrastructure, and outreach. This summer, we have made improvements to our reporting systems so we can set targets and measure the impact of our work. We are now actively recruiting new board members and committee volunteers who can invest in the theater’s future and help us grow. We are also actively pursuing partnerships that will allow us to expand sustainably while reaching new audiences.

Every day, we are motivated by our amazingly talented artists and by the joy that families experience from seeing puppetry on our stage. We hope that you will become active members of the theater, helping us generate the resources needed to invest in extraordinary programming and conduct outreach to underserved communities.

We welcome your input and participation, and we look forward to seeing you as we continue on this exciting adventure!

Contact us!
Roxie – artistic@puppetshowplace.org

Cat – business@puppetshowplace.org

P.S. Fun fact! Our puppetry partnership actually predates Puppet Showplace.  The two of us first met while working on the Lyric Stage Company’s I.R.N.E. award-winning production of Avenue Q. We also both have an extensive track record working in Boston’s regional and fringe theater scene: Roxie as a director and puppetry coach, and Cat as a Production Manager and Stage Manager.

Fall Membership Drive: Enter to Win an Abby Cadabby Fairy Package!

We love our members at Puppet Showplace! Fall is a great time to be a member- in addition to great savings on tickets to our Fall Fairy Tale Festival, you also get access to exclusive members-only events AND you will be entered to win an exclusive Fairy Gift Set donated by muppeteer, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph (Abby Cadabby)

FAIRY GIFT PACKAGE INCLUDES: Abby Doll, Abby autographed picture, Abby and Elmo play bus, Abby shirt- kid, Elmo watch, Elmo bag- foldable, White House Easter Egg roll tote- kids, and a personal call from Abby!

HOW TO ENTER: Become a member or renew by Oct 12 and be entered to win a Fairy Gift Set and personalized phone call from Sesame Street's Abby Cadabby. The drawing will take place during our members-only Fairy Tale Tea Party on Monday October 12th. MORE INFO

Why Become a Member?

Members make great puppetry possible! In addition to supporting our mission to bring high-quality puppetry performances to the Greater Boston area and serve diverse audiences, members receive discounts on tickets and store purchases, fee-free phone orders, and more. Already a member? Purchase a gift membership or upgrade to a higher member level today and you will be entered to win.

Memberships are great for Grandparents too!

What Membership is right for me?

BASIC MEMBERSHIP- Do you have one child that you bring to the theater? This membership is perfect for you. You receive one complimentary ticket for a Mainstage performance ($12 value), and TWO discounted tickets per performance. This means you pay only $8 instead of $12, or $10 instead of $15 during holiday showtimes.

FAMILY MEMBERSHIP- This package is for families who attend with 3 or more people at a time. You receive two complimentary tickets for a Mainstage performance ($24 value), and FOUR discounted tickets per performance. This means you pay only $8 instead of $12, or $10 instead of $15 during holiday showtimes. Planning a birthday party? BOTH basic and family members save on birthday party bookings.

PUPPETS AT NIGHT MEMBERSHIP- Do you attend our evening performances for adults like Puppet Slams? This membership is for you! Not only do you get two complimentary tickets to any Puppets at Night performance ($30 value), but you get TWO discounted tickets per performance to all Puppets at Night Performances. This means you pay only $10 per ticket instead of $15. You also get a 15% discount on adult classes and invitations to special Incubator events to meet artists developing new work.

ENTHUSIAST- What if you like to attend both Mainstage AND Puppets at Night performances? The enthusiast membership is for you! In additional to ALL of the benefits received by members at the Family and Puppets at Night levels, you also get TWO tickets to our Annual Gala. Introduce your friends to Puppet Showplace by sharing your complimentary tickets, take an adult class, and then help us celebrate with our donors and community supporters during our annual Spring fundraising event.

Even more benefits!

Don't forget, all members at the Basic, Family or Enthusiast level also receive discounts to Puppet Playtime, our interactive show for toddlers and tiny tots on Wednesday and Saturday mornings! 

