Puppet Happenings: Live Puppet Theater In-Person & Online
|
|
PUPPET HAPPENINGS - TOP PICKS |
|
Bloodborne: The Red Death, an Unmasking *
The Mudlark Puppeteers
|
June 2-6
Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays - 8:00pm
Sundays - 6:00pm
A post-mortem of Poe's ‘ Masque of the Red Death, as witnessed from a servants’ perspective, “ Bloodborne” brings its audience into a prismatic, apocalypse feast. Who is the mysterious stranger stalking amongst the revelers? Vital questions loom- and the servant is the soul of discretion.
"Bloodborne" is an examination of the life and work of Edgar Allan Poe. Told through various forms of puppetry and music, this piece expresses our cultural complexity with regard to the issues of race and servitude.
* Recipient of a Jim Henson Foundation Production Grant (2021)
|
|
Homage to Popova: an experiment in puppetry - Hanne Tierney
FiveMyles - 558 Saint Johns Place Brooklyn, NY
|
June 2-18
Thursday-Saturday, 7pm
With an additional 8pm performance on June 16, 17 & 18
The drawings by the Russian artist Lyubov Popova are the starting point for this work. The basic geometric structures of her drawings are constructed in three dimensions, and these intersecting lines, controlled, but animate, are manipulated into gestures of dramatic storytelling. These shape-shifting figures lend themselves to the wit and humor of the retelling of The Emperor’s New Clothes, a parody on mindless political ambition and on the slippery nature of the truth. With music by Jane Wang and light design by Trevor Brown.
|
|
Playscape Performs, Opening Weekend *
WonderSpark Puppets, Playdate Puppets, and Ballet Tech & Parsons Dance
|
June 3-5
About Sprouts - Ballet Tech & Parsons Dance
The Lion and the Mouse - WonderSpark Puppets
Humpty Dumpty and Friends EGGcellent Puppet Show - Playdate Puppets
Playscape performs will debut with a special collaboration with Parsons Dance and the talented fourth and fifth graders at Ballet Tech, the NYC Public School for Dance. The performance, entitled “About Sprouts,” kicks off The Battery’s summer activities, which are funded by The Battery Conservancy – the organization responsible for transforming the city’s birthplace park. Their performances will be joined by an array of puppetry at ShowBox Theater. Wonderspark Puppets will perform classic fairytales with a twist and Playdate Puppets will put on an EGGcellent show with Humpty Dumpty and friends.
* Recipient of a Jim Henson Foundation Presenter's Grant (2022)
|
|
HERE's Spark Gala - Honoring Cheryl Henson & Brian Selznick
|
June 6
6pm – Fiery Feast – cocktail reception, dinner, and performances
8:30pm – Downtown Inferno – dessert, cocktails, performances and dancing
It all starts with a Spark! Honoring Cheryl Henson withe the HEREmanitarian Award and Brian Selznick with the Avant-Guardian Award in celebration of HERE's Dream Music Puppetry Program. HERE is where ideas are fostered from early flares to passionately-realized productions, igniting artists and audiences alike. We provide the foundation, the connections, and the resources for creative processes to SPARK. On June 6, we’ll gather around the heat of collaboration and the power of live performance, honoring over two decades of puppetry at HERE. Join us for some kickin’ fare, a firey auction, & a fiercely jubilant bash!
|
|
[sunflower] * - Sifiso Mabena
|
June 10-18
June 10, 11, 16, 17 & 18 - 7:30PM
sunflower] is a multidisciplinary performance following a Zimbabwean woman’s quest to ‘make herself at home’ after decades of being an immigrant. This play is about roots: grass roots, being rooted in, and being uprooted. Using elements of puppetry, family history, AfroSurrealism and movement, [sunflower] explores notions of home, immigration and displacement as they pertain to identity.
* Recipient of a Jim Henson Foundation Presenter's Grant (2022)
|
|
Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster
Manual Cinema
|
June 4-26
See website for all dates and times
Leonardo tries so hard to be scary. But… he just isn’t. When he searches far and wide for a friend to frighten, he discovers Sam, who is scared of anything and everything! With puppets, projections, live music and a story by none other than Your Pal Mo Willems, this performance will surprise you with its cinema-sized story about fright, feelings and friendship. See how multimedia movie magic gets made when Manual Cinema presents Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster.
