Vacation Week Programing...

SPECIAL VACATION WEEK SCHEDULE:

Mr Punch's Christmas Carol
|Tues&Wed| Dec 27- 28|10:30am, 1:00pm, 3:00pm
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Hansel & Gretel
|Thu&Fri| Dec 29-30|10:30am,1:00pm, 3:00pm
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The Velveteen Rabbit
|Sat&Sun| Dec 31- Jan 1| 1:00pm & 3:00pm
|Mon| Jan 2| 10:30 & 1:00
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Winter Vacation is officially here and we are off to a great start! Today we were so fortunate to have a lovely donation of cupcakes from Party Favors to give away to everyone in the theater (That's Bella with her delicious treat) . In fact for the rest of our vacation programing( thru the 31st) a different bakery will be donating some a treat to our patrons. We are so lucky to have such amazingly generous businesses right here in our neighborhood! and providing our friends with a holiday treat is just our way of saying thanks for all your support.

Looking forward to next week... There are so many puppet shows!! Kicking us off on Tuesday and Wednesday Crabgrass Puppet Presents
" Mr. Punch's Christmas Carol." There are three shows scheduled for both days to allow maxim puppet viewing possibilities!

Then, on Thursday and Friday, check out the National Marionette Theatre with their performance of "Hansel and Gretal," again with three shows per day. Finish off 2011 and start the new year with Applause Unlimited's performance of " The Velveteen Rabbit" on Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 and 3:00 pm and Monday at 10:30am and 1:00pm. WOW That is a lot of Puppets!!!! Just a reminder, since vacation week is a very busy we definitely recommend ordering your tickets ahead of time and showing up at least 15 minutes before the start of the show. See you at the Theater!

Get Into The Holiday Spirt With " Christmas Mouse" by Wayne Martin Puppets

Wed - Sat| Dec 21-24 | 10:30am|

Christmas almost here,

Enjoy the season with a holiday puppet show! Come into puppet showplace this week for "Santa Mouse" and get into the spirit. During our vacation week programing (starting Fri Dec 23rd) we will also be offering free baked goods to our patrons that have been generously donated by local bakeries. Let the holidays begin!

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About The Show:

"Santa Mouse," the timeless and beloved Michael Brown story, is magically brought to life through the artistry of award winning puppeteer Wayne Martin. Martin’s beautifully crafted puppets tell the charming tale of the little mouse with no name, living in great big house who upon giving a special gift to Santa one Christmas Eve becomes Santa Mouse, the helper Santa could never do without!

Following this charming yuletide tale you’ll board the North Pole Express and meet Rudolph, Peter and Penelope Penguin, Frosty and Martin’s trademark Juggling Christmas Tree, who breathlessly lights up and illuminates the way for the jolly old elf himself! All of these oversize hand puppets and marionettes perform special tricks in this festive open stage production!

Restrictions:

Recommended for ages 3 and up.

New Puppets Have Arrived!

Puppet Showplace's Puppet Store is Stocked

Christmas is about a week away, Hanukkah starts on Tuesday night...You need gifts!! Well luckily, just in the nick of time Puppet Showplace has gotten in a new shipment of puppets that are now on sale in our lobby. We have new Folkmanis puppets and adorable marionettes with removable strings for easy disentanglement.
We have Fun finger puppets. We have peepers ( yes, you can make a puppet with only your hand and a pair of eyeballs as our intern Paul's hand is displaying in the picture to the right)... Wow we have a lot of potential presents!

Puppets are wonderful gifts for children of all ages. They encourage strong development of hand eye coordination, fine motor skills, story telling, and imagination. Whether you are looking for a beautiful hand puppet or a small finger puppet to top the perfect present, we have what you need. The store is open Tuesday thru Sunday so come on in and check out our puppets!

This week at PST...Let it Snow with The Snowflake Man by Puppet Kabob

Wen & Thurs | Dec 14 & 15| 10:30|
Sat & Sun| Dec 17 & 18|1: 00 & 3:00|
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Ever Wanted to Take a Picture of A Snowflake? Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley did. This week Puppet Showplace Theatre presents The Snowflake Man by Puppet Kabob a show tells the story of the first man to ever photograph a snow flake!

