National Day of Puppetry, 2011, this Saturday!

NATIONAL DAY OF PUPPETRY
Saturday | April 23, 2011

The National Day of Puppetry was started in 1999 by the Puppeteers of America as a way to celebrate the art of puppetry. This year it will be held on Saturday April 23rd. Puppet Showplace Theatre, and the Boston Area Guild of Puppetry are teaming up with performers and presenters across the area to present a full day of fun puppetry events. Join us by attending any of the events below or by notifying us about your own puppetry performance by sending and email to artistic@puppetshowplace.org.

NEWS FLASH! Governor Deval Patrick has issued an official proclamation declaring April 23rd the Massachusetts Day of Puppetry! Join us on Boston Common at Noon on Saturday, April 23 to hear the proclamation read aloud in the company of giant puppets and Boston-area puppeteers.

2011 Massachusetts Day of Puppetry Schedule:

ALL DAY
Barnes & Noble Bookfair to benefit Puppet Showplace Theatre
Barnes & Noble, Prudential Center, Boston & bn.com

Looking for that great new book? Or a spot to grab a coffee after the Puppet Procession? Help support the Puppet Showplace Theatre while you shop! Stop by Barnes & Noble's Prudential Center Mall location and let any cashier know your are there to support Puppet Showplace Theatre on the National Day of Puppetry. Ten percent of your entire purchase will go to support the Mary Churchill Fund for undeserved children. Help us spread the magic of puppetry to everyone!

Can't make it to the store? You can still support the theatre when making purchases online! Just go to bn.com on April 23rd and use code 10447183 when ordering!
10:00AM - 11:00AM
Behind the Mask Studio and Theatre
6 Campbell Park Place, West Somerville, Davis Square T Stop (Red Line)

Visit the studio and see the magical creations of acclaimed mask-maker Eric Bornstein. Note: Behind the Mask welcomes visitors to borrow masks for the puppet procession. Participants will walk through Davis Square and travel by T to downtown Boston.
E-mail behindthemask1@gmail.com for more information.

10:00AM - 12:00PM
Families Creating Together Puppetry Arts Workshop
Nate Smith House, 155 Lamartine Street, Jamaica Plain, Stonybrook T Stop (Orange Line)

Spontaneous Celebrations Families Creating Together is a Visual Arts and Storytelling Program that welcomes and includes children/youth with disabilities, siblings, friends, parents/grandparents in a accessible setting. Workshops are in English and Spanish.
Call Ed Pazzanese for details: 617-524-6373.

10:30AM
Film: "The Never Ending Story" with introduction by Jon Little
The Coolidge Theatre, 290 Harvard Street, Brookline, Coolidge Corner T Stop (Green Line)

A troubled boy dives into a wondrous fantasy world through the pages of a mysterious book. Featuring giant puppet characters. Featuring pre-show puppet introduction by local performer Jonathan Little of Little's Creatures.

NOON: PUPPET PARADE!
Puppet Procession on Boston Common and Reading of Governor Deval Patrick's "Massachusetts Day of Puppetry" Proclamation
Boston Public Gardens & Boston Common, Arlington & Park Street T Stops (Green Line)

Big puppets, little puppets, parade puppets and musicians all come together for a fantastic impromptu parade through Boston's Public Gardens and Boston Common, culminating outside the State House with a reading of the Governor's Proclamation announcing the Massachusetts Day of Puppetry! Featuring special guests Big Nazo (Providence, RI), Behind the Mask Studio and Theatre (Somerville, MA), The Second Line Social Aid & Pleasure Society Brass Band (Somerville, MA), and the Puppeteer's Cooperative (Boston, MA).

Note: in case of inclement weather, this event will be canceled.

Be a part of the parade! Volunteer performers will meet at 11:00 am at the entrance to the Taj Hotel, 15 Arlington Street, and proceed to the back alley entrance of the Boston Giant Puppet Lending Library. OR, volunteers can bring their own puppets and chart their own route through downtown Boston, arriving on Boston Common by noon. Help us create a "Pied Piper" effect and draw attention to the fine art of puppetry in downtown Boston!

1:00PM & 3:00PM
World Premier of Turtle's New Home by Deborah Costine, Puppeteer!
Puppet Showplace Theatre, 32 Station Street, Brookline, Brookline Village T Stop (Green Line)

About the Show: Blanding is an endangered turtle in search of a new habitat. Each spring she leaves her wetland and travels to a nearby sandy hill where she lays her eggs. When a new road is built between the wetland and the hill, what will she do? With the help from her friend Castor the Beaver she may just be able to fix her problems! Hand puppets.
Recommended for ages 4 and up.

BUY TICKETS

After this performance, families are encouraged to explore Massachusetts wildlife habitats at nearby Olmstead Park.

4:00PM - 6:00PM
Spontaneous Celebrations Open House
Spontaneous Celebrations, 45 Danforth Street, Jamaica Plain, Stonybrook T Stop (Orange Line)

From stilt-walking to mask-making, find out about how you can get involved in festival arts programming in your community! Visit Spontaneous Celebrations for more information.

5:00PM
"RETROSPECTACLE"
Spontaneous Celebrations, 45 Danforth Street, Jamaica PlainStonybrook T Stop (Orange Line)

Learn about the history of Spontaneous Celebrations in this spectacular puppet retrospective. Questions? Please contact our box office for more details about these and other upcoming events at 617-731-6400.

9:00PM
Puppet Showplace Theatre Late Night Muppet Movie Festival (Adult Event)
Puppet Showplace Theatre, 32 Station Street, Brookline| Brookline Village T Stop

Excerpts from old-school Muppet TV appearances will be followed by a screening of The Muppets Take Manhattan. Rocky-Horror-style crowd participation is welcome. Hosted by Jonathan Little of Little's Creatures. FREE with suggested donation for popcorn and puppet punch.

To learn more about getting involved with puppetry in the Greater Boston Area, please visit:
Puppet Showplace Theatre

Boston Area Guild of Puppetry