Meet the Puppeteers: The Three Little Pigs & The Snowflake Man

Kimberley Van Aelst, founder of Oompapossum Puppets

Kimberly is thrilled to be bringing her twisty tale of The Three Little Pigs to the Puppet Showplace Mainstage! She has been performing her beloved children’s puppet shows for over a decade in libraries, schools, museums and at festivals throughout the tri-state area. She also acclaimed for her adult puppet shows. In 2019, Kimberly joined former PST resident artist Brad Shur & puppeteered in his production of Error Code at the Jim Henson Carriage House in Manhattan. Puppet at Night fans might remember her film Curse of the Lemon that was featured at the December 2021 Puppet Slam.

To see Kimberley’s beautiful hand-carved puppets in action, reserve your tickets to The Three Little Pigs, March 5 & 6.

Sarah Frechette, founder of PuppetKabob

Sarah founded her award-winning touring puppet company Puppetkabob in 2001. Sarah is a puppeteer, designer, and arts educator whose work has been experienced in theaters, museums, art galleries, TV and film. The Snowflake Man was inspired in part by the spirit her grandfather. Behind all of the puppet shows Sarah creates is the memory of her Vermont heritage, her grandparents, and her relatives who work with their hands and with their hearts!

To watch Sarah travel back in time, reserve your tickets to The Snowflake Man, March 12 & 13.

Meet the Puppeteers: The Fairy Circus & What is Magic?

Peter Schaefer, co-founder of Tanglewood Marionettes

Peter is a Boston-born puppeteer who practically grew up in the greenroom at Puppet Showplace and even served as an usher in his teens. He founded Tanglewood Marionettes with his wife Anne in 1993 and they've been performing at Puppet Showplace ever since. Tanglewood Marionettes believes above all that a performance is a communal experience, with connections established not only with the performers, but also between members of the audience themselves as they laugh together, gasp together, and cheer together when the good guys prevail!

To see Peter become the ringmaster, reserve your tickets to The Fairy Circus, Feb 19, 20, 21.

Scotty Swan, puppeteer & magician

Growing up in Western Massachusetts as an only child, puppeteer & magician Scotty Swan used his puppets and stuffed animals to create full productions in his bedroom. Scotty was also fascinated by a magician named Sky. The first and only African American magician from the same city, Sky really captured Scotty's attention and performed at his birthday party. These life changing events sent him on a course of artistic discovery that continues to this day. Past Puppets at Night attendees may recognize Scotty from his work with Puppet Showplace on Midnight Zoo in 2016 and Just Another Lynching in 2019.

To see what Scotty's got in his bag of tricks, reserve your tickets to What is Magic?, Feb 26 & 27.

Announcing: A Season of Many Marvels

Just in time for February Vacation Week, our Season of Many Marvels features magic and myth, science and discovery, and just a few familiar fables for good measure. We are so excited to welcome you back to live performances at 32 Station Street! Learn more and purchase your tickets here!

A SEASON OF MANY MARVELS 2022 SCHEDULE:

• The Fairy Circus by Tanglewood Marionettes, (Sat 2/19 - Mon 2/21)

• What is Magic? by Scotty Swan, (Sat 2/26 - Sun 2/27)

• The Three Little Pigs by OompaPossum Puppets, (Sat 3/5 - Sun 3/6)

• The Snowflake Man by PuppetKabob, (Sat 3/12 - Sun 3/13)

• The Three Billy Goats Gruff & The Lion and the Mouse by Pumpernickel Puppets, (Sat 3/26 - Sun 3/27)

• A Tale of the Monkey King by Margaret Moody Puppets, (Sat 4/2 - Sun 4/3)

In accordance with town guidelines, masks are required indoors, and proof of vaccination is required for all eligible audience members. For more information, visit our Public Health page.

A Letter from our President

To our wonderful, generous community:

As I reflect on the past year and a half, I am truly grateful. So much has happened, and yet, here we are: Puppets on stage! People in the theater! Children, masked and sitting with a bit more space around them, once again giggling at the adventures of favorite characters. I recently watched the most adorable little fuzzy grey rats besiege the town of Hamelin, much to the chagrin of the puppet inhabitants — and to the delight of the young audience in the theater. And for adults and teens, the Puppets at Night series returned with the season opener, “Flying Lessons,” a stunner with graceful, mysterious shadow puppetry by Caitlin Brzezinski and Libby Schap. 

The hands of the puppeteers are often hidden during puppet shows – inside a puppet, beneath the stage, or behind a curtain. But, hidden or not, those hands are needed to tell the story, create the excitement, and bring the puppets to life. Today, we at Puppet Showplace are asking you to lend us a hand. 

Over the summer, Puppet Showplace hosted a hugely popular series of free outdoor puppet performances in Brookline. We offered six weeks of summer education programming to aspiring puppeteers, aged 7-10. And, this fall we welcomed audiences back to our historic theater with “A Season of Friends and Neighbors” featuring in-person and virtual shows, and hosted a 5-week adult puppet making class with Veronica Barron.

We are planning for another year of amazing puppetry, featuring classic favorites, new friends, and plenty of puppet antics for all to enjoy: mainstage shows, vacation week programming, a third round of our Creative Residency for Black Puppeteers, physical upgrades to make our theater more accessible to performers and audiences, and new educational offerings for children and adults. 

If you have given before, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generosity: Puppet Showplace is here today because of you! If you are new to Puppet Showplace: Welcome! Whether you are a longtime friend of the theater or new to this magical place, please consider giving to our year-end fundraiser, because every puppet needs a hand!

With gratitude,

Margueritte Murphy

Board President

Puppet Showplace Theater Seeks Candidates for Board of Trustees

Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity? Do you love puppetry, art, and theater? Puppet Showplace Theater in Brookline, Massachusetts seeks candidates to join our Board of Trustees! This is an opportunity to bring your expertise and passion for the transformative power of the arts to help guide our vision and the business of Puppet Showplace Theater.

Puppet Showplace Theater is New England’s home for puppetry arts, founded in 1974 by visionary educator and puppeteer Mary Churchill. We are dedicated to presenting outstanding professional puppetry to diverse audiences through performances, workshops, and community outreach. As we look toward our theater’s 50th anniversary in 2024, we envision a vibrant, welcoming, and culturally responsive puppetry center that inspires creativity and invites participation by people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. 

Puppet Showplace Theater values diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility and provides equal opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We encourage Board members from all backgrounds and abilities to apply. 

We are always looking for candidates with experience in law and policy, human resources, finance, fundraising, non-profit management, early childhood education, arts education, marketing, community outreach, and diversity and inclusion. We also seek Brookline residents to join our Board. We value all candidates with a sense of humor.

If you have a passion for performing arts and would like to learn more about joining our dedicated team of professionals, parents, and puppetry fans, please attend an upcoming information session:

• (Online via Zoom) Tuesday December 14, noon-1:00 pm

• (In-person at Puppet Showplace Theater, 32 Station Street, Brookline MA) Date TBD

To RSVP, please email board@puppetshowplace.org. 

