Song of the North *

Hamid Rahmanian

Various Venues
https://www.kingorama.com/song-of-the-north

Song of the North is a large-scale, cinematic performance combining the manual art of shadow puppetry with projected animation to tell the courageous tale of Manijeh, a heroine from ancient Persia, who must use all her strengths and talents to rescue her beloved, Bijan, from a perilous predicament of her own making and help prevent a war. This epic love story employs a cast of 483 handmade puppets and a talented ensemble of nine actors and puppeteers, all of which come together to create a spectacular experience that advances the themes of unity, collaboration, and experimentation through performance and story. Song of the North, adapted from the Book of Kings (Shahnameh), challenges the Eurocentric worldview of art and storytelling through a contemporary multimedia experience of this classic Persian tale. (80 minutes)

* Recipient of a Jim Henson Foundation Production Grant (2021) and Presenter's Grant

January 29 - May 17, 2025
Locations:
March 14-23 - New York, NY
May 10 - Vancouver BC, Canada
May 14 - Nanaimo BC, Canada
May 17 - Seattle, WA

See Website for Details

Milo the Magnificent *

Alex and Olmsted of Baltimore, Maryland

Center For Puppetry Arts
1404 Spring Street NW
Atlanta, GA
puppet.org/programs/milo-the-magnificent/

Experience Milo The Magnificent at the Center For Puppetry Arts.”Magical Surprises Await!” Using stunningly innovative puppetry, Milo presents a variety of magic tricks which don’t always go as planned.

* Recipient of a Jim Henson Foundation Workshop Grant (2017)

March 19 - 30, 2025
Wed-Fri(10:00am, 11:30am), Sat(11:00am, 1:00pm, 3:00pm), Sun(1:00pm, 3:00pm)

22.75

Cardboard Explosion! * - Paper Heart Puppets

Hudson Valley Puppetry Festival

Howland Cultural Center
477 Main St
Beacon, NY
http://www.howlandculturalcenter.org/

A series of captivating tales unfold through the magic of cardboard and the boundless power of imagination. With help from the audience, puppeteer Brad Shur takes the simplest of materials—plain cardboard shapes—and skillfully transforms them into an array of expressive and elaborate puppet characters. As each story develops, these characters move, interact, and surprise, proving that with a little creativity, even the most ordinary materials can become something extraordinary.

* Recipient of a Jim Henson Foundation Family Grant (2016)

March 29, 2025
3PM

Free, registration required

Tales of Dagsi Turtle & Jisdu Wabbit *

Z Puppets Rosenschnoz

Photo by: Liping Vong

Open Eye Theater
506 E 24th Street, Minneapolis
Minneapolis, MN
https://www.openeyetheatre.org/wish-work-puppet-series

Dagsi Turtle & his sidekick Jisdu Wabbit race through time and space in a new musical adventure into Cherokee Futurism. Hop aboard the Turtleship and join Dagsi and Jisdu's quest to help Grandmother Turtle keep alive the endangered Cherokee language.
Tales, a 2025 Jim Henson Foundation Family Theater Grant Awardee, features catchy original tunes and out-of-this-world puppet characters. The show is created and performed by Cherokee Nation citizen Chris Griffith and Shari Aronson, directed by Julie Boada (Anishinabe) and is recommended for ages 5+.

* Recipient of a Jim Henson Foundation Family Grant (2025)

April 19, 2025
10:30 a.m. and 1:30 pm

Free, Suggested Donation of of $5-15

Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About A Terrible Monster

Manual Cinema

Photo by: Rebecca J Michelson

Minneapolis Children's Theatre Company
2400 3rd Ave S
Minneapolis, MN
https://childrenstheatre.org/whats-on/leonardo/

Leonardo is a terrible monster. He tries so hard to be scary, but he just… isn’t. Then Leonardo finds Sam, the most scaredy-cat kid in the world. Will Leonardo finally get to scare the tuna salad out of someone? Or will it be the start of an unlikely friendship? The plot thickens when this pair meets Kerry and Frankenthaler, an even scaredier-cat and her monster friend. Kerry and Sam need to make a big decision: will they just be scaredy cats or can they become friends?