About the Show:

The story of "The Snowflake Man" is inspired by Wilson Bentley. This self-educated farmer and scientist attracted world attention in 1885 when he became the first person to capture the image of a single snow crystal with a camera he connected to a microscope. "The Snowflake Man" is a unique trunk show of Czech-style marionettes and props backed by a pop-up book of water color paintings telling the story of "Snowflake" Bentley.
This show combines art, science, and New England history to magical effect. The Snowflake Man was awarded a 2011 UNIMA Citation of Excellence. This show is sponsored in part by a Creation Grant from the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Recommended for ages 5 and up

Experience The A.R.T. This Winter!

The Snow Queen

Presented by American Repertory Theater

December 10, 2011 - December 31, 2011

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Hey Puppet Showplace Folks, it's me again, your favorite pink monster reporting to you from Harvard Square, Cambridge! I just went to see The Snow Queen at the A.R.T., and it was EPICALLY AWESOME- a beautiful storybook adventure for the whole family filled with puppets, masks and more!

About the Show: Hans Christian Andersen's beloved fairy tale "The Show Queen" comes to life in this delightful new stage adaptation for children and their families. When a young boy named Kai is taken away by a wicked enchantress, his best friend Gerda must embark on a perilous journey to the north pole to rescue him. Using puppets, music and magic, this exuberant, heart-warming production will take you on a theatrical journey to a magical kingdom and the Snow Queen's icy palace.

Directed by Allegra Libonati, with original puppets by Michael Kane and featuring members of the ART Institute Class of 2012. Dec. 10-31. American Repertory Theater, Loeb Drama Center, Cambridge. $15. 617-547-8300.

Learn More: Find more info, rehearsal photos, activities and more on the A.R.T. website!

The Clowns Are Coming To Town!

This Week at PST:

Clown Circus by Brad Shur

Wen & Thurs | Dec 7 & 8| 10:30|
Sat & Sun| Dec 10 & 11|1: 00 & 3:00|
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This week our Artist in Residence Brad Shur presents Clown Circus! Come on in and watch his cast of clowny characters as they bring songs & stories to excite and entertain. With shows on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, there are plenty of chances to come in and clown around with this PST favorite!

About the Show:

Clowns come in all shapes and sizes, but everything about them is larger-than-life. Join "Dusty" and his friends Pierrot, Zany and Guffaw for this fun, interactive variety show that features circus-inspired singing, dancing, storytelling and more!

Restrictions:

Recommended for ages 3 and up.

This Weekend at Puppet Showplace... The Elves and the Shoemaker with the Gingerbread Man!

Sat & Sun| Dec 3 & 4 | 1:00 & 3:00
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Our winter season continues to roll forward this weekend with The Elves and the Shoemaker with The Gingerbread Man by Romper Rhythm & Puppets. This wonderful collection of classic holiday folktales is fun for the whole family.

About the Show:

In this classic Grimm's folk tale, two Elves help a poor shoemaker get back in business. The fun continues when a Gingerbread boy arrives on the scene! Lots of humor, live music, and audience participation make this show a great seasonal choice.

Restrictions:

Recommended for ages 3 and up.

About The Performer:

Diane Kordas has been performing music for children and families since 1992, and puppet shows since 1998.Today, her classic and original stories with puppets, music, humor and audience participation are enjoyed by children and families at libraries, schools, outdoor events, parties, daycares and preschools throughout New England. Find out more on the Romper Rhythm WEBSITE

"Puppets at Night" is BACK!

Boston-area debut of THE HOARDING SHOW at PST

Fri & Sat | December 9 & 10 | 8pm

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Puppet Showplace Theatre presents “The Hoarding Show” by Carole D’Agostino as part of its newly revived “Puppets at Night” adult series. Performances will take place on Friday and Saturday, December 9-10 @ 8:00 pm. Reservations strongly recommended.

The Hoarding Show is about the clutter we keep, mentally and physically, in our lives. This multi-puppet, one woman show, designed and performed by Carole D’Agostino, features three separate tales of hoarders: the story of the infamous Collyer Brothers told with intricate shadow puppets; a renter facing eviction depicted with miniatures, and an object theatre satire that markets the positive aspects of hoarding. The Hoarding Show will be presented with Trash: A Love Story, an original work by Boston-based artists Woellert & Clark.

Carole D’Agostino is a puppet performer and builder for television, film, and stage. Television: PBS’s SeeMore’s Playhouse, MTV2’s Crank Yankers, IFC’s Greg the Bunny, Noggin’s Upside Down Show. Theater: John Tartaglia’s ImaginOcean, Avenue Q, Shrek! The Musical, The Ohmies, Thomas the Tank Engine Life2, and Arias with a Twist. Web: The Weekly Daily News, Funny of Die: Frank the Horse. She recently appeared at the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Tucker John’s Best Birthday Ever.