Ready to apply? Please submit a letter of interest and resume or short bio to board@puppetshowplace.org. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Puppet Showplace, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation as defined by Chapter 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code.  As a nonprofit, the theater is governed by a volunteer board of trustees who are empowered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to act as fiduciary stewards of the organization.

What does the Board of Trustees do?

Our trustees are volunteers who play an active role in shaping the theater’s direction by providing governance and non-profit management. In addition to providing checks and balances and overseeing Puppet Showplace Theater’s finances, human resources, ethics, and success, we provide direct support to the theater through fundraising, outreach, special projects, and participation on committees. We also have a lot of fun!

Why should I join the Board of Trustees?

As a Puppet Showplace Theater Trustee, you will:

• Have a meaningful impact on a cherished arts organization that serves people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.

• Gain valuable non-profit Board and leadership experience.

• Practice and apply your skills in a new environment, with dedicated people who value your knowledge, expertise, and opinions.

• Focus on issues and projects that matter most to you.

• Shape the future of the theater at an important moment of change, and as we plan for our 50th Anniversary in 2024. . 

• Serve the community.

• Help Puppet Showplace Theater to cultivate imagination. 

• Meet great people and work collaboratively to ensure art, theater, and creativity are part of everyone’s childhood.

What are the requirements for becoming a trustee?

Your love for the performing arts and desire to make Puppet Showplace Theater accessible to everyone are the most important requirements. More specifically, we:

• Serve three-year terms, with the option to serve two consecutive terms.

• Meet every other month as a full board. Committees typically meet monthly.

• Contribute to Puppet Showplace via fundraising, donations, and/or in-kind support. 

• Volunteer when needed at Puppet Showplace shows, workshops, and events. 

As part of the onboarding process, trustee candidates are connected with a mentor (a veteran trustee) and are encouraged (but not required) to undertake a project of their choosing to help Puppet Showplace Theater, and to provide you with an opportunity to interact with our Board and Leadership team. 

Want to learn more?

There are several ways to connect with us!

• Visit https://www.puppetshowplace.org/board-of-trustees to learn about us. 

• Send questions or an application (a letter of interest and a resume or short bio) to board@puppetshowplace.org. 

We are excited to talk with you about your interest and experience; the theater and the board; and to answer all of your questions.

We look forward to meeting you!

Announcing: A Season with Friends and Neighbors

We are so excited to resume in-person events! Virtual performances will also be available. Learn more and purchase your tickets here!

FALL 2021 SCHEDULE

• “Lisa the Wise” by Sarah Nolen, Resident Artist (Sat 10/23 - Sun 10/24).

• “Hansel and Gretel” by Tangelwood Marionettes (Sun 10/31).

• “The Pied Piper of Hamelin” by CactusHead Puppets (Sat 11/6 - Sun 11/7).

• “The Perils of Mr. Punch!” by Modern Times Theater (Sat 11/13 - Sun 11/14).

• “Squirrel Stole My Underpants” by The Gottabees (Sat 11/20 - Sun 11/21)

• “Sir George and The Dragon” by Pumpernickel Puppets (Sat 11/28 - Sun 11/29)

Learn more about our policies on the Public Health & Programming page!

Farewell from Paul!

The cast of “Word Play” after a field trip.

Dear Puppet Showplace Friends,

Over my nearly 10 years of employment at Puppet Showplace, I managed the box office, helped to build our field trip and touring client base, created and performed original music for a number of productions and pieces seen on stage, and served as a welcoming face (literally and figuratively) for all visitors to the theater. It is with bittersweet emotions that I announce my departure from my position as Box Office Manager, which I have held since 2015. 

Parading down Station Street.

PST has been a home base for me since I joined as an intern back in 2011. I had just moved to the East Coast after finishing a B.A. in music and psychology from UC Davis, and in applying for the position on a whim, I inadvertently discovered a world of creativity and camaraderie to dive headlong into. My first experience of watching a live puppet show was a performance by Sparky’s Puppets, and I was enchanted from the start by the rapid-fire jokes (many of which were squarely aimed at the adults in attendance), by the call-and-response audience engagement, and by the sheer virtuosity and endurance necessary for one puppeteer to perform all the characters, sound effects, and scene changes. I didn’t get to have  the experience of live professional puppetry until I was already an adult, so getting to be a part of an organization that is a regional hub for this art form and facilitating this experience for kids and others was very rewarding.

I consider myself exceptionally lucky to have had the opportunity to learn from and contribute to the organization over these 10 years, and I'm very grateful for the connections and friendships I have made with the artists, business & cultural partners, patrons, and staff. Going forward, I'll still be in the Boston area, and without a doubt I'll be an audience member at future PST shows! You may even see me performing in Good Hearted Entertainment's “Word Play”, or you might hear my music in some yet-to-be-created production. By the way, if you’re interested in checking out my concert music (if you happen to be a fan of both puppets AND contemporary chamber music), you can find some of my recordings at https://soundcloud.com/pitchfieldpaul.

Station Street Sidewalk Sale, Spring 2021.

Thank you all for making me a part of the Puppet Showplace family, and I hope our paths will cross again soon. Until then!

Best wishes,

Paul Watkins

Announcing: Summer Saturdays Outdoor Series!

Live puppet shows are BACK this summer with a FREE outdoor series exploring Brookline’s beautiful neighborhoods, parks, and community spaces. Specially designed for families to safely gather, these shows feature a wide variety of puppetry styles with safe-distanced seating in open-air locations. RSVP here to reserve your spot!

Summer Saturdays 2021 SCHEDULE

• “Jack and the Beanstalk” by Dream Tale Puppets, July 24 at 10:30 am at Emerson Gardens in Brookline Village

• “The Bella Show” by Brenda Huggins and Phil Berman, July 31 at 2:30 and 4:00 pm at Babcock Street Tent in Coolidge Corner

• “Bugsy and Friends” by Pumpernickel Puppets, August 7 at 10:30 am at Murphy Playground in Brookline Village

• “Punschi: The Adventures of Kasper” by Sandglass Theater, August 21 at 6:00 pm at Brookline Place, Brookline Village

• “Sock Monkey Circus” by Good Hearted Entertainment, August 28 at 6:00 pm at Brookline Place, Brookline Village

• “Cardboard Explosion” by Paper Heart Puppets, September 4 at 6:00 pm at Brookline Place, Brookline Village

Learn more about our locations, seating, and policies on the Outdoor Shows: Plan your Visit page!

Thank you to our supporters!

This series is supported by a grant from the Brookline Community Foundation. The Brookline Community Foundation (BCF) creates opportunity and promotes equity through the transformative power of giving. To support this mission, each year BCF makes grants that address needs and opportunities in the community, encourage collaborations and partnerships to better serve the town and our residents, and strengthen local non-­profits.

Meet The New Leadership Team!