January 8 - March 9, 2025
See website for performance times

Additional Dates & Locations:
March 28 - April 6 - The Kennedy Center, Washington DC

Starting from $15

Something to Crow About

Bob Baker Marionette Theater

Bob Baker Marionette Theater
4949 York Blvd
Los Angeles, CA
ci.ovationtix.com/35787/production/1224523?performanceId=11570711

Something to Crow About is the ORIGINAL Bob Baker Spectacular, originating in 1959 when the theater was just a glint in Bob Baker’s eye. Enter through our red barn doors to delight in this historic and revitalized show—the scope of a Broadway musical plus the wonderland touch of Hollywood. Welcome to Something to Crow About!

January 18 - March 30, 2025
Fridays at 7:30pm
Saturdays at 4:30pm
Sundays at 10:30am and 1pm

$25

Waffle & Friends

Hudson Valley Puppetry Festival

Cornwall Public Library
395 Hudson St
Cornwall, NY
https://www.artsmidhudson.org/hvpf

Waffle & Friends is an entertaining, half-hour puppet variety show. With a fun, modern twist on a classic tale, catchy original music, and adorable puppets, your audience is sure to have a blast! Waffle, the lovable dog emcee, introduces his friends (in varying puppet styles) to perform entertaining skits that last under 5 minutes, keeping your audience engaged and entertained throughout the entire show. A fuzzy creature, some musical bugs, a witty owl who loves to tell jokes, and even an energetic chicken who loves to exercise, have all come along to sing and perform for your enjoyment. Whether you love to sing, move, or just play along, this fun and educational performance is sure to ignite your imagination

March 25, 2025
4:30PM

FREE

Bread & Puppet Spring Tour

Bread & Puppet

Various Venues
https://breadandpuppet.org/tour

One of the oldest, nonprofit, political theatre companies in the country - constantly reexamining and redefining puppetry and theater as ritual, radical action, and nourishment akin to bread itself. From the stage to the street, an authenticity that is rarely matched and always evolving. This April, the troupe returns to MSA for three intimate performances.

March 27 - April 27, 2025
Thursday, March 27 – Greensboro, VT
Friday, March 28 – Barre, VT
Saturday, March 29 – Burlington, VT
Sunday, March 30 – Cambridge, NY
Tuesday, April 1 – Hudson, NY
Wednesday, April 2 – Albany, NY
Thursday, April 3 – Bennington, VT
Friday, April 4 – Ithaca, NY
Saturday, April 5 – TBD – Seeking a venue
Sunday, April 6 – TBD – Seeking a venue
Wednesday, April 9 – Milton, PA
Thursday, April 10 & Friday, April 11 – Washington, DC
Saturday, April 12 – Baltimore, MD
Sunday, April 13 – Lancaster, PA
Tuesday, April 15 & – Wednesday, April 16 – New York City
Thursday, April 17 – Hopewell, NJ
Friday, April 18 & Saturday, April 19 – Philadelphia, PA
Tuesday, April 22 – New Haven, CT
Wednesday, April 23 – New Bedford, MA
Thursday, April 24 – Somerville, MA
Friday, April 25 – Jamaica Plain, MA
Saturday, April 26 & Sunday, April 27 – Portland, ME

See website for details

The Heap at Art House

Art House Productions

Art House Productions
345 Marin Boulevard
Jersey City, NJ
https://www.arthouseproductions.org/collections/upcomingevents/products/the-heap-at-art-house-march-27-2026

Step into the world of The Heap, a one-of-a-kind, larger-than-life puppet made of many smaller puppets, each carrying a story, a memory, a piece of something left behind. Witness an unforgettable night of puppetry and storytelling as The Heap awakens, revealing the strange, whimsical, and deeply human tales it has gathered over the years. Through mesmerizing short films and live performance, you'll meet the peculiar, the lost, and the extraordinary—characters woven together by time, experience, and the weight of what we carry. Playful yet profound, The Heap is more than a puppet; it’s a living archive of dreams, regrets, and the bits of ourselves we leave in our wake. Created by Puppet Heap in collaboration with Art House Productions, this immersive performance blurs the line between fantasy and reality, reminding us that every story—no matter how small—has a place in the grander whole.

March 27, 2025
March 27, 2025, at 7:30ppm

$30

STAND BY — an allegory

Corningworks in collaboration with puppeteer TOM LEE

Photo by: Frank Walsh

Carnegie Stage
25 West Main Street
Carnegie, PA
corningworks.org

STAND BY — an allegory,
a multidisciplinary dancetheater production created in collaboration with renowned puppeteer TOM LEE and CORNINGWORKS, a critically acclaimed dance theater company. Offering a whimsical glimpse into human’s inability to recognize our own mortality — not so much about death or grief or even loss, as about the mysterious and magical continuity of life.