We hope that you will join the Puppet Showplace family this fall by becoming a member. Join us for the kick-off of our 2015-2016 season this Labor Day Weekend with a performance of "Cinderella" by Tanglewood Marionettes on Saturday-Monday, Sept 5-7.

Enjoy complimentary refreshments sponsored by Wegman's of Chestnuthill and FREE puppet making activities after the show. 

Join us for a Members Only event on Columbus Day, Oct 12 with Crabgrass Puppet Theater!

MEMBER ONLY EVENT COLUMBUS DAY WEEKEND

Fairy Tale Tea Party with Crabgrass Puppet Theatre and Resident Artist Brad Shur.All ages are welcome!

Monday, October 12 at 2-3pm

Join us after "Jack and the Beanstalk" for a Fairy Tale-inspired tea party exclusively for puppet showplace members. Dress up in your best tea party attire, or come dressed as your favorite fairy tale character. Enjoy complimentary refreshments and see a sneak-preview of our newest puppet show in progress!

See you at the theater puppet fans! Become a member, or renew your membership today. MORE INFO

DIY Puppet Crafts: Make your own Cinderella Figurine!

Get into the fairy tale spirit this week by making your own Cinderella figurine! Using just a few household items, you can transform some ordinary cups into a beautiful princess, with the help of some magic of course! Don't forget to check out Cinderella this Labor Day weekend by Tanglewood Marionettes!

Cinderella
by Tanglewood Marionettes
Saturday September 5th - Sunday September 6th at 1pm and 3pm
Monday September 7th at 10:30am and 1pm

MAKE YOUR OWN CINDERELLA FIGURINE: RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 4 AND UP

MATERIALS
Construction Paper
Plain white paper
Paper Cups (assorted sizes)
Scissors
Glue stick
Coloring utensils

STEPS
1) Use scissors to cut out a section of construction paper and glue it to the larger paper cup. This will be the Cinderella body.

2) Use coloring utensils to design a dress on the cup. Be creative!

3) Place a smaller cup onto the larger cup face down. This will be the Cinderella head!

4) Use scissors to cut out plain white paper and design your Cinderella face using crayons, Sharpies, etc.

5) Use the glue stick to attach the face to the body. Impress your friends with your new Cinderella figurine!

Meet the Artists: Crabgrass Puppet Theatre

Who's behind the thrilling voyage known as The Pirate, The Princess, and The Pea? Meet Crabgrass Puppet Theatre! This award-winning touring puppet theatre was founded in 1982 by Jamie Keithline and Bonny Hall. Jamie and Bonny's exciting production: The Pirate, The Princess, and The Pea is coming to Puppet Showplace for a limited time only! Featuring colorful scenery, multiple styles of puppetry, and original pirate songs, you won't want to miss the boat on this fun adventure tale!

The Pirate, The Princess, and The Pea 
by Crabgrass Puppet Theatre
Saturday August 29 and Sunday August 30th at 10:30 and 1:00 pm

Crabgrass Puppet Theatre performing for a local school group at Puppet Showplace Theater!

Jamie Keithline and Bonny Hall formed Crabgrass Puppet Theatre in San Francisco in 1982 and have delighted audiences across the nation with their whimsical humor and puppetry ever since. Their performing venues have included the Detroit Institute of Art, the Smithsonian, Paper Mill Playhouse, Tribeca Performing Arts Center, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. They have been awarded two Citations of Excellence from UNIMA-USA, the highest puppetry award in the United States, and in 2009, Bonny Hall was awarded a Design Commendation from the Arlyn Award Foundation. Since 2001, Jamie and Bonny have been living in Halifax,Vermont, a tiny town in the hills near Brattleboro, where they continue to create their award-winning productions.

DIY Puppet Crafts: Make your own Pirate Finger Puppet!

Get into the spirit of our upcoming show: The Pirate, The Princess, and The Pea by making your own pirate finger puppet! Sail the seven seas and make your friends walk the plank with this fierce looking puppet craft! Also, check out The Pirate, The Princess, and The Pea, by Crabgrass Puppet Theatre this weekend!