Dear Friends of Puppet Showplace Theater,

We—the new leadership team—are honored to step into our roles as co-directors of this historic 47-year-old organization. After the unprecedented challenges that Puppet Showplace endured these past 16 months,  we are energized by all of you who heroically came forward in your own times of crises to make a donation, send support and kindness, and share trust where trust had been lost. 

It is thanks to you—the artists and puppeteers, the families young and old, patrons past and present, community supporters, local businesses, and so many dear friends—that Puppet Showplace is entering this new era stronger than ever! We believe that Puppet Showplace founder Mary Churchill would be proud to know that her vision continues to be shared by so many.

And now, allow us to introduce ourselves!

---

Hannah Swartz, Managing Director

“My name is Hannah Swartz and I am the new Managing Director. An experienced arts administrator, I have built my career working at the intersection of artistic presentation, education, and fundraising, mainly in the museum world. A Toronto native, and most recently a resident of New York City, I spent most of my adult life in the Greater Boston area and will be moving to Brookline with my husband and two young kids, who are already enthusiastic fans of puppetry.

The first time I attended Puppet Showplace was for Puppet Playtime with Harry and Good News Gus. I watched my toddler roll over with the most gleeful belly laugh I’d ever seen. He instantly fell in love with the silly voices, familiar songs, and playful sleight of hand, while I was taken by the welcoming feeling of the space, the intimacy of the experience, and the remarkable talent. Although I am myself fairly crafty and even performative on occasion, on a day-to-day basis I use my creativity to manage teams and solve problems in support of artists and audiences. I’m deeply dedicated to making storytelling and the arts accessible and affordable to people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.

I look forward to witnessing a whole new generation of will-be puppetry lovers and storytellers experience the same joy that my son felt.”

Leslie Burton, Artistic Director

“My name is Leslie Burton, and I am the new Artistic Director. As a theater-maker, arts facilitator, scholar, and puppeteer, I have made my way around the USA and Europe pursuing a multiplicity of perspectives on puppetry arts. Though I am new to Brookline and the Boston area as a whole, I am struck by a profound sense of home-coming: I'm returning to this country after living for a decade in southern Ireland, and in joining the Puppet Showplace team, I feel that I have landed in the right spot to keep exploring and sharing the many possibilities of this enchanting medium.

As passionate as I am about the art form of puppetry itself, I am equally devoted to sharing it with as many people as possible. In 2014, whilst studying in Ireland, I presented a show that I wrote, designed, built, and directed. As any puppeteers reading this might guess, I was also a performer, so by the end of the run, I was absolutely exhausted. I don't remember that, though; what I remember instead are two pieces of feedback. One came from a woman in her 60s, who with a soft voice and a childlike sparkle in her eye took me aside and said, “I had no idea puppetry could do that!” The other came from an 8-year-old boy, via his father. At the end of the show, his son had turned to him and, with the air of a seasoned critic, informed him that “that was an excellent puppet show.”

Inspiring that sense of wonder in adults and expertise in children is now my mission. I can't wait to get started.”

---

We are ever so eager to reopen our door to the public and welcome each one of you back into the theater: to draw the red curtains, lift our puppets, and see you smile and laugh together as a chorus.

A theater is more than a space to enjoy performances—it is also a treasure trove of memories and hopes for the future. At its best, a theater is a gathering place that invites an end to separation, offering common touch-points of experience that transform individuals into communities. What draws us to the theater is the promise of connections between friends and strangers, between children and their caregivers, between artists and audiences. 

Stay tuned for announcements about our spectacular Saturday summer series and the theater’s official reopening. We look forward to welcoming everyone back into this space that belongs to all of us. Expect both familiar faces and brand new surprises just around the corner!

Until we meet in person, please get in touch with your questions and concerns at the email addresses below. Contact Hannah at business@puppetshowplace.org with queries about sponsorship, funding, and other ways to support the theater, and contact Leslie at artistic@puppetshowplace.org about artists, program content, and school and community partnerships. Now is a great time to update your contact information with us as well.

Sincerely,

Hannah & Leslie

P.S. To read our bios, visit our Staff page!

Celebrating Roxie's 11 Years as Artistic Director

Artistic Director Roxanna Myhrum is off on a new adventure! Catch her at virtual performances this May and June, and read her letter below sharing memories from her time at the theater, 2010-2021.

Roxie working at First Night Boston, December 2019. Puppet characters by Paul Vincent Davis.

Dear Puppet Showplace Friends and Fans,

After 11+ wonderful years as Puppet Showplace Theater’s Artistic Director, the time has come for me to pass the top hat to someone new. My last official day at the theater will be June 30, 2021. After that, I hope to remain a friend, fan, and supporter for many years to come.

I’m immensely proud of all that we’ve done together, of the connections we’ve made and the artistic expression we’ve enabled.

While every creative encounter made an impact on me, I wanted to share with you some of the projects and initiatives that have been most challenging, memorable, and definitive of my time at Puppet Showplace.

Incubating New Works by Local Artists

When I started at Puppet Showplace, I realized that the theater had an impending “supply chain” problem. Several extraordinary puppeteers were nearing retirement, but years of underinvestment in public arts funding, stagnant municipal budgets, and shrinking opportunities for in-school performances meant fewer artists were entering the field. While Puppet Showplace historically had only worked with performers who had completed full-length shows, I saw an acute need for us to support and invest in new works by local and emerging artists.

A scene from Squirrel Stole My Underpants by The Gottabees, 2013 (Photo: Liz Linder).

 In 2012, we retooled the theater’s “Incubator” meet-up group to focus on supporting local puppeteers through the multi-step process of launching full-length touring productions. In 2013, we debuted 2 new works, Squirrel Stole My Underpants by Bonnie Duncan of The Gottabees and Tall Tales by Brad Shur and Chris Monti.

That first year was a nail-biting experience. There’s a saying in the puppetry world, “You can do whatever you want, as long as you call it Cinderella.” Would our audiences show up for these fantastic but unfamiliar original shows? 

John and Megan of CactusHead Puppets with characters from Magnificent Monster Circus, 2020.

The answer was a resounding “YES!” These shows were a hit, and both went on to reach thousands of people on tour across the region (or, in the case of Squirrel, across multiple continents). To date, the Incubator Program has launched 15 new works by 7 different Massachusetts-based companies. I’m glad this program has helped revitalize new work in New England’s touring puppetry ecosystem, and I’m grateful to all the brave puppeteers who worked so hard to imagine new stories and bring them to life. 

International Collaborations

The Swan by Le Théâtre de Deux Mains.

Puppetry is a global art form. As New England’s puppetry center, we typically focus on showcasing work by artists from our region. At the same time, we participate in cultural ambassadorship by welcoming guest artists from around the world.

 As a relatively small organization, undertaking international presentations is incredibly daunting, made more difficult each year as visa requirements and travel expenses become more onerous. Luckily, we have had many partners, including fellow cultural organizations and diplomats, who have helped make these presentations possible.