|
|
The Skin of Our Teeth - Thornton Wilder
Directed by: Lileana Blain-Cruz, Puppets Designed by: James Ortiz
|
April 28 - May 29
Tuesdays - 7:00pm
Wednesdays - 2:00pm & 8:00pm
Thursdays - 7:00pm
Fridays - 8:00pm
Saturdays - 2:00pm & 8:00pm
Sundays - 3:00pm
In the 5,000 years they’ve been married, George and Maggie Antrobus have survived wars, plagues, floods, and everything in between. Now they're running low on food – and a massive glacier is headed toward their New Jersey home. An epic, timely comedy about the endurance of human spirit, Thornton Wilder’s THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH follows one “everyfamily” through the great struggles and triumphs of the human experience. Led by innovative director Lileana Blain-Cruz in a production that speaks directly to our current moment, this Pulitzer Prize-winning classic with additional material by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins is a profound reminder that life is always worth living – no matter how difficult things get.
|
|
Andre' & Dorine - Kulunka Teatro (SPAIN)
|
April 27-May 29
Wednesdays & Thursdays - 7:00pm
Fridays & Saturdays - 8:00pm
Sundays - 3:00pm
Andre' and Dorine is a poignant depiction of the enduring love between an elderly couple as their lives are disrupted, but not overcome, by dementia. Performed by the internationally-acclaimed Kulunka Teatro (which received the spanish equivalent of a Tony Award for Best Play in 2018), this non-verbal theatre piece uses movement, puppetry, and mask to celebrate the shared lives of a pair of artists - Andre' with his typewriter, Dorine with her cello - and how they relive and reinvent their love together as alzheimer's becomes a permanent part of their relationship.
|
|
A Tour of the Fantastical Galaxy + That Purple Juice
|
May 25-29
Wed-Sat at 7:30pm, Sunday 3pm
A Tour of the Fantastical Universe:
We've missed playing amongst the stars and galaxies here at Midnight Radio Show. Join Charlotte Lily Gaspard as she takes you on a fantastical journey through a galaxy complete with shadow puppets, magic, music, original story telling, and a very sexy dragon.
That Purple Juice:
A spin-off from a minor character character from 'A Midsummers Nights Dream'. What happens when our own "griot from New York, Shakespeare of the streets,” lifts characters out of the world of Big Willy Shakespeare’s classic from over 400 years ago? Come find out.
|
|
Chasing Andy Warhol - Bated Breath Theatre Company
Puppets by Evolve Puppets
|
March 25 - June 12
Chasing Andy Warhol is an immersive and theatrical walking tour production that employs Bated Breath’s unique multimedia approach as scenes inspired from Warhol’s enigmatic life unfold on the streets, behind windows of area businesses, and inside secret locations along the route. Despite Warhol’s celebrity and fame, he was also an obscure, mystifying persona who preferred to remain elusive. The show will present a distinct blend of immersive theatre, dance, film, art, and puppetry to peek into the iconic artist which goes beyond the hype and into the deepest feelings of a profoundly complex person - whose legacy continues to bombard our senses at every turn.
|
|
Ricitos and the Three Bears/Ricitos y los Tres Ositos - FAMILY
|
May 7 - June 18
Saturdays - 11am
Mr. Oscar, Mrs. Osaura, little Oscarito and of course the over-curious, super-snooping Ricitos/Goldilocks lead audiences on a comic adventure as Goldilocks confronts the three bears and has to learn to take responsibility, say sorry and make friends.
|
|
Little Red's Hood - CityParks PuppetMobile - FAMILY
|
Ongoing through August 25
CityParks PuppetMobile, the oldest continually operating company of its kind in the country, presents free performances and puppet-making workshops in neighborhood parks, recreation centers and schools throughout New York City. Little Red’s Hood is a fresh retelling of the classic ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ tale updated with a modern sensibility that appeals to kids. In this story, Little Red is a smart, young city dweller who is obsessed with her smartphone. Wulfric, a misunderstood wolf with a sweet tooth, crosses paths with Little Red on her travels to deliver her Grandma cupcakes and the trouble begins. This story offers a comical lesson on the importance to disconnect from our digital lives and enjoy real life moment with friends and family.
|
|
Currently Running
Be there when the world’s most ravenous plant returns to its acclaimed, sold-out run at the Westside Theatre! Winner of the 2020 Drama League, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Awards for BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is “wildly exuberant” (The Hollywood Reporter), and a New York Times Critic’s Pick.