Woellert & Clark is a shadow puppet company based in Jamaica Plain. Matthew Woellert and Jonathan Clark grew up together in Columbus, Ohio. In Boston they have performed at The Boston Center for the Arts, Puppet Showplace Theatre, the Democracy Center, and numerous bars and galleries around town.

Tales From Snowy Lands by Sparky's Puppets!

Wed & Thur| Nov 30 & Dec 1| 10:30
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The Winter Season at PST kicks off on Wednesday, November 30th, with Tales From Snowy Lands. Let this show transport you to realm of frosty fun.

About the Show:

Watch a snowman come to life, see a bear go ice fishing and visit a toymaker on a wintry day in this seasonal favorite by Sparky's Puppets.

Restrictions:

Recommended for ages 3 and up.

Winter Is Here

Let The Adventures Begin...

You might not know it with the weather we have been having but maybe your memories of a great Thanksgiving feast this past Thursday let you know, the winter season is upon us!

With that in mind Puppet Showplace Theatre is proud to present our winter season:“ Winter Puppet Adventures.” Puppets? Adventures? Exciting? You bet it is!!!!!! Our winter season will feature not only amazing holiday programing, but also shows featuring puppets from around the world. Now how cool is that?

This season, Puppet Showplace Theatre takes you to snowy lands for holiday fun, then around the globe with stories and puppetry styles from distant cultures. Puppetry is a world-wide art form, and we hope you enjoy this opportunity to explore the terrain. Engage your imaginations! We're ready to fly!

Ever wanted to see Chinese hand puppets? Japanese Noh style masks ? African Trickster Tales? You can experience this and more at PST through the winter. Check out our Calendar for the season on our Website. We offer puppet performances every week on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, with extra shows for the weeks of winter vacation.Lets be honest. It is gonna get cold out there. There is no better way to keep warm and entertained on a chilly day than to snuggle up with those you love and watch a puppet show!

Give the Gift of Puppetry This Holiday Season!

Happy Holidays from PST!

It may be hard to believe, but the Holiday season is upon us. As the fall draws to a close so does our Fall Membership Drive so it seems like the perfect opportunity to remind everyone of this great opportunity to support a wonderful local theater and become a member.

Thinking about gifts for the Holidays? What could be better than the gift of puppet theater for those you love. Gift certificates are available, and Memberships make a great gift as well!

Members enjoy:

Priority Seating

Discounted tickets on all performances and classes.

Complimentary tickets*

Discounts on our puppet store purchases

discounts on birthday party rentals**

New Membership Drive: For anyone becoming a member for the first time, in addition to all the advantages to membership you will be supporting a wonderful nonprofit theater that has been bringing quality theater to children and adults for 37 years. Through November, all new members purchasing membership at the family level or above, will be entered to win a $25 gift certificate to Legal Sea Foods ( one of our wonderful season sponsors).

Already members? Refer someone to become a member and you too will be entered to win. So here's the deal... You need great gifts for the holiday, a membership to Puppet Showplace Theater make a great gift, you will be donating to a worthy nonprofit that provides cultural enrichment to children and adults in the local community, you don't need to wait in line at 12am on friday morning to get it!

HOLIDAY PARTIES! In keeping with the holiday season spirit, this year we are opening the theater for holiday parties. Want to host a holiday party at a truly festive location? Give us a call for more info 617.731.6400

* Number of complimentary tickets varies depending on level of membership

** For family level memberships and above

Thanksgiving Week at PST

RACCOON TALES

|Wed| Nov 23| 10:30am

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JACK & THE BEANSTALK

| Fri| Nov 25| 10:30am & 1:00pm|

| Sat & Sun| Nov 26 & Nov 27| 1:00pm & 2:00pm

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Thanksgiving is almost here! Hope everyone is getting excited for a day of food, fun, family, and friends. And what could be more fun for the holiday than a trip with your loved ones to the Puppet Showplace. This week's schedule is special for Thanksgiving. On Wednesday come on over and watch Raccoon Tales by Artist in Residence Brad Shur. Then come back in the day after Thanksgiving for Spring Valley Puppet Theater's award winning.