My first international presentation was in 2013, when Les Sages Fous (Québec) graced our stage with the magnificent Orphan Circus. Since then, we’ve presented five additional companies from Québec (Le Théâtre de Deux Mains, Des mots d'la dynamite, Puzzle Theater, Lost & Found Puppet Co., and most recently Théâtre des Petites Âmes, who performed Ogo in 2019). In 2018, we also hosted a month-long cross-cultural artist residency with Montreal’s Casteliers Festival, sending Boston-based artist Veronica Barron to Montreal while welcoming Montreal’s Caroline Bernier-Dionne to our theater.

The Brothers Čampur at Puppet Showplace in 2016.

In 2014, we partnered with Great Small Works to present a group of international toy theater artists on tour, including Facto Teatro from Mexico and Barbara Steinitz from Germany. In 2016 and 2017, The Brothers Čampur from Indonesia shared their contemporary Wayang Kulit work and led incredible puppet making workshops. Israel’s Yael Rasooly also visited in 2017 with her internationally acclaimed show Paper Cut. In 2018, we welcomed Commedia dell’arte troupe Teatro Giuliare from Italy, followed by the pioneering Hijinx Theatre from Wales.

Meet Fred cast members arrive from Wales, 2018.

The Hijinx collaboration, supported by a NEFA Expeditions grant, was one of the biggest projects I had ever undertaken, with a neurodiverse cast of 8 artists on tour, multiple presenting and community partners, and performance locations across New England. After over a year of planning, it was a joy when the company finally arrived, and extremely gratifying to hear how much their show Meet Fred impacted Boston audiences. 

In 2019, we hosted Taiwan’s I Wan Jan Puppet Troupe, who astonished us with their Bu Dai Xi hand puppetry skill. This presentation was made possible thanks to the organizing and translating work of puppeteer Margaret Moody, who had studied in Taiwan decades earlier with the company.

With Margaret Moody and the cast of I Wan Jan Puppet Theater Co (Taiwan), 2019.

I hope that international collaborations continue, perhaps with new and exciting virtual formats, as they did this year for World Puppetry Day, when puppeteers from Mexico, Canada, and Japan all performed live in our virtual puppet slam. Thank you to everyone who helped make these collaborations possible…grazie, merci, gracias, danke, תודה, and 谢谢 !

Building Fantastical Worlds with Resident Artists (and Friends!)

One of the highlights of my job has been working in support of our resident artists. When I started at Puppet Showplace in 2010, puppeteer Brad Shur had just begun what would become an 8-year tenure. While we mostly focused on developing his solo touring shows and workshops over those years, we often found ourselves scheming about bigger creative projects that could tap into Brad’s talents as builder/designer and my experiences as a theatrical stage director. We also wanted to create employment opportunities for local puppeteers who were highly skilled but who weren’t necessarily interested in creating puppet shows on their own.  

The cast of Spooky Story Station, 2011.

Brad and I each had a thing for Halloween, and for highly interactive puppetry experiences. In 2011, we created “Spooky Story Station,” a fantastical walk-through experience at the theater designed to enchant young Trick-or-Treaters. About 30 performers, designers, and alumni from our adult classes took part. Even with a shoestring budget, the piece was a unique delight for all who attended. That said, given the enormous amount of work involved, we vowed not to undertake another Halloween project until we had a proper sponsor. 

In 2016, the Franklin Park Zoo asked us to turn an unused corner of the grounds into a fantastical Halloween attraction with an ecological twist. That October, The Midnight Zoo was born. This project ran for 5 weeks outdoors and was seen by over 4,000 attendees. It featured the work of 14 builder/designers, 20 original creatures, and had 28 nightly performers and crew. It was an incredibly rewarding challenge, not only for the creative camaraderie that it fostered, but also for the lasting impact it made on audiences. One family even sent us a picture of a Blood Beast ornament their child made for their Christmas tree.

Lord Midnight and the Blood Beast (created by Big Nazo Labs) in The Midnight Zoo, 2017.

In 2017, Sarah Nolen became Puppet Showplace’s Resident Artist, bringing to Boston her enormous talents as a puppeteer and filmmaker. In 2019, we undertook our own fantastical collaboration. Metropolitan Chorale, a 100-voice choir, wanted to stage Menotti’s madrigal fable The Unicorn, the Gorgon, and the Manticore using puppetry to bring the story to life. One of my most thrilling nights as a director was sitting with Sarah for hours and dissecting the vocal score, listening to recordings, and asking in each moment, “What do you think is happening here?” Together, we dreamed up answers with larger-than-life characters, which Sarah then designed and built. I worked with a fantastic cast of puppeteers to bring the show to life.  Somehow, everything came together for a single sold-out performance for an audience of 400 that ended with a resounding standing ovation (read coverage of our dress rehearsal on the Wonderland Blog).

With Conductor Lisa Graham, Sarah Nolen (center, under the Gorgon), and the cast of “The Unicorn, the Gorgon, and the Manticore,” 2019.

Expanding Education

Students in Puppet Adventure Program with instructors Sarah Nolen, John Regan, and Honey Goodenough, summer 2019.

Puppetry can sometimes seem intimidating or unfamiliar when you’re just starting out. Early on in my tenure, it became clear to me that Puppet Showplace needed to create more opportunities for people of all ages to enter and explore the field, learning skills along the way that empowered them to express themselves through puppetry. Over the past decade, I’ve worked hard to expand our education programs for learners of all ages. This has been possible thanks both to innovative instruction by professional puppeteers, and to schools, community groups, and other partners who have co-created programs with us.

In 2017, Honey Goodenough joined our team as the theater’s first Resident Teaching Artist. She taught in and expanded on our many summer collaborations, and in 2018 helped us pioneer Summer Puppet Academy in partnership with BU’s Wheelock Family Theatre. This summer, she’ll be leading our safe-distanced on-site vacation programs, and I’m thrilled that after such a difficult year, kids will have the opportunity to learn and create with her all summer long.    

Adult puppet building class with Ronald Binion, 2017.

I’m also really proud of our adult education program, which has attracted inspiring, ambitious students of all backgrounds and abilities who have gone on to create and share their own fantastic short-form work. Resident Artists Brad and Sarah both put countless hours into creating and preparing adult classes, as did other amazing puppeteers like Jon Little, Faye Dupras, Brenda Huggins, Bonnie Duncan, Harry LaCoste, Sarah Frechette, Ronald Binion, and many others. 

While at Puppet Showplace I have also had the privilege of teaching students from Pre-K to adult, primarily through college residencies and community-based workshops. In October 2019, I offered my first adult evening class, “Introduction to Puppetry Performance.” The participants were bursting with talent, creativity, and curiosity, and I loved the scenes that they co-created.

A tabletop scene from “Introduction to Puppetry Performance,” 2019.

I hope that the theater’s education programs will continue to thrive and expand to include more sequential / advanced instruction, more diverse teaching artists and puppetry styles, and more opportunities to experiment with original new work.   

