Puppets at Night

Puppets at Night is Puppet Showplace Theater’s performance series for adult and teen audiences. These evening performances explore thought-provoking topics and showcase an astonishing array of puppetry styles. Performers include acclaimed internationally-touring companies, stars of the fringe circuit, and emerging puppeteers. 

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Want to make your own puppets or refine your skills? Check out our upcoming puppetry workshops for adults.

Masks are welcomed, and are available at the door for your use.

Featured
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May 17
A Slice of Crazy Pie: A Marionette Cabaret by Madison J. Cripps

May 17 (Fri): 8:00 pm

Ladies and gentlemen, funky folk and party people, step into the kooky world of A Slice of Crazy Pie, a cabaret-style marionette puppet show that will have you shivering, laughing, and wondering if you had too much to drink.

Recommended for mature audiences 16+
Marionettes

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May 18
A Slice of Crazy Pie: A Marionette Cabaret by Madison J. Cripps

May 18 (Sat): 8:00 pm

Ladies and gentlemen, funky folk and party people, step into the kooky world of A Slice of Crazy Pie, a cabaret-style marionette puppet show that will have you shivering, laughing, and wondering if you had too much to drink.

Recommended for mature audiences 16+
Marionettes

Past Events

Featured
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Apr 20
Puppet Slam hosted by Susan Linn & Audrey Duck — SOLD OUT

Apr 20 (Sat): 8:00 pm

Join host Susan Linn with her long-time pal Audrey Duck for an evening of short-form puppetry for adults, featuring a range of puppetry styles, beer and wine, and a guaranteed good time.

Visit the box office on Saturday at 7:30 pm to add your name to the wait list. You may only join the wait list in-person.

Ages 16+

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Feb 7
A Night with the Artists: My Night in the Planetarium

Feb 7 (Wed): 7:00 pm EST

How do we talk with children about social justice? How do you transform a personal story into a children’s book, and a children's book into a puppet show? Join us on Zoom for an intimate conversation with the creative team behind My Night in the Planetarium — Tanya Nixon-Silberg, Innosanto Nagara, Sarah Nolen, and Roxanna Myhrum.

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Dec 8
Tricyckle by Les Sages Fous

Fri Dec 8 | 8:00 pm LIMITED AVAILABILITY

Returning for the first time since their sold-out visit in 2013, Les Sages Fous brings us back to their eerie-yet-inviting world of metamorphosis and transformation with this U.S. premiere performance.

This show is intended for adults and teens, and appropriate for children 10 and up.
Paper mache, object performance, and live music.
From Québec!

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Dec 6
Tricyckle by Les Sages Fous

Wed Dec 6 | 8:00 pm

Returning for the first time since their sold-out visit in 2013, Les Sages Fous brings us back to their eerie-yet-inviting world of metamorphosis and transformation with this U.S. premiere performance.

This show is intended for adults and teens, and appropriate for children 10 and up.
Paper mache, object performance, and live music.

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Oct 22
Creative Residency for Black Puppeteers: Work-in-Progress Presentations & Artist Talk

Sun Oct 22 | 6:00 pm

 Join us in person, or tune in via Zoom, for an inspiring evening exploring the creative discoveries made by this year’s residency artists!

Recommended for adults and teens

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Aug 10
Tholpavakoothu: Shadow Puppet Play of Kerala, India | SUMMER OUTDOOR SERIES

Thurs Aug 10 | 7:00 pm

Experience shadow puppetry by firelight! Masters of a traditional form of shadow puppetry from Kerala, India will perform scenes from the dramatic epic Ramayana, complete with scenes of battles, trickery, and the natural world.

Recommended for everyone age 4+
Shadow puppetry

This summer, we're bringing puppetry outside with Pay-What-You-Can immersive puppetry experiences!

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Jul 15
Midsummer Puppet Slam

Sat July 15 | 8:00 pm

An evening of short-form puppetry, hosted by CactusHead Puppets, featuring a range artists and puppet styles.