Jack and The Beanstalk. For the long weekend we will have shows on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday! In addition, to show our thanks to our members for being a part of our family, members who attend one of our performances of Jack and The Beanstalk will be entered to win a free membership to the Wenham Museum. Happy Thanksgiving!!!

About Jack and the Beanstalk:

Can beans make wishes come true? They can and do in "Jack and the Beanstalk," the award-winning puppet production of Michael Graham's Spring Valley Puppet Theater.

This popular classic features beautifully crafted hand and rod puppets, colorful scenic design, special effects and an original script in which Jack, with the help of a clever Chicken, saves the day! The Spring Valley Puppet Theater production of "Jack and the Beanstalk" holds many surprises in this new approach to this old favorite

recommended for ages 3 and up

For more information on the Spring Valley Puppet Theater visit their website

This Weekend at Puppet Showplace... Snow White & Other Tales by Perry Alley Puppet Theatre

Sat & Sun| Nov 19 & 20| 1:00pm & 3:00pm
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Come To Puppet Showplace this weekend for more fall fairy tales with " Snow White and Other Tales"
presented by Perry Alley Puppet Theater!

About the Show:

Sometimes kids just won't eat their dinner until their food comes to life and tells them a story. In this imaginative production, Dad gets his daughter Trinket to eat her dinner by performing Snow White in a most unusual way. Two other surprise fairy tales by Perry Alley Puppet Theatre will complete this wonderful puppet potpourri!

Restrictions:

Recommended for ages 5 and up

Puppets For Adults!

Sat| Nov 19| 8:00pm

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This coming Saturday, the 19th of November, in addition to our regularly scheduled children's performances PST will present our November " Puppet Slam" featuring Puppet Pandemic! What is a " Puppet Slam?" you may ask. Well let us explain...Too many of people think of puppets as a form of entertainment for children. Well here at PST we ask the question " Why should kids have all the fun?" Adults need puppets too!! In that spirit every other month we bring you our "Puppet Slam," An evening of puppet vignettes designed for an older crowd ( recommended for ages 16 and up). Each piece is performed by a different artist or artists, and the content can be wide-ranging; some are elegant or poignant, others are satiric, irreverent, or humorous, and still others can be passionate, political, or spiritual in nature. If you have never been to a "Slam" before you should know it is really an experience not to be missed. If you are a seasoned "Slam" aficionado you know where you should be this Saturday! for more info and for the schedule of all upcoming slams at PST check out out website. Just a warning, this event tends to sell out so buy your tickets today!!

Coming this week... " Raccoon Tales" by Brad Shur

Wed & Thurs| Nov 16 and 17| 10:30 am

Wed | Nov 23| 10:30 am

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On Wednesday and Thursday Brad Shur, PST's very own artist in residence, presents: Raccoon Tales

Come in and check it out. After all, At The Puppet Showplace we believe no week is complete without a puppet show!

About the Show:

The animals in the forest are always getting into trouble playing tricks on each other. Will they learn their lessons? Three humorous tales inspired by the Native American tales of the Seneca tribe: How the Fox and the Raccoon Trick Each Other; Why the Blue Jay is Blue and the Gray Wolf Isn’t; and, Why the Bear has a Stumpy Tail.

Restrictions:

Recommended for ages 4 and up.

Open House at Puppet Showplace!

1st Light Festival!

Nov 17th, 5pm to 8pm

Brookline's annual 1st Light Festival is coming this Thursday, November 17th. Puppet Showplace is so excited to be a part of the fun again this year!

What is 1st Light? This annual festival in Brookline is a great chance to support local business. The event is full of scavenger hunts, handouts, giveaways, and... Puppet Performances! You can check out the full schedule of the events here.

Open House at PST!

When you come out to the festival, stop by Puppet Showplace for our 1st Light Open House. From 5:00pm to 8:00pm there will be a free puppet show every half hour! Meet the staff and take a look at all of the beautiful puppet displays in the lobby and in the theatre.

Also: Mom.com will be in the lobby at Puppet Showplace with free give aways! They are a super awesome website that provides deals on all kinds of great stuff parents might need. As an added bonus, for every person who signs up for the Mom.com email list, they will donate $2 to Puppet Showplace Theatre! What a great way to support our theater!

Can't make it to the event, but still want to sign up? Click here!

So to recap...Festival , Free Giveaways, Free Puppet Shows... SO MUCH FUN!!