Critically acclaimed Puppeteer TOM LEE brings his practice and expertise of the centuries old Japanese style of Kuruma Ningyo (Cart Puppetry), rarely seen in the US, where the puppeteer sits on a small moveable “cart” singularly manipulating a large puppet attached to one’s body. Lee will create and perform with a 4-foot tall puppet specifically designed for this production, along with 5 nationally & internationally renowned dancers. Combined with Corning’s cache of stunning, critically acclaimed choreography, this new work promises audiences a fresh and provocative theatrical experience.

March 28 - April 6, 2025
MARCH
Fri 28, Sat. 29 @8pm
Sun 30 @ 2pm PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN admission Available ONLY at DOOR
regular reserved tickets available online / or at BOX OFFICE
APRIL
Wed. 2, Thu 3, Fri 4, Sat 5 @8pm
Sun 6 @2pm

$35 - $40

Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About A Terrible Monster

Manual Cinema

Photo by: Glen Stubbe Photography

The Kennedy Center
2700 F St NW, 20566
Washington, DC
https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/explore-by-genre/young-audiences/2024-2025/leonardo/

Leonardo is a terrible monster. He tries so hard to be scary, but he just… isn’t. Then Leonardo finds Sam, the most scaredy-cat kid in the world. Will Leonardo finally get to scare the tuna salad out of someone? Or will it be the start of an unlikely friendship? The plot thickens when this pair meets Kerry and Frankenthaler, an even scaredier-cat and her monster friend. Kerry and Sam need to make a big decision: will they just be scaredy cats or can they become friends?
Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster uses hundreds of illustrated paper puppets, book pages, two-dimensional props, furry monster puppets, and songs to bring Mo Willems' books to life. Manual Cinema wanted to re-create the experience of holding one of Mo’s book pages, which are big, bold, colorful, and full of visual rhythm, with a playful use of scale. Like all Manual Cinema productions, you’re invited to watch the big screen like a traditional movie, or to watch the artists below as they create the story in real time. (There is no wrong way to watch the show!)

March 28 - April 6, 2025
Mar 28 - 7pm
Mar 29 - 11am
Mar 29 - 1:30pm
Mar 30 - 1:30pm
Mar 30 - 4pm
Apr. 4 - 7pm
Apr. 5 - 11am
Apr. 5 - 1:30pm
Apr. 6 - 1:30pm
Apr. 6 - 4pm

Starting at $25.30

Author Talk with Karen Falk

Center for Puppetry Arts

Center for Puppetry Arts
1404 Spring St NW at 18th
Atlanta, GA
puppet.org/programs/author-talk-with-karen-falk/

Archivist, curator, and historian Karen Falk discusses her book, Jim Henson’s Imagination Illustrated, an exploration of Henson’s story through the lens of his “Red Book” journal and personal and production material drawn from his archives. Video clips illustrate his creative thinking and the arc of his visionary career.

March 28, 2025
6PM

$20

Little Big Eye

Works With Water

Puppet Showplace Theater
32 Station St
Brookline, MA
puppetshowplace.org/calendar/2025/03/29/little-big-eye-by-works-with-water

Splash! Dive beneath the ocean’s sparkly surface to the wild and dripping-wet world of Little Big Eye — a puppet show that features actual underwater puppets in a 60-gallon tank! Little Big Eye swims to the bottom of the ocean to find a life-changing elixir. With the help of an Octopus spirit guide, our little hero discovers the unique power of Big Eye fish: by acting as a community, Little Big Eye and his family can dazzle and confuse predators — and ultimately save the day by shining together! This lush, explosively colorful show features original music and gorgeous handcrafted puppets made from everything from neoprene to cork to recycled plastics. Puppet Showplace Theater's Incubator Program is proud to present the world premiere of this new, underwater version of Little Big Eye! An earlier version of this show premiered in Hawai'i at Honolulu Theatre for Youth, and was performed at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. And, you’re invited to wear your best ocean-themed outfit to any performance of Little Big Eye! We’ll have special stickers for anyone sporting a bathing suit, goggles, mermaid costume, flippers, or any other sea-tastic looks!