Supporting New Work by Black Puppeteers

Puppet Showplace serves an incredibly diverse audience, but that diversity has not always been reflected on our stage. To address this, our Board and staff have made deep commitments to supporting artists of color, and to making puppetry more widely accessible to our community. 

Tanya with Puppet Inno, Sarah Nolen, Innosanto Nagara, and me at a work-in-progress showing, 2019 (Photo: Tess Scheflan).

In 2019 we launched My Night in the Planetarium, a two-year undertaking led by Tanya Nixon-Silberg of Little Uprisings. Sarah Nolen and I collaborated with Tanya and with author/activist Innosanto Nagara to bring his powerful illustrated memoir to life.

Working with Tanya was an unforgettable experience. In addition to her deep insights about unjust systems that perpetuate racism and other forms of inequality, she understands how to tap into children’s innate sense of fairness, as well the connections between puppetry, play, joy, and collective liberation. 

After many conversations with artists and fellow administrators about structural barriers to entry in our field, in 2020 we launched the Black Puppeteer Empowerment Initiative, a national artist residency and grant program to support early-stage creative research by Black puppeteers.

It was both healing and inspiring to come together and create during the pandemic. As one participant wrote of the experience, “With all of the turmoil happening in the world at the time...the virtual connection and feedback felt like social medicine, and validation that as puppeteers we were still alive, relevant, and thriving.”

The first cohort of Black Puppeteer Empowerment Grantees, September 2020.

I am glad that our organization is deeply committed to this ongoing work, which I know will strengthen our entire puppetry community moving forward.

So Many “Thank Yous!”

Fairy Tale Tea Party staff, trustees, artists, and volunteers, 2017.

There are so many more memories that I will treasure, from the hundreds of shows and puppet slam acts I’ve witnessed, to the whimsical galas and festivals we’ve planned, to the thousands of heartfelt interactions I’ve had with audience members of all ages. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who made these adventures possible, including the visionary artists, the generous donors, and all the members of our dedicated staff and Board. I hope that everyone who has encountered Puppet Showplace’s work during this time feels the same spark of joy and inspiration that I get every time I walk through the theater’s doors. 

Looking ahead, I can’t wait to celebrate the theater’s 50th anniversary in 2024, and to see what excitement the next generation of artists and audience members have in store. 

Here’s to 11 years of puppeteers! 
Sincerely,
Roxanna “Roxie” Myhrum
Puppet Showplace Theater Artistic Director, 2010 to 2021

My desk at Puppet Showplace, with mementos from artists and partner organizations over the years, including old license plates from the puppet van used by the theater’s founder Mary Churchill and Resident Artist Emeritus Paul Vincent Davis.

P.S. If you want to learn more about my time at the theater, check out these articles about our work! 

“The Puppet Whisperer,” Puppetry Journal, 2020

“Puppet Showplace Debuts Grant for Black Artists,” The Bay State Banner, 2020

“Creating a Feminist Punch and Judy Show,” HowlRound, 2019

“Meet Roxanna Myhrum” Boston Voyager Interview, 2018

“Life on a Tabletop: An Ancient Art Form Thrives at Puppet Showplace Theater,” Harvard Magazine, 2015

“Celebrating 40 Years of Puppetry,” Brookline Tab, 2015

“Chatting with Slam Curator Roxie Myhrum,” Puppet Slam Network, 2012

Celebrate World Puppetry Day 2021!

The cast of Rock the Boat by Sandglass Theater. Join our voyage on March 21st at 3:00pm ET!

Hi everyone! My name is Elle and I have just begun my journey as an intern here at Puppet Showplace Theater. I am a senior studying Arts Administration. I am looking forward to diving into the arts world in the coming years!

 World Puppetry Day (March 21st) is just around the corner and in celebration, Puppet Showplace Theater is presenting two free, virtual shows with a global focus. 

Myra Su will perform her multi-media show “Inked” in the Puppet Showplace Slam on March 20th.

First, The Puppet Showplace Slam LIVE Virtual Extravaganza for adults and teens will be honoring World Puppetry Day with special guest artists from Mexico (Lormiga Títeres), and Quebec (Les Sages Fous, Caroline Bernier-Dionne), as well as artists from across the United States. The versatile line up will showcase live, short-form puppetry acts, over Zoom on Saturday, March 20, 2021 at 8pm. Learn More / RSVP

Next, Rock the Boat is a NEW family-friendly show by Sandglass Theater that will be presented in film form on Sunday, March 21 at 3:00 pm, followed by an interactive Q&A with the cast and creative team. This show features a cast of animal characters (including a hippo poet!) and explores themes of refugees, inclusion, and respectful curiosity.  In the spirit of World Puppetry Day, kids and families will learn about welcoming new friends from near and far. The show also provides a platform for a multi-ethnic ensemble to combine puppetry, movement, music, and poetry for an entertaining, educational, uplifting experience. Learn More/ RSVP.

So what exactly is World Puppetry Day? This yearly celebration held on Sunday, March 21 was launched by international puppetry organization UNIMA in 2003 with the goal of celebrating the vast diversity of global puppetry. In the United States, Puppeteers of America and UNIMA-USA coordinate celebrations and events. Each year, artists from across the world celebrate with their own theatrical performances and workshops. 

As I research this celebration, I am struck by how artists from across the globe are adjusting to COVID responses and using their art for educational purposes. One Kenyan puppeteer, Fedelis Kyalo, has been making public health puppet episodes with his "Ask Dr. Pamoja" series. 

In Japan, a renowned Bunraku puppet master Kanjuro Kiritake has been spending his quarantine sharing his art by making puppets for children and passing down the sacred Bunraku techniques that he learned from his father. 

Another artist, an inspiring young woman from a rural community in Qalyubiyya, Egypt,  21-year-old Basma has built her very own at-home puppet theater from which she broadcasts a weekly puppet show on Facebook. Her show is designed to convey serious messages in a fun way and tackle subject matter such as Covid prevention, positive parenting, and issues affecting young girls in her community. 

Celebrating artists around the world draws attention to the diversity of the global puppetry community and helps introduce the art to new generations of puppeteers. Without such celebration, puppetry practices can be overlooked and even lost in time. 

As arts organizations, it’s important for us to work together to celebrate global puppetry, raising awareness of these cultural traditions and innovations. 

As a new intern at Puppet Showplace Theater, I have experienced just how welcoming puppeteers can be! Just as the world of puppetry is made stronger by every character, puppeteer, and culture that takes part, Puppet Showplace Theater invites YOU, our audience, to become part of puppetry’s global story by joining us for World Puppetry Day weekend, March 20-21, 2021. 

Let’s celebrate World Puppetry Day together!  I look forward to learning from each and every one of you! 

Elle 

Onwards to the Future!

Thanks to the generous support of over 1000 individuals, families, and organizations from around the world, we surpassed our 2020 year-end fundraising goal and saved Puppet Showplace Theater for future generations. Thank you!

We have started off the year filled with renewed hope for the future. Your invaluable support has allowed us to continue our mission of bringing outstanding professional puppetry to audiences in Greater Boston and beyond.