Healing With Arts And Humor

This weekend, in addition to our Puppets Shows we have an amazing event for our adult community:

The Consulate General of Israel to New England and Puppet Showplace Theatre Present: Healing With Humor and Art

A presentation and workshop by Israeli Master Artists Alina Ashbel and Vally Kulas

Saturday Nov 12th

The event is split into to parts including a morning lecture and and afternoon workshop ( limited to 15 participants). Both sections of the event are free! and will be extremely interesting. To find out more and to register, visit our website

While your there check out our other Adult class offerings, and Puppet Slam schedule. Remember, everyone (adults included!) needs puppets in their lives!

This Veterans Day Weekend...The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Coming this Fri, Sat & Sun: more Tucker's Tales!

That's right everybody, this week we have a Tucker's Tales invasion. On Wednesday and Thursday come see "The Goose is Loose." Then on Friday, Saturday and Sunday come out for another dose of Tucker's Tales with "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." Wow, that's five chances to see a puppet show this week at PST How exciting!!!

About the Show:

The castle of an evil magician is a dangerous place for a young boy with uncontrolled curiosity. Our youthful hero must cope with some pretty messy predicaments after he is apprenticed to his wicked master. Can Rusty save the wood-nymphs and overcome the power hungry sorcerer? Will he be able to free the forest from the spell of darkness?

The Brothers Grimm classic fairy tale comes to life on the stage of Tuckers’ Tales Puppet Theatre in this presentation, bringing you about as much fun as you can have in the dungeon of an old castle.

Restrictions: Recommended for ages 5 and up.

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Coming This Week To Puppet Showplace...

This week at puppet showplace a real treat: The Premiere of a new Show

by Tucker's Tales:" The Goose Is Loose"

This wonderful new show by Tucker's Tales, set in the Land of Mother Goose, features beautiful crocheted puppets modeled after the designs of our theater's founder Mary Churchill. A puppet performance not to be missed!

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About the show:

How can Mother Goose have lost her Goose? And where in the land of Nursery Rhymes did she wander? Poor Mother Goose must enlist the aid of her many friends as she seeks to find poor Lucy Goosey. Will her search through the Nursery Rhymes be successful? Can Simple Simon find a simple solution? Is a clue hiding under Miss Muffet’s tuffet?
Join Tuckers’ Tales and many of Nursery Land’s most famous characters as we travel through the beloved Nursery Rhymes of Mother Goose and solve the mystery of Lucy Goosey’s disappearance.

Restrictions:

Recommended for ages 3 and up.

About the Performers:

TUCKERS’ TALES PUPPET THEATRE, the Performing division of Puppet Perceptions, Inc., is a Philadelphia area based performing company founded in 1981. Co-directors Marianne and Tom Tucker have performed at puppet, folk, ethnic and street festivals, and at craft fairs, shopping centers, theaters and schools around the country. Audiences from small children to senior citizens have enjoyed the variety of styles skillfully displayed in their interesting programs.

Check Out Their Website

Hanging Out at the Theater

Even when there are no shows PST is still filled with puppety goodness. Yes thats right, no performances, but Puppet Showplace Theater is open on Fridays. Never been here before? stop in and say hi or check out the puppets for sale in our lobby. As we are doing our office work we are listening to Labyrinth and getting excited for our next puppet show ( Sir George & The Dragon) that starts tomorrow. For those who are not familiar with Labyrinth here is a sample of this amazing Henson Movie from the 80's. You should definitely check it out!

(warning although this movie is for children, there are some parts of the film that are a little scary so it might be best for older children)

Coming This Weekend To The Puppet Showplace...:

Sat & Sun| Nov 6 and 7| 1:00pm &3:00pm

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Thats right! the weekend is here!! Time for another Puppet Show at PST. Coming this weekend:

Sir George & the Dragon by Romper Rhythm & Puppets

About the show:

A fun and exciting medieval tale with Diane’s trademark humor and audience participation to update this classic. The knight Sir George rescues the Princess Petunia from a very hungry baby dragon. No swords here, but Sir George subdues the dragon just the same!

Restrictions:

Recommended for ages 3 and up.

About the Performer:

Diane Kordas has been performing music for children and families since 1992, and puppet shows since 1998. As a registered nurse and later as a mom she started using music and puppets to entertain and educate her patients, friends and family. Today, her classic and original stories with puppets, music, humor and audience participation are enjoyed by children and families at libraries, schools, outdoor events, parties, daycares and preschools throughout New England.

Find out more on her website