March 29 - April 6, 2025
10:30 and 1pm

$18

Affectionate Anarchy: Muppet Prank Culture

Center for Puppetry Arts

Center for Puppetry Arts
1404 Spring St NW at 18th
Atlanta, GA
puppet.org/programs/affectionate-anarchy-prank-panel/

Join us on April Fool’s Day for a one-of-a-kind program crafted by a brain trust of early Muppet creatives. Dave Goelz, Bonnie Erickson, Rollie Krewson, Fran Brill, and Steve Whitmire will join us live at the Center — with Frank Oz joining virtually — for a panel discussion celebrating the early working culture in Jim Henson’s studios. They’ve been digging into their own personal archives and cooking up fun ways to tell tales of the day-to-day workings of the workshop —­­­­­­­­­­ an environment lovingly described as Affectionate Anarchy — and the elaborate pranks they pulled on each other.

April 1, 2025
7PM

$75

Susan Linn's "What the Duck?"

Susan Linn

Mayo Street Arts
10 Mayo Street Arts
Portland, ME
www.tickettailor.com/events/mayostreetarts/1587875?

Susan and her steadfast puppet companion Audrey Duck brought joy to children for decades, while helping them navigate life’s challenges. “What the Duck?” represents a new career twist, exploring the uncertain terrain of important topics for adults with the duo’s trademark combination of hilarity and insightful discussion. Susan contemplates her own mortality, while her sidekick, Audrey Duck, faces the rude awakening that she, too, is mortal—because without Susan there is no Audrey. The show is a comedic but contemplative conversation around aging and end of life that is driven by audience interaction.

April 4, 2025
April 4 ,2025 10 am
April 4, 2025 7 pm

$15

Monster Intelligence

Hudson Valley Puppetry Festival

Newburgh Free Library
124 Grand St
Newburgh, NY
https://www.artsmidhudson.org/hvpf

Melvin the Monster is another year older but still not old enough for his license to scream! His birthday wish changes that, and the Division for Monster Screams grants his wish on the condition of his passing a test. Learning this new information can be difficult for Melvin, and he sets off on a quest of self-discovery with his friend Red the Rat by his side. Populated by a cast of friendly, colorful monster characters and original songs from rock-and-roll, to classical, jazz, pop and Broadway standards, this is a journey you will never forget.

April 5, 2025
11AM

FREE

Iron and Wine Light Verse Tour

Manual Cinema

Photo by: Harrison Dilts

Various
583 E Broad St, Columbus
Columbus, OH
ironandwine.com/tours/

Manual Cinema created a bespoke live visual performance to accompany the Iron and Wine Light Verse tour. Puppeteers will perform live overhead projector shadow puppetry devised and designed by Manual Cinema artists to accompany the band on stage.

April 8 - 26, 2025
See website for locations and performance times

Starting at $37.50

Cat in the Hat - FAMILY

Based on the book by Dr. Seuss

Center For Puppetry Arts
1404 Spring Street at 18th Street
Atlanta, GA
puppet.org/programs/cat-in-the-hat/

See Cat in the Hat like you haven't before! Play originally produced by the National Theater of Great Britain. Adapted and originally directed by Katie Mitchell. “It’s fun to have fun, but you have to know how!” says the Cat in the tall red and white hat. See all your favorite moments from this literary classic come to life on stage! Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat is presented through a special arrangement with Music Theater International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI

April 8 - May 25, 2025
April: Tues-Fri(10:00am, 12:00pm), Sat(11:00am & 1:00pm), Sun(1:00pm, 3:00pm)
May: Wed-Fri(10:00am, 11:30am), Sat(11:00am & 1:00pm) Sun(1:00pm, 3:00pm)

$20.50 - $25.75

Shower Sharon

Zero Untitled Productions

Texas State Museum of Asian Culture & Education Center
1809 N. Chaparral
Corpus Christi, TX
www.zerountitled.com

A Brazilian Lambe-Lambe puppet performance for adults. PG-13. One puppeteer will perform for one audience member at a time, street theatre style. Will poor naive Sharon be able to navigate the trials and tribulations of the dreaded college SHOWER!? Finding out by peeking into the shower...
The show will be performed alongside 4-5 other puppet works in rotation and on repeat with ten-minute breaks between show performances. Sterilized headphones will be given to audience members to hear the show.

April 12, 2025
First show(s) begin at noon and are performed repeatedly. Shows conclude around 3:00 pm.

