You’re invited to a Taco Craft Party!

Join us on Saturday March 8 and Sunday March 9 after the 10:30 am & 1:00 pm performances of I Love Tacos by Paper Heart Puppets for a Taco Craft Party — where you’ll get to create your own paper taco puppet!

GET TICKETS

Ensure that Puppet Showplace thrives for 50 more years to come! By donating to Puppet Showplace, you can help share awesome puppetry, champion artistry, and welcome everyone.

 
Mainstage | Shows for Kids & Families
Amazing-Story-Machine-Group_web.jpeg
Mar 15
The Amazing Story Machine created by Doppelskope, co-produced by Sandglass Theater & Doppelskope

March 15 (Sat) 2025: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

When the Grimm family’s fabulous contraption malfunctions, they have to invent a new way of storytelling on the spot, with some help from the audience!

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 4 - 10
Mixed puppetry styles and live music

Amazing-Story-Machine-Group_web.jpeg
Mar 16
The Amazing Story Machine created by Doppelskope, co-produced by Sandglass Theater & Doppelskope

March 16 (Sun) 2025: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

When the Grimm family’s fabulous contraption malfunctions, they have to invent a new way of storytelling on the spot, with some help from the audience!

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 4 - 10
Mixed puppetry styles and live music

Amazing-Story-Machine-Group_web.jpeg
Mar 22
The Amazing Story Machine created by Doppelskope, co-produced by Sandglass Theater & Doppelskope

March 22 (Sat) 2025: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

When the Grimm family’s fabulous contraption malfunctions, they have to invent a new way of storytelling on the spot, with some help from the audience!

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 4 - 10
Mixed puppetry styles and live music

Amazing-Story-Machine-Group_web.jpeg
Mar 23
The Amazing Story Machine created by Doppelskope, co-produced by Sandglass Theater & Doppelskope

March 23 (Sun) 2025: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

When the Grimm family’s fabulous contraption malfunctions, they have to invent a new way of storytelling on the spot, with some help from the audience!

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 4 - 10
Mixed puppetry styles and live music

Aweoweo_Kathleen Doyle.jpg
Mar 29
Little Big Eye by Works With Water

March 29 (Sat) 2025: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

Dive beneath the ocean’s sparkly surface to a wild and dripping-wet world — featuring actual underwater puppets!

Puppet Showplace Theater's Incubator Program is proud to present the world premiere of this new, underwater version of Little Big Eye!

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 4 – 8
Underwater puppetry, mixed puppetry styles, and original music

Aweoweo_Kathleen Doyle.jpg
Mar 30
Little Big Eye by Works With Water

March 30 (Sun) 2025: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

Dive beneath the ocean’s sparkly surface to a wild and dripping-wet world — featuring actual underwater puppets!

Puppet Showplace Theater's Incubator Program is proud to present the world premiere of this new, underwater version of Little Big Eye!

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 4 – 8
Underwater puppetry, mixed puppetry styles, and original music

Aweoweo_Kathleen Doyle.jpg
Apr 5
Little Big Eye by Works With Water

April 5 (Sat) 2025: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

Dive beneath the ocean’s sparkly surface to a wild and dripping-wet world — featuring actual underwater puppets!

Puppet Showplace Theater's Incubator Program is proud to present the world premiere of this new, underwater version of Little Big Eye!

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 4 – 8
Underwater puppetry, mixed puppetry styles, and original music

Aweoweo_Kathleen Doyle.jpg
Apr 6
Little Big Eye by Works With Water

April 6 (Sun) 2025: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

Dive beneath the ocean’s sparkly surface to a wild and dripping-wet world — featuring actual underwater puppets!

Puppet Showplace Theater's Incubator Program is proud to present the world premiere of this new, underwater version of Little Big Eye!

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 4 – 8
Underwater puppetry, mixed puppetry styles, and original music

The Three Little Pigs, Magpie Puppets, Pigs and Wolf web copy.jpg
Apr 12
The Three Little Pigs by Magpie Puppets

Apr 12 (Sat) 2025: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

Which little pig will build a house that can withstand the powerful puffs of the Big Bad Wolf — surfer Georgie, farmer Jeremiah or Amelia, the avid reader?