Thanks to your generosity, we are rebuilding. This winter, our resident artists are bringing virtual shows to schools and groups. A new cohort of puppeteers is meeting virtually and developing new work through our Black Puppeteer Empowerment Grant and Creative Research Residency. Plans for virtual family shows, live-streamed puppet slams, adult classes, and youth vacation programs are in the works. Once the warm weather arrives, we will offer outdoor touring shows and relaunch our outdoor performance series so that families can enjoy live performing arts safely.

Even as we faced significant challenges, 2020 was filled with many inspiring moments. What do YOU hope to see in 2021? We welcome you to stay involved, to get in touch with suggestions, and help us chart a course to the future as we head towards recovery.

With Gratitude,
The Puppet Showplace Staff, Artists, and Board of Trustees

Help us set sail for the future! Bonnie Duncan performs a scene from The Gottabees’ "Squirrel Stole My Underpants.” Photo Credit: Liz Linder

A Letter from The President

Gift-wrapping with my daughter Celia in 2017.

Dear Friends of Puppet Showplace,

I write to you at a time when the arts are more vital than ever, at a time when we understand deeply the need for imaginative expression to lift our spirits. Puppet Showplace Theater has brought the joys of puppetry to audiences of all ages since its founding by puppeteer Mary Churchill in 1974. Its history is one of delight, of creativity, of keeping alive traditions of puppetry while supporting the creation of new productions and bringing new artists to our stage. Puppet Showplace is a treasured cultural institution, a destination in Brookline Village that serves as a home to puppeteers from throughout the Northeast and beyond. 

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have not offered live puppetry inside our theater since March. Determined to continue to offer outstanding professional puppetry in whatever way we safely can, during the summer we mounted puppet shows online in interactive formats and featured live puppetry outdoors in socially-distanced performance spaces. For adults and teens, we live-streamed puppet slams, with performers joining us from across the nation and abroad, drawing a national audience to view an impressive line-up of imaginative, sometimes quirky, often moving performances. We supported a new creative initiative for Black puppeteers, bringing their powerful work to a virtual audience.

As most of you know, we suffered a second and near-fatal blow in October: a theft that depleted our bank account and left us in debt. The Board of Trustees responded by immediately taking control of our systems to assure their security. But most important, our community responded. You joined our effort to save Puppet Showplace, and your response has been magnificent: 970 donors to date have stood with us and helped make possible a future for this beloved theater. We have raised sufficient funds to assure that we will be able to pay the rent and retain basic staff in the coming months. Now we seek your continued support so that we can begin to re-envision and recreate that world of whimsy and magic that we all know. 

This winter we hope to offer live-streamed performances while children remain safe at home, and bring virtual puppetry classes to schools and adults. When spring arrives, it should be possible to mount puppet shows in parks and other outdoor spaces. In a post-pandemic world, we look forward to again inviting audiences of all ages back to live performances at 32 Station Street. It is your continued support that will make this possible. Please join us!

With immense gratitude,

Margueritte Murphy

President

Puppet Showplace Board of Trustees

Help us Save Puppet Showplace Theater!

Dear Friends of Puppet Showplace Theater:

In times of trouble, we look to our friends. In the past week, all of us at Puppet Showplace – staff, artists, and Board members – have been greatly moved by your messages of support and concern. Today, we write to tell you that Puppet Showplace needs your help.

We are addressing the theft from our bank account head-on and are working hard to move forward. There is an ongoing police investigation and we continue to work with legal counsel to attempt to recover the funds that were stolen from the organization. We also implemented additional safeguards to our fiscal systems and met with our lawyers and bank officials to ensure that our accounts are safe and secure - they are. 

Now, we are embarking on a fundraising campaign to save Puppet Showplace Theater.  

You have the power to help Puppet Showplace survive.

After careful examination of our current financial circumstances and our ongoing expenses (reduced staff, rent, utilities, and insurance), we need to raise at least $50,000 now to sustain our limited operations through the end of the year. Thanks to the generosity of you, our loyal and caring community, we are already nearly 50% of the way toward achieving this goal! 

Audience at August 2019 preview of “My Night in the Planetarium”. Photo Credit: Tess Scheflan

Here’s how you can help:

• Make a donation at www.puppetshowplace.org/emergency-fund.

• Share this campaign with your social networks, and engage with our social networks to learn about our progress.

• Let us know about any corporate giving initiatives in your business or community.

Thank you so very much for your continued support of Puppet Showplace Theater, a place where artists and audiences have come together to celebrate the joys of puppetry and live performance for 46 years. 

With your help and generosity, we will be able to keep the theater moving forward.  

Sincerely,

The Puppet Showplace Theater Team
and Board of Trustees: 

Margueritte Murphy, President
Edward Zlotkowski, Vice President
Alison Plante, Clerk
Jodi Ekelchik, Treasurer
Lance Eaton

John Lechner
Anthony Leva
Sarah Pisacich
Matt Walczak
Amy West

Puppet Showplace Theater, 1982.

Puppet Showplace Theater, Spring 2020.

An Important Update from Puppet Showplace Theater

Dear Friends of Puppet Showplace Theater:

Puppet Showplace Theater has been devoted to developing innovative puppetry productions to the delight of thousands of children and their families for 46 years. This creative work would not have been possible without your support, for which we are so grateful.

We write to bring your attention to a serious situation that has developed within our organization. On October 7, the Board of Trustees of Puppet Showplace was informed of fiscal irregularities in its bank account. We soon learned that our fiscal controls had been circumvented and that Puppet Showplace’s bank account had been fully depleted. We quickly reported this matter to the Brookline Police Department for investigation, which is ongoing. We are working with legal counsel to understand the full impact on the organization and our options for attempting to recover the funds that were stolen from the organization.

Based on these developments, the Board terminated the employment of the Managing Director.

We and our fellow trustees are working with the organization’s Artistic Director and dedicated staff and resident artists to evaluate what this incident means for our future programming. As we manage this crisis, we will review all of our fiscal operations and expect to institute additional policies and procedures to ensure we are adhering to best practices.

We are grateful for the professionalism and dedication of the employees and artists who have banded together through the pandemic to provide virtual programming during this pause in in-person performances. While this is a devastating and heartbreaking experience, we are hopeful that with the support of our loyal and caring community, our donors and grantors, we will be able to keep the theater moving ahead.

Thank you for your continued support of Puppet Showplace Theater.

Sincerely,

Puppet Showplace Theater Board of Trustees

Margueritte Murphy, President
Edward Zlotkowski, Vice President
Alison Plante, Clerk
Jodi Ekelchik, Treasurer

Look Up! The Gottabees, Reading Rainbow, and Real-Life Hot Air Balloon Adventures

Reading Rainbow’s LeVar Burton visits a Balloon Rally hosted by puppeteer Bonnie Duncan’s family in 1984.