This smash-hit production stars Emmy® winner and Grammy® nominee Tammy Blanchard (“Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows”), Tony® nominee Jeremy Jordan (Newsies), and two-time Tony winner Christian Borle (Something Rotten!), who won the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Awards for his performance in LITTLE SHOP. Together they bring succulent new life to a true musical landmark. Get tickets now and enjoy a taste of what we’ve all been craving: live theater!
|
|
Wake Up Daisy! A Modern Take on Sleeping Beauty - FAMILY
|
Currently Running
This modern spin on Sleeping Beauty set on the Upper West Side celebrates friendship, courage and female empowerment. Perfect for families with young children, Wake Up, Daisy! tells the story of Daisy, a lively girl living in the heart of New York City in an apartment overlooking Central Park. At Daisy’s much-anticipated birthday party, she encounters three special guests, known as her “Squad-parents”, from Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, who grant her the gifts of courage, knowledge, and a second chance. When an unwelcome guest shows up and puts a curse on her, Daisy’s life is forever changed. Through the support of her friends and an adventure around the city, Daisy’s strong self-determination and vivid imagination may be all she needs to break the curse.
|
|
Goldilocks & the Three Bears - FAMILY
|
June 4 & 5 - 12:30pm & 2:30pm
Adapted for Hand Puppets by Jack Kaplan. Suggested for ages 2 and up, 55 minutes.
|
|
UNDARK: A Radioactive Puppet Play *
Trouble Puppet Theater Co.
|
May 27 - June 11
Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays - 8:00pm
Sundays - 6:00pm
Using extensive shadow puppetry and its signature table top puppets, Trouble Puppet adds to its list of historical and labor-themed plays with this tale of female workers manufacturing luminous timepieces and navigational instruments using the newly discovered natural wonder, radium. As American workers in the 21st century again turn to unions in a pitched battle between oligarchy and the rights of citizens, Trouble Puppet looks back to one of the tragic episodes that led to the legal establishment of Workers’ Rights, in a struggle often led by women in the face of the added assault of misogyny and sex discrimination.
* Recipient of a Jim Henson Foundation Workshop Grant (2021)
|
|
DIRT: The Secret Life of Soil - FAMILY
Arm-of-the-Sea Theatre, presented by IBEX Puppetry
|
June 3 - 7:00pm
Where does food “come from” and from what is it made? Here’s a lively primer for urban bumpkins and upcountry gardeners of all ages. Fusing cutting-edge science and age-old puppetry, DIRT takes audiences on an extravagant journey of discovery into the Great Underneath—revealing the epic alchemy of plants, the fungi’s dance of mutual delight, and the microbes’ herculean labors. Featuring live music and a myriad of puppet figures ranging from 12 inches to 12 feet tall, the show reminds earthly residents of all ages how profoundly essential the ground beneath their feet is. Bring your picnic blankets and folding chairs for this outdoor spectacle.
|
|
ONLINE PERFORMANCES - INTERNATIONAL |
|
Puppet Power Festival of Ideas
|
May 23-29
We may be a small arts company, but we have a mighty vision – to impact positive social change through puppetry. With that in mind, we want to celebrate hope, community and togetherness by offering all performances, including the Q&A session with the artist, free of charge. This is a unique opportunity to go ‘behind the scenes’ and hear about the creator’s process and motivation, ask about how the puppets are built and more. Theses online performances will feature master puppeteers from the USA, Canada, Philippines, Iran and Catalonia. Enjoy this opportunity to connect on an intimate level with the artists, their passion for puppetry and hear their journeys. Sign up for the performance(s) you'd like to see and make sure you spread the word and let friends and family join in too!
ScreenPLAY! - What we Found in the Forest - The Gottabees
ScreenPLAY! - Journey into Space - The Gottabees
Loïc - Albert Garcia Martinez & Aitana Giralt Boira
"Prinsipe Bahaghari" (Rainbow Prince) - Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas
Zoom Shadow: Our Intangible Treasures - Runaway Moon Theatre
Cuckoo - Graham Soul
Something in the Water - S.E. Grummett
Story of Siavash in Shahnameh - Shiva Massoudi, Nazanin Mehraein & Nafiseh Saadat
|
|
WORKSHOPS / LECTURES / MEETINGS / FILMS - VIRTUAL & IN-PERSON |
|
Coffeehouse Chronicles #165 Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre - IN-PERSON
Vit Horejs and company members
|
May 28 - 2pm
Czechoslovak American Marionette Theatre, founder Vít Horejs, and company members reminisce, show video clips and perform a few scenes. Featuring dozens of puppets and puppeteers, composers, musicians, partners, producers, and designers, including: Carrie Beehan, Deborah Beshaw-Farrell, Michelle Beshaw, Charley Hayward, Tine Kindermann (musical saw), Frank London (composer/trumpet), Valois Marie Mickens, Shoko Nagai (accordion), Alan Barnes Netherton, Adelka Polak, Federico Restrepo, Jane Catherine Shaw, Bonnie Sue Stein, Sarazina J. Stein, Katarina Vizina, and Ben Watts.