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 3 – 8
Glove and tabletop puppets

The Three Little Pigs, Magpie Puppets, Pigs and Wolf web copy.jpg
Apr 13
The Three Little Pigs by Magpie Puppets

Apr 13 (Sun) 2025: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

Which little pig will build a house that can withstand the powerful puffs of the Big Bad Wolf — surfer Georgie, farmer Jeremiah or Amelia, the avid reader?

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 3 – 8
Glove and tabletop puppets

STT-Kitty's Corner.jpg
Apr 18
Bedtime Adventure Tales by String Theory Puppet Theater

Apr 18 ( Fri) 2025: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

What happens when a father and daughter create puppet shows together?! A collection of playful bedtime-themed tales featuring a cat-and-dog talk show, a fantastical adventure, and more!

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 5 – 10
Mixed puppetry styles, including hand puppets, marionettes, and shadow puppets

STT-Kitty's Corner.jpg
Apr 19
Bedtime Adventure Tales by String Theory Puppet Theater

Apr 19 (Sat) 2025: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

What happens when a father and daughter create puppet shows together?! A collection of playful bedtime-themed tales featuring a cat-and-dog talk show, a fantastical adventure, and more!

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 5 – 10
Mixed puppetry styles, including hand puppets, marionettes, and shadow puppets

Harry-LaCoste-Gus-Conductoroutfit-Suitcase.png
Apr 21
Vacation Week Palooza: The Loose Caboose by Harry LaCoste

Apr 21 (Mon) 2025: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

When his caboose is stranded, a train engineer discovers puppet characters and enchanting musical stories inside a suitcase!

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 3 – 7
Hand puppets and live music

8578212274_b9f8d06eda_o.jpg
Apr 22
Vacation Week Palooza: Cinderella by Tanglewood Marionettes

Apr 22 (Tue) 2025: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

The classic story of a young woman whose good heart transports her from rags to royalty, with a few unexpected twists!

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 4 – 8
Marionettes

Harry-LaCoste-Gus-Conductoroutfit-Suitcase.png
Apr 23
Vacation Week Palooza: The Loose Caboose by Harry LaCoste

Apr 23 (Wed) 2025: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

When his caboose is stranded, a train engineer discovers puppet characters and enchanting musical stories inside a suitcase!

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 3 – 7
Hand puppets and live music

pirates,lucy,chucky_Robin Erlandsen.jpg
Apr 24
Vacation Week Palooza: Everybody Loves Pirates by Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers

Apr 24 (Thu) 2025: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

Eight-year-old Lucy and her goofy pal Little Chucky are searching for buried treasure, but a gang of bumbling pirates keeps getting in the way!

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 4 – 9
Mouth and rod puppetry

pirates,lucy,chucky_Robin Erlandsen.jpg
Apr 25
Vacation Week Palooza: Everybody Loves Pirates by Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers

Apr 25 (Fri) 2025: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

Eight-year-old Lucy and her goofy pal Little Chucky are searching for buried treasure, but a gang of bumbling pirates keeps getting in the way!

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 4 – 9
Mouth and rod puppetry

pirates,lucy,chucky_Robin Erlandsen.jpg
Apr 26
Vacation Week Palooza: Everybody Loves Pirates by Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers

Apr 26 (Sat) 2025: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

Eight-year-old Lucy and her goofy pal Little Chucky are searching for buried treasure, but a gang of bumbling pirates keeps getting in the way!

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 4 – 9
Mouth and rod puppetry

pirates,lucy,chucky_Robin Erlandsen.jpg
Apr 27
Vacation Week Palooza: Everybody Loves Pirates by Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers

Apr 27 (Sun) 2025: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

Eight-year-old Lucy and her goofy pal Little Chucky are searching for buried treasure, but a gang of bumbling pirates keeps getting in the way!

