PST Summer Workshops and Classes

REGISTER NOW FOR CLASSES AT PST!
Coming this spring and summer, PST has brand new education programming for youth, families, and adults alike! Classes will fill up fast, so grab your spot today!

All classes and workshops will be taught by Brad Shur, our artist in residence.

Youth Class:

Think Big! Giant Puppet Construction and Performance Class
July 18 - July 23
Monday through Friday, 3:30 to 5:30 pm
At the Puppet Showplace Theatre
Public performance Saturday July 23, at 8:00 pm

Join us in July for a week of bringing giants to life! Students will learn how to dream big and work with others to make their visions a reality. In addition to acquiring technical construction and performance skills, students will learn the basics of project planning and how to work as a team. Their work will be presented for our audiences at the July 23rd adult Puppet Showplace Slam (8:00 pm on July 23rd)!

Only $125 per participant! Ages 8 and up
Click here to register online, or call the Box office at 617-731-6400


Family Workshop Series:
Our "Summer Saturday" family workshop series takes place on the first Saturday of each summer month (June, July, and August).
These are participatory workshops where adults and children work together to build and perform with puppets.

Space for these workshops is limited, so pre-registration is STRONGLY encouraged.
Call the box office at 617-731-6400 today to reserve your space!

Cost: $15/adult, $10/child (Member price $13/adult, $8/child).

Family Workshops Offered:

Playing with Light: the magical art of shadow puppetry
June 4 | 10:30 – 12:30
Shadow puppetry is a fun, inexpensive way for families to create magical worlds and tell stories together. In this workshop, participants will see live and video demonstrations of the centuries-old history of shadow puppets and learn about their amazing variety across cultures. Then, everyone will make their own shadow puppets and learn the basic techniques of bringing them to life. This is a hands-on workshop, where everyone will have a chance to be a shadow puppeteer!
Register Online

Big Stories: Paul Bunyan and participatory puppet theater
July 2 |10:30 – 12:30
Did you ever wonder how puppeteers tell such big stories with such small characters? Celebrate American Independence by bringing to life the classic American Folk Tale, Paul Bunyan! Families will learn how puppeteers use movement and sound to bring multiple styles of puppets to life. All participants will get to practice manipulation exercises with simple puppets provided by the instructor. Then, together we will put on a show! Junk Puppets!
Register Online

A Hands-On Recycled Materials Puppet Building Extravaganza
August 6 | 10:30 – 12:30
Puppets can bring junk back to life! Participants will begin by learning what a puppet is and some of the basic skills of puppet construction. Then, everyone will create their own puppet using recycled materials. We’ll have plenty on hand, and participants are welcome to bring their own materials as well (water bottles, toilet paper tubes, etc). Our artist in residence will guide the creative process and assist with construction. Once the puppets are complete, we’ll get a crash course in making them come to life with voice, movement and story-telling techniques.
Register Online



Adult Classes:

Introduction to Puppetry Arts
Four Thursday Evenings
May 19 - June 9 | 7PM - 9PM
Ages 16 and up
What makes a great puppet show? Participants will be introduced to the exciting and multifaceted world of puppetry through hands-on exploration of the materials and performance methods used by professional puppeteers. The class will study and discuss the work of great including Richard Bradshaw, Burr Tillstrom, and Sergey Obraztsov, and learn what core elements unite traditional Punch and Judy shows with the Muppets and the giant puppets of Royale de Luxe. Participants will survey basic construction methods and will build their own puppets and make them come to life.

This is an adult workshop; ages 16 and up.

Introduction to Puppetry Arts Registration info

Introduction to Glove Puppetry
Four Thursday Evenings
July 28 - August 14 | 7PM - 9PM
Ages 16 and up
How does a puppeteer bring a character to life? Glove puppetry is an immensely creative and challenging art form that has been practiced for centuries around the world as a way to bring stories to life. Students will examine the history of glove puppet performance from Punch and Judy to Mr. Rogers. Starting with basic exercises for manual dexterity and expressiveness and progressing to 2-character interactions, students will build a vocabulary of movement that will allow them to express almost any emotion or action. Finally, participants will learn a durable method for creating their own glove puppets from scratch.

This is an adult workshop; ages 16 and up.

Introduction to Glove Puppetry Registration info

Questions? Feel free to contact our box office for more details about these and other upcoming events at 617-731-6400.

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