Moderator: Leslee Asch, Series Director: Michal Gamily
|
|
A Henson Broadway Tribute - IN-PERSON
Jim Henson's World
|
June 4 & 10
Saturday June 4 - 1:00pm
Friday June 10 - 2:30pm
Hosted by Craig Shemin, President of The Jim Henson Legacy. In honor of Broadway’s Tony Awards (to be presented on June 12), we highlight some of the greatest Muppet moments that feature legendary stars and memorable songs of musical theater. Julie Andrews, Joel Grey, Carol Channing, Pearl Bailey, Ethel Merman, Ben Vereen, Bernadette Peters, Valerie Harper, and Liza Minnelli are among the guest stars. The program runs approximately 80 minutes.
|
|
About Ram - Online Screening and Q&A
Directed by: Anurupua Roy
|
May 1-31 - On-Demand
Online screening of About Ram followed by a Q&A with Anurupa Roy (Katkatha Puppet Arts Trust), in conversation with Paula Richman (Oberlin College) and John Bell (Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry, University of Connecticut). Hosted by the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry. As the name suggests, the performance is about Ram, the prince who is sent on a long journey far away from his home when he is exiled by his father along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman. Sita is kidnapped by Ravan the king of Lanka and kept prisoner. As Ram sits by the ocean looking at Lanka across its vastness his life flashes by, he feels powerless and dejected as he longs to fly across the ocean to his beloved Sita. The puppeteers help him by projecting his desires into the mask of the super hero Hanuman which attaches itself to Rams face, at once turning him into a super powerful simian who leaps across the ocean and reaches Sita.
In this journey and the bloody war that follows with Ravan, Ram becomes a king, forced to choose between the duty of the throne and the love of his wife. He rules alone for the next 10,000 years. —Anurupa Roy
|
|
Vancouver - STREAMING, On-Demand
|
May 1-31 - On-Demand
In September 2020, a group of artists assembled in a barn in Wisconsin to stage a puppet play. The setting provided a controlled environment that allowed all participants to observe strict COVID-19 protocols. Vancouver is the result of that experiment. A mixed-race family relocates from Japan to the Pacific Northwest, hoping to find more stability. Or, maybe, acceptance? But where is home exactly?
|
|
2022-2023 Writer Director Lab - Accepting Applications
Soho Rep - 401 Broadway Suite 300, New York, NY 10013
|
Deadline: May 27, 5pm ET
Instigated in 1998, the Writer Director Lab is an engine for the generation of new plays. The program—a beacon in the city for formally inventive work—supports four projects created by collaborative teams. The Lab culminates in presentations at Soho Rep that are free and open to the public.
|
|
The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited
|
March 31 - August 14
The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited celebrates the legacy of Jim Henson (1936–1990), trailblazing puppeteer, animator, cartoonist, actor, inventor, and filmmaker. Featuring more than 150 objects drawn from the beloved worlds of Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, and more, the exhibition highlights Henson’s groundbreaking work for film and television, his indelible mark on popular culture, and the profound social impact of his work. It also includes material from Henson’s experimental film projects and his early work, presenting him as a restlessly creative performer and technical innovator. While Henson himself was not Jewish, his work celebrates diversity and inclusion, both core values of The CJM. Discover how Henson and his team of builders, performers, and writers created an unparalleled body of work, sharing characters and stories that represent diverse backgrounds and abilities. These stories continue to delight audiences and inspire people of all ages to look beyond differences and cultivate a more compassionate, inclusive world.
|
|
A Century of Progress: An Exhibition of the Tatterman Marionettes
|
October 2 , 2021 - May 29, 2022
Never before has there been such an extensive exhibit of Tatterman Marionettes, one of the great puppet companies of the 20th century. Starting in 1923, they toured the nation and created more shows for World's Fairs than anyone else! With their unique business structure, they subsidized ambitious artistic endeavors by creating promotional programs for companies ranging from DC Comics to General Electric. The display is as diverse as their repertoire, including characters from pop culture, global fairytales and classic dramatic works.
This exhibit is dedicated to Alan Cook who acquired these puppets directly from Ruth Duncan, widow of Tatterman Marionettes co-founder William Ireland Duncan. Ruth was always very supportive of Alan's dream to establish a puppet museum. Northwest Puppet Center is honored to keep their legacies alive through the preservation and exhibition of these wonderful puppets. All the puppets in the current exhibit were donated to Northwest Puppet Center as part of The Cook/Marks Collection, named in honor of Alan Cook and Jacqueline Marks.
|
|
PUPPET HAPPENINGS - COMPLETE LISTINGS |
|
The Jim Henson Foundation's Puppet Happenings Listings are updated every Friday.
Puppet Happenings Submission Form:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