Ages 18+

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Jun 24
We Love Trees by Great Small Works

Sat June 24 | 1:00 pm & 8:00 pm

A selection of “toy theater” pieces, with live music from theater Great Small Works.

Daytime performances: all ages welcome, recommended for 4+
Evening performances : recommended for adults & teens 13+
Miniature puppetry

Previous Seasons

2021-2022

MIGRACIONES / MIGRATIONS by Paradox Teatro
Mano-a-Monolog by Andrew Periale, Perry Alley Theatre
The Wonderful and Gruesome Drama of Punch and Judy by Modern Times Theater
Flying Lessons created by Caitlin Brzezinski and Libby Schap

2019-2020

A Chance Encounter presented by I Wan Jan Puppet Troupe (Taiwan)
Flying Lessons created by Caitlin Brzezinski and Libby Schap
WHAT THE DUCK?!? with Susan Linn and Audrey Duck
An Evening of Crankies featuring Katherine Fahey & Dan Van Allen (The Lantern Sisters) with Boston-based artists

2018-2019 - 45th Anniversary - “Puppets for the People”
We celebrate the power of puppetry to strengthen our human community with work that builds empathy, defies expectations, engages imaginations, and inspires action on both the theatrical and political stage.
I Commedianti by Teatrino Giuliare (Italy)
Meet Fred by Hijinx Theatre (Wales)
Just Another Lynching: An American Horror Story by Tarish “Jeghetto” Pipkins
Babylon: Journeys of Refugees by Sandglass Theater
Puppet Crimes by Jana Zeller, Spybird Theater

2017 - 2018

Paper Cut by Yael Rasooly
My Grandfather's Prayers by Lisa Sturz, Red Herring Puppets
Doc Foster's Twisted Tales by Shane McNeal
Disposable by Puzzle Theatre (Québec)
El Beto by Kalob Martinez

2016 - 2017

White Like Me: A Honky Dory Puppet Show by Paul Zaloom
An Existential Sing-Along by Ora Fruchter & Christopher Scheer, Doppelskope
An Evening of Crankies with Katherine Fahey, Valeska Populoh, & John Lechner
Finding Home by Monica Leo, Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre
Beaver Dreams by Lost & Found Puppet Company

2015 - 2016

What Are You Eating? by Eric Wright and Matt Singer
The Wayne Martin Puppets: In Concert
Bend by Kimi Maeda
The Miller's Tale by Michael and Valerie Nelson, Magical Moonshine Theatre

2014 - 2015

Of Bread and Paper by Finn Campman, Company of Strangers
Music in Motion in Collaboration with Juventas New Music Ensemble
Billy the Liar by TOYBOX Theatre and Cripps Puppets
Fernweh by Dana Samborski

2013 – 2014

Reverse Cascade by Anna Fitzgerald, UCONN Puppet Arts
The Joshua Show by Joshua Holden
The Orphan Circus by Les Sages Fous
Great Small Works International Toy Theatre Festival on Tour

2012 – 2013

Mano-a-Monolog by Andrew Periale, Perry Alley Theater
Entertaining Thoughts by Leslie Carrara-Rudolph
The City by Modern Times Theater
Senseless by Elizabeth Hara

2011 – 2012

Ballads and Crankies with Katherine Fahey, Elizabeth LaPrelle and Anna Roberts-Gevalt
The Hoarding Show by Carole D’Agostino

 
 

Our Mission

Puppet Showplace Theater is dedicated to presenting outstanding puppetry to diverse audiences through performances, workshops, and community outreach activities.

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Puppet Showplace Theater is supported by...

 

Puppet Showplace Theater is supported by the New England Foundation for the Arts through the New England Arts Resilience Fund, part of the United States Regional Arts Resilience Fund, an initiative of the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations and the Mellon Foundation, with major funding from the federal CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan from the National Endowment for the Arts.