The Pirate, The Princess, and The Pea
by Crabgrass Puppet Theatre
Saturday August 29th-Sunday August 30th
10:30am and 1pm

MAKE YOUR OWN PIRATE FINGER PUPPET: RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 4 AND UP

MATERIALS
Construction Paper
Tape
Coloring Utensils

STEPS
1. Measure the length of your finger against the paper and use scissors to cut out a paper square the size of your finger.

2. Use tape to attach the ends of the paper together to create a cylinder shape.

3. Cut out a circle shape from the construction paper. This will be the pirate head.

4. Use tape to attach the head to the body of the finger puppet.

5. Use coloring utensils to decorate your pirate finger puppet. Put on a puppet show with all your friends and family!

Bella's Summer Adventures: The Circus

Greetings friends! This summer has flown by! I can't believe it! We only have two more weeks of Bella's Summer Adventures and I can promise you that they are going to rock.

This week I'll be attending Clown Circus at Puppet Showplace Theater which is playing for just one day! Clown Circus was created by our former Artist-In-Residence, Paul Vincent Davis, and will be performed by our current Artist-In-Residence, Brad Shur.

Me dressed up as a Clown!!

DATES AND TIMES:
Saturday 8/22  @ 10:30am & 1pm

ABOUT THE SHOW:
Clowns come in all shapes and sizes, but everything about them is larger-than-life. Join Dusty and his friends Tarta, Zany and Pierrot for this fun, interactive variety show featuring circus-inspired singing, dancing, storytelling, lion-taming, and more. Original music and brightly-colored characters will delight our youngest audience members (and their grown ups!).

Are you ready for colorful characters and silly shenanigans!? I can't wait to see the lion tamer! AND I can't wait to see YOU in the audience.  

LOT'S OF MONSTER KISSES FOR YOU ALL:  XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Love,

Bella <3

Meet the Artist: Paul Vincent Davis

"Clown Circus" is not only a great show, but its creation must also be attributed to a veteran in the art of puppetry, Paul Vincent Davis! Puppet Showplace Theater owes much of its tradition and unique performances to this great puppeteer. Having received many awards in his lifetime, Paul Vincent Davis accomplished his goals of spreading his passion and love for puppets all over the nation. This Saturday you will able able to see one of his productions, which is filled with fun, music, and excitement! Be sure to watch it for it will be a show you will never forget!

Clown Circus
Saturday Aug 22
10:30am and 1:00pm

Paul Vincent Davis is one of America's foremost glove puppeteers.

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 Theater where he and founder Mary Churchill worked tirelessly to establish a home for puppetry in New England. Paul created over a dozen full-length puppetry productions and received five prestigious UNIMA Citations of Excellence for his work. Paul was also 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. Paul currently resides in Brookline Village, where he recently celebrated Puppet Showplace Theater's 40th anniversary and his own 80th birthday.

DIY Puppet Crafts: Make your own Clown Hand puppet!

Did you know you can create your own clown circus at home? All it takes is some paper, tape, markers, and a little imagination! But don't forget to check out our show this Saturday: Clown Circus! Get inspired by the singing, dancing, and story-telling, and then put on your own show!

Clown Circus
performed by Resident Artist Brad Shur, created by Paul Vincent Davis
Saturday August 22nd
10:30am and 1pm

MAKE YOUR OWN CLOWN HAND PUPPET: RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 3 TO 6

MATERIALS
Construction paper
Tape
Coloring utensils (Markers or Sharpies work best)

STEPS
1. Fold a piece of construction paper lengthwise into thirds, leaving about an inch between the outer fold and the edge and tape the top flap down like so:

2. Fold this piece in half.

3. Fold the two ends towards the center fold...

4. The result should be a W shape. The two ends should serve as slots for your hand.

5. Use coloring utensils to design a clown face...

6. A clown mouth...

Open wide! 

7. And body!

8. Put on your own clown circus! :)