If you’ve ever seen a Gottabees show or any work that puppeteer Bonnie Duncan has made solo, there is often a balloon involved --- whether the balloon helps a character escape, transports them to magical lands, or is a merely a form of transportation. 

For Bonnie, balloons are magical, beautiful, and mysterious. They were also an important part of her childhood.

Read on to learn more about her real-life hot air balloon adventures, and sign up for ScreenPLAY! Episode 4, Look Up: A Hot Air Balloon Adventure on August 26-29 to join Bonnie and the Gottabees on an imaginary flight into the clouds. Learn More / Reserve Tickets.

Bonnie and her balloons…

Bonnie with her grandparents and cousins in the 1980s, awaiting a hot air balloon flight.

Q: Bonnie, what’s your connection to hot air ballooning?

When I was four years old, my family started hot air ballooning.  This became our family’s hobby for 15+ years --- my grandparents, my parents, and my aunt and uncle all had balloons.  Most weekends, we would pack up the van and head to a balloon rally in a neighboring state or fly with other ballooning friends at dawn and then again at dusk.”  

Q: What do you remember from the experience of flying with your family?

Balloon or Baby Dragon? Find out at ScreenPLAY August 26-29!

You cannot control exactly where a balloon goes or lands. Radio communication was limited at the time (there was no GPS readily available), and the chase crew depended on maps, a good sense of direction, and continual attempts at keeping sight of the 7-story high balloon flying overhead in order to meet the balloon when it landed. 

The landowners of wherever we landed were always amazed and overwhelmingly wonderful. For them, a colorful gentle giant that sounded like a dragon had just floated down from the sky and landed in their yard or field at 8:00 am on a Saturday.  

Each flight was a new adventure, filled with characters and experiences that we still recount to this day as a family.  

Q: Do you have any other fun stories to share?

One story that I so love sharing with my own children is that Reading Rainbow was filmed during a balloon rally that my father organized.  LeVar Burton flew in our balloon and was part of our weekend.  I was eight at the time and this was really special because I was a BIG FAN of the show.  But don’t just take my word for it…

The closing credits to Season 2, Episode 1 feature a beautiful sequence that gives you a sense of what it’s like to be in a balloon. You can see all of my family’s and friends’ balloons!! 

Bonnie’s family’s hot air balloons fly during the closing credits for Reading Rainbow (1984).

By the way, not all of this week’s ScreenPLAY! story will be true.

There might be a long-horned cow.... 
There might be a baby dragon...

There might even be a...
JOIN US TO FIND OUT!

Learn More about Bonnie Duncan and The Gottabees at
www.thegottabees.com 

Bonnie with her family around a hot air balloon basket (Bonnie is in the middle wearing a white shirt!)

Take Action: Puppeteers Stand for Justice

Puppetry can be a life-giving source of joy and inspiration. It can also be a powerful force for confronting ugly truths about the world. As puppeteers, we recognize the truth and injustice of racism, and we stand in solidarity with all those who work to dismantle racist systems, practices, and institutions.

Racism manifests itself every day in our work as a cultural organization. We see it in the demographics of our audiences—in the persistent racial segregation of Boston-area schools, the unequal allocation of resources, and the coded assumptions about who belongs in what spaces. We see it burdening artists of color who face prejudice, tokenization, and the emotional labor of code-switching in predominantly white spaces. This all exists against a backdrop of violent and traumatizing news, history, lived reality, and the persistent injustice of present day events.

Thankfully, we also see racism bravely grappled with on stage. In the hands of Black and Brown artists and allies, racism’s shape-shifting nature becomes apparent. We see its power, but also see its vulnerabilities. We experience empathy, we take action, and we feel hope.

Puppet Showplace Theater is an anti-racist institution. We strive to be a safe and welcoming space for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. We see this as our duty, our sacred obligation as a cultural non-profit that receives public funding and asks for public trust. We expect to be held accountable for our actions to the public we serve. We ask that the same accountability be applied to all public servants, from elected officials to police officers, from teachers to fire fighters. We stand in solidarity with all who protest injustice and speak truth. We call on artists and cultural organizations everywhere to set our hands, heads, and hearts to work behind this cause.

Resources to Learn and Take Action

CNN/Sesame Street Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism Town Hall for Kids and Families
Social Justice Books All-Ages Curated Multicultural and Social Justice Book List
Books for Littles Anti-Racism for Kids 101
Working Document for Scaffolded Anti-Racist Resources
Brookline Tab Hundreds March against Racial Injustice in Brookline Village Protest
Brookline Select Board Member Raul Fernandez A Challenge to My Overwhelmingly White, Relatively Wealthy, and Allegedly Progressive Community
Statement from Brookline Police Chief Andy Lipson
Campaign Zero Movement to End Police Violence
Boston Globe Boston. Racism. Image. Reality.
National Movement Site for Black Lives Matter
In the Heart of the Beast Puppet Theater (MN) Justice for George Floyd

Images:
Artistic Director Roxanna Myhrum, Davron Monroe, and Kaitee Tredway in “O, King” (2015).
Tarish Jeghetto Pipkins directing “Just Another Lynching” (2018).
Tanya Nixon-Silberg, Wee The People’s “My Night in the Planetarium” (2020).
Student Rory L.W. in Shadow Puppet Production Lab (2017).
Students Magalie N. and Whitney D. in Introduction to Puppetry Performance (2019).

Announcing: Puppet Showplace Pen Pals!

Bonnie Duncan and Tim Gallagher in a scene from "Poste Restante,” a letter-and-parcel-inspired object theater and dance piece by They Gotta Be Secret Agents.

Dear Puppet Fans,

We miss you! Luckily, there’s a great way for us to stay in touch while we are all still staying apart.

Introducing, the Puppet Showplace Pen Pals program! How does it work? Write a letter or make a card for anyone in the Puppet Showplace family. Seal it in an envelope, add a stamp, put it in your nearest mailbox, and voila! Pretty soon, a letter from us will be delivered right to your door. Note: Letters sent from us will likely include stickers.

Answers to your questions are below!

Pen pal Myla created an amazing card, AND she made us a promo video. We are excited to write her back!

• Whom should I write to? You can write to anyone and everyone at Puppet Showplace Theater! That includes staff, resident artists, visiting puppeteers, or even favorite puppet characters. All of us can be reached at the same address.

• What should I write about? We welcome letters about anything! You could tell us about what you and your family have been doing at home, ask us a question, share a Puppet Showplace memory, or send an idea for a creative project.

• Where should I send my letter? Our mailing address is:

  Puppet Showplace Theater
  32 Station Street
  Brookline MA 02445

• What do I write on the envelope? Write our address in the center, on the side opposite the flap. Be sure to include your own address (the “return address”) in the upper left hand corner. Finally, put a stamp in the upper right hand corner. Here’s a great, kid-friendly tutorial!

Pen pals Zach and Roxie recently tried (unsuccessfully) to mail themselves to their grandparents. Families, we are here for you in your time of need!