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 4 – 9
Mouth and rod puppetry

FernSylvieDusty_photobyLizLinder_Bonnie Duncan.jpg
May 3
Go Home Tiny Monster by The Gottabees

May 3 (Sat) 2025: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm (PWYC)

Help Sylvie and her family of homespun creatures find a new home in this joyously silly and deeply poignant show.

Recommended for all ages, especially enjoyed by 3 - 13
Mixed puppetry styles

FernSylvieDusty_photobyLizLinder_Bonnie Duncan.jpg
May 4
Go Home Tiny Monster by The Gottabees

May 4 (Sun) 2025: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

Help Sylvie and her family of homespun creatures find a new home in this joyously silly and deeply poignant show.

Recommended for all ages, especially enjoyed by 3 - 13
Mixed puppetry styles

Ben_Hider_BH202395_Liz Joyce.jpg
May 10
The Doubtful Sprout by Liz Joyce & A Couple of Puppets

May 10 (Sat) 2025: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

Get ready to explore the world under your feet in this underground puppet adventure! Tunnel down with Worm and Sprout as they discover the mysterious life found inside soil.

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by 3 - 8
Mixed puppetry styles

Ben_Hider_BH202395_Liz Joyce.jpg
May 11
The Doubtful Sprout by Liz Joyce & A Couple of Puppets

May 11 (Sun) 2025: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

Get ready to explore the world under your feet in this underground puppet adventure! Tunnel down with Worm and Sprout as they discover the mysterious life found inside soil.

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by 3 - 8
Mixed puppetry styles

GetDressed_ShirtsSock_photobyTessScheflan_Bonnie Duncan.jpg
May 17
Don't Make Me Get Dressed by The Gottabees

May 17 (Sat) 2025: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

A gloriously silly and inventive ode to the feelings we have when we choose our clothes… and what happens when our clothes come to life.

Recommended for all ages, especially enjoyed by 3 - 8
Mixed puppetry styles

GetDressed_ShirtsSock_photobyTessScheflan_Bonnie Duncan.jpg
May 18
Don't Make Me Get Dressed by The Gottabees

May 18 (Sun) 2025: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

A gloriously silly and inventive ode to the feelings we have when we choose our clothes… and what happens when our clothes come to life.

Recommended for all ages, especially enjoyed by 3 - 8
Mixed puppetry styles

Kids Puppetry Workshops & Vacation week Programs
kids-vacation-programs-photos-by-leslie_52308295115_o.jpg
Apr 21
Puppet Adventure: Puppets of the Deep for Grades 2-6

Apr 21 (Mon) - Apr 25 (Fri) | 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Puppetry is exercise for your imagination! Join the Teaching Artists of Puppet Showplace Theater for one week of fun puppet-building and performance activities during your school vacation week.

Open to students in grades 2–6; grades 7–9 can apply to be Junior Puppet Counselors!

Puppets at Night | Shows and Classes for Adults & Teens
Audrey_Duck.jpg
Mar 18
Ventriloquism & Character Creation: Class with Susan Linn - WAITLIST ONLY

Tuesdays Mar 18 - Apr 22 2025 | 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm - SOLD OUT

Develop the character and voice for one puppet, while practicing the essential skills of ventriloquism!

Recommended for adults and teens ages 18+

Improv-Clown-Workshop-Stoph-Scheer.png
Mar 19
Improv & Theatrical Clown: Workshop with Stoph Scheer of Doppelskope

Mar 19 (Wed) 2025 | 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Cultivate the ability to react spontaneously and truthfully in this playful workshop with improv comedian, interactive theatre-maker, and theatrical clown Stoph Scheer.

Recommended for adults 18+

sandglasstheater-workshop.jpg
Mar 20
Bringing Puppets to Life: Workshop with Shoshana Bass of Sandglass Theater

Mar 20 (Thurs) 2025 | 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Explore the basic mechanics of one-person and three-person-style puppets in this fun, hands-on workshop using Sandglass Theater’s approach to puppetry training.

Recommended for adults 18+

Cat-Prototype-coloredit.png
Apr 3
Puppet Prototypes: How To "Sketch" Your Puppet Ideas With Paper, Tape, and String — Class with Amanda Gibson

Apr 3, 10, 24 (Thurs) 2025 | 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Want to build your own rod or tabletop puppets, but don’t know where to start? In this class you will design and create a fully articulated, actual-size test puppet!