• Do I need to write words? Not at all! Puppeteers love expressing things with pictures and interesting materials. We welcome drawings, collages, photos—anything that you can fit in an envelope. Grown-ups, if you want to send us clues on how to interpret something particularly abstract so that we can respond appropriately, please do.

• Do I have to write in English? Nope! Please use whatever language you prefer.

• Where do I get stamps? You can visit your local post office, or order stamps online!

• Is this just for kids? Not at all! Letters are for everyone. Puppet fans of all ages are welcome to write to us. Grown ups can use fancy terms like “epistolary correspondence” if they would prefer.

• When will I get a response? If you’re writing to us from Greater Boston, it usually takes 2-3 days for a letter to arrive. If you’re further away it might take a little longer. We’ll reply to letters as soon as they come in, so you should have a response by the following week.

• Will this help support the Post Office? Yes! We started thinking about this program when we learned that USPS was facing tough times during the pandemic. We wanted to celebrate the bravery and contributions of our mail carriers! Enjoy these Top Twelve Facts about USPS and find out more Ways that You Can Support the U.S. Postal Service.

Thank you postal workers! Resident Teaching Artist Honey Goodenough made and donated this mask to help keep our essential workers safe (and stylish).

• What will you do with the letters? We will save your letters and create a display for when we re-open. Eventually, we will add them to the Puppet Showplace Theater archive as treasured mementos from this time. For inspiration, we will also share pictures over email and social media.

• Can I just e-mail you instead? We are all getting a little bleary-eyed with so much screen time every day. There are many things that you just cannot express through a computer, and there is something uniquely special about getting a letter in the mail. That said, if you need a quick reply or have administrative questions, you can always E-mail Us and we’ll respond there too.

• What if I have never been to Puppet Showplace Theater? Can I still send you a letter? Yes! Let us know a little bit about you if we have never met. We hope you visit us one day!

• Can we mail ourselves to you? Unfortunately, this is no longer allowed by the post office (though we recently learned this wasn’t always the case). We definitely hope to see you in person one day soon, as soon as it is safe to do so!!

Thanks, pen pals! We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Your Friends at Puppet Showplace Theater

P.S. Interested in supporting puppeteers during closure? Visit CONNECT: Puppeteers Online to discover digital content and contribute on our Take Action! Emergency Fund page. Thank you!

Unfortunately you can’t mail yourself to us (sorry Bonnie and Tim). We look forward to getting your letters, though! Also, thank you Tim for your hard work as a dancer-puppeteer-turned-doctor on the front lines of the pandemic in Brooklyn, NY. Your patients are lucky to have your support!

Meet Rachel von Ahn, Development Coordinator!

We’re excited to welcome Rachel to the Puppet Showplace team in the brand new position of Development Coordinator! Rachel will be helping us launch campaigns to support our 5-year vision and will work closely with our vibrant community of members, donors, and volunteers. Recently, we sat down to ask her a few questions about her background, interests, and inspirations.

Q: How did you come to work for a puppet theater?

A: I’m a project manager by day and improv comedian by night. As a performing artist myself, I’ve always been drawn to working in theater. Being a comedian, specifically, I’m also drawn to a fun atmosphere. After years of working for a large-scale healthcare technology company, I wanted to combine my administrative skills with my passion for the performing arts. When I saw the opening for this role, I knew I had to apply. I still can’t help but smile every time I walk into the building or talk about this organization - and for that, I’m very grateful. 

Q: What are your superpowers?

A: I’m going to say the power of “Yes, and!” I’ve found that the positive and productive “Yes, and!” philosophy used in improv comedy is useful in work and life as well as on the stage. I’ve honed this superpower performing improv for about 11 years (7 years professionally in Boston). In my performances, I work with others to build a live show on the spot without a script. As improvisers, we have to be open and honest about what inspires us while supporting choices that come from anyone on the team. It’s also super fun. I’m looking forward to getting people excited to say “yes!” to the many great initiatives underway at Puppet Showplace, and to listening for ways that our team can support and build on initiatives that come from our community. And of course...I’m excited about leveling up in Sarah Nolen’s Puppet Improv class!

Q: Why do you care about funding for arts in Boston?

A: To me, it’s not just about providing entertainment, but about supporting the shared experience of seeing live theater. Art teaches us all so much--it creates connections and sparks conversations. We need to ensure we sustain that sort of creative education for our communities. Boston is full of talented artists and opportunities to experience art. It’s very important to me that we do everything we can to fund innovative productions and programs, not only for artists to thrive in their creative careers, but for people of all ages and backgrounds to be able to access all of the enriching art Boston has to offer. 

Q: What inspires you about PST?

A: Wow, where do I start? First, I was instantly drawn to the history behind this organization, starting with the beautiful, historic space that is 32 Station Street. There’s a special feeling when you walk through this building, knowing it houses 45 years’ worth of stories and memories. Mary Churchill founded this organization in 1974 and it remains a treasured part of this community because of generous support from individual donors, local businesses, and foundation and government grants. 

Then, there are the people. I love hearing stories of how folks first discovered Puppet Showplace and what keeps them coming back week after week, and year after year. Seeing the joy that Puppet Showplace brings our patrons and supporters of all ages - as well as our passionate and dedicated staff - motivates me day-to-day.

Finally, there’s the art of puppetry itself. I feel like most of us, when we think of puppets, can picture a handmade character we’ve encountered at some point in our lives. Learning the history behind this amazing art form, seeing the work that goes into a production, and witnessing puppetry’s impact on the audiences and the community is quite inspirational. Through puppetry, there are so many ways a story can be told, and so many ways to engage an audience!

I continue to be blown away by the performances, from the hilarious and unique pieces at the Puppet Showplace Slam, to the magnificent mainstage shows. I’m learning something new every day, and can’t wait to see what the future holds! 

Want to learn more about opportunities to support Puppet Showplace Theater, or have ideas for a future campaign? Contact Rachel at development@puppetshowplace.org. 

Rachel’s first day selfie with Elvis Frostley. Puppet created by Jon Little, Little’s Creatures.

Puppets Around the World!

Travel the world with a puppeteer as your guide! Our newest series kicks off February 27th with stories and puppetry styles from around the globe. Join us as we celebrate World Puppetry Day all month long!

“Puppets Around the World” runs through Sunday, March 29. For individual show descriptions and online ticket purchases visit our mainstage page. 

Puppets Around the World 2020 SCHEDULE
Thursday and Friday Weekday shows at 10:30 am
Saturday & Sunday at 1:00 & 3:00 pm.

• "Lisa the Wise" by Sarah Nolen, Resident Artist (Thurs 2/27-Sun 3/1).

• "The Monkey King" by Margaret Moody Puppets (Thurs 3/5-Sun 3/8).

• "Punschi: The Adventures of Kasper" by Jana Zeller , Sandglass Theater (Thurs 3/12-Sun 3/15).

• "Fox Fables " by The WonderSpark Puppets (Thurs 3/19-Sun 3/22).

• "Shadows Around the World" by Nappy’s Puppets (Thurs 3/26-Sun 3/29).