Recommended for adults 18+

CRBP 2025 Artist Talk Website Collage.png
Apr 13
Creative Residency for Black Puppeteers: Work-in-Progress Presentations & Artist Talk (Virtual)

Apr 13 (Sun) | 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

 Join us on Zoom for an inspiring evening with the current cohort of artists, exploring their works-in-progress at this midpoint sharing.

Recommended for adults and teens

News & Blog Posts
William PK Carter headshot smaller.jpg
Introducing the Artists of the 2025 Creative Residency for Black Puppeteers

We are thrilled to announce the recipients of Puppet Showplace Theater’s 2025 Creative Residency for Black Puppeteers!

Read More →
Marvelous-Metamorphoses-Herter-Park-2024-2.jpg
An $18 obstacle

As a supporter of Puppet Showplace, you know that theater brings us together. But for some families, even an $18 ticket is a barrier to joining in.

Read More →
Imagination Video - Final Thumbnail.png
A video to warm your heart

We've got something special for you this morning.

Read More →
54140813807_6488e42e1a_k.jpg
Warning: this blog contains bees

It’s a summer afternoon and Natsumi, age 10, is here to express herself. She doesn’t want to act in a play — “I don't like it when eyes are on me,” — but she loves designing her own puppets and creating shows in our vacation week programs.

Read More →
54142063409_f605923db6_o.jpg
Nurturing the next generation...

As I write this, Puppet Showplace is preparing to announce the 5th cohort of our Creative Residency for Black Puppeteers (CRBP). This program is expanding from two months to six months so that we can offer more support, mentorship, and community-building to support early-stage works by Black artists.

Read More →
unnamed_drawing1.png
Glad and Grateful 💜

Each year we receive hundreds of thank you cards from children who have come to Puppet Showplace Theater on field trips.

Today we want to share their thanks with you. 

Read More →
Work by Nehprii, Leah, Dirk.png
Announcing the 2025 Creative Residency for Black Puppeteers — now accepting applications!

Now in its 5th year, Puppet Showplace’s Creative Residency for Black Puppeteers has invested in 20 Black artists since 2020 by supporting creative research at the earliest stage of production development.

Read More →
Partner highlight Email narrow banner quad.png
Artists make their home at Puppet Showplace...and soar to other venues!

This fall, shows that were nurtured at Puppet Showplace are spreading their wings, and performing at amazing venues all over Boston and New England.

Read More →
summer-outdoor-series-trio.png
Launch of expanded Summer Outdoor Series: more puppets, more neighbhorhoods

“We've found that audiences really respond to the relaxed environment of an outdoor show. By nearly doubling the number of shows and quadrupling the neighborhoods reached, we aim to reach diverse communities and connect with new audiences through the joy of puppetry."

Read More →
Child-GoodNewsGus-June8th-50th-kickoff-crop.jpg
A celebration of community & creativity kicked off our 50th anniversary year!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for helping Puppet Showplace kick off our 50th anniversary year so joyfully! Thank you for eating all the popcorn, playing with all the free-play puppets, filling our window with birthday flags and our sidewalk with chalk art.

Read More →
marychurchill1.jpg
Birthday thoughts & a letter from Mary

On Sunday, June 2, we officially turned 50, and I came across a letter that touched me, written by Puppet Showplace Theater's founder Mary Churchill in 1990: "The theater will have existed for twenty years. How many other people have had the opportunity to set up and run a great place like this, that some will remember long after we are dead?"

Read More →
GottabeesNOTthisdress.jpg
Don’t Make Me Get Dressed by The Gottabees is "the goodest puppet show I ever saw!"

We're still buzzing with excitement from the premiere run of Don't Make Me Get Dressed by The Gottabees last month! With over 1,700 attendees, the show was definitely a hit — 9 out of 23 performances were completely sold out.

Read More →
 
 

Our Mission

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

Connect with us

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.