$5 (free performances with museum entrance fee)

Ba Pot-Bellied Pigs

Zero Untitled Productions

Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures & Education Center
1809 N. Chaparral
Corpus Christi, TX
www.zerountitled.com

Kamishibai-style performance, alongside other puppet performances at the Texas State Museum of Asian Culture's Cherry Blossom Festival event. A retelling of the British children's story "The Three Little Pigs", done in the Japanese kamishibai style, with Vietnamese influence (characters and Vietnamese language). Audience participation is encouraged.
The show will be performed alongside 4-5 other puppet works in rotation and on repeat with ten-minute breaks between show performances.

April 12, 2025
First show(s) begin at noon and are performed in rotation with repeat performances after a ten-minute break. Shows conclude around 3:00 pm.

$5 (free performances with museum entrance fee)

Baby Dormouse Vs Quizzical Crocodile

Zero Untitled Productions

Texas State Museum of Asian Culture & Education Center
1809 N. Chaparral
Corpus Christi, TX
www.zerountitled.com

Kamishibai-style performance, alongside other puppet performances at the Texas State Museum of Asian Culture's Cherry Blossom Festival event. Will the adventurous Baby Dormouse make it over the dastardly Quizzical Crocodile's bridge? The audience can help shout out answers in this participatory puppet quiz show to help Baby Dormouse solve different questions.
The show will be performed alongside 4-5 other puppet works in rotation and on repeat with ten-minute breaks between show performances.

April 12, 2025
First show(s) begin at noon and are performed in rotation with repeat performances after a ten-minute break. Shows conclude around 3:00 pm.

$5 (free performances with museum entrance fee)

Story Bound

The Dusty and Dott Company

Photo by: Photo courtesy of The Dusty and Dott Company

Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry
1 Royce Cir
Storrs, CT
https://shorturl.at/Sfjya

Join Dusty & Dott on an exhilarating journey into the heart of storytelling!?This season, the dynamic duo delves deep into the art of crafting narratives that captivate and resonate. From the humble beginnings of an idea to the intricate layers of plot and character development, Dusty and Dott unlock the secrets behind building compelling stories. The puppetry skills and chemistry between Dusty and Dott add a magical touch to the performance, captivating both children and adults alike. Through engaging skits, interactive games, and humor (of course!), Dusty & Dott empower aspiring storytellers to unleash their creativity and embrace their individuality. Dusty and Dott emphasize the essence of authenticity, reminding the audience that their unique voice is the cornerstone of any great tale. Recommended for ages 3+. Runtime is approximately 45 minutes.

April 12, 2025
11 a.m. & 2 p.m.

Adults: $12; Members/Seniors: $10; Students: $8; Kids: $6 (12 years and under)

DIRT: THE SECRET LIFE OF SOIL - Arm-of-the-Sea Theater

Hudson Valley Puppetry Festival

Millbrook Public Library
3 Friendl Lane
Millbrook, NY
https://www.artsmidhudson.org/hvpf

Using cutting-edge science and age-old puppetry, DIRT takes audiences on an extravagant journey of discovery into the Great Underneath—revealing the epic alchemy of plants, the fungi’s dance of mutual delight, and the microbes’ herculean labors. Featuring live music and a myriad of puppet figures ranging from 12 inches to 12 feet tall, the show reminds earthly residents of all ages how profoundly essential is the ground beneath their feet.

April 12, 2025
11AM

FREE

Jim Henson's The Frog Prince Screening with Live Demonstration & Workshop

Hudson Valley Puppetry Festival

Orpheum Theatre
198 Main St
Saugerties, NY
https://www.artsmidhudson.org/hvpf

Join us for a special screening of The Muppets’ Frog Prince, featuring a live puppetry demonstration by Dov Manley of Up in Arms Puppets! After the show, dive into a hands-on workshop where you can create your very own frog puppet to take home. Perfect for all ages!

April 12, 2025
2PM

Pay what you can

The Three Little Pigs - FAMILY

Magpie Puppets

Puppet Showplace Theater
32 Station St
Brookline, MA
puppetshowplace.org/calendar/2025/04/12/the-three-little-pigs-by-magpie-puppets

Mama Pig has had quite enough of cleaning up after her fully grown little pigs! She sends them off with affection and money to make their way in the world. 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? Children share their favorite sports, veggies, and books with the puppets in this delightful and interactive rendition of The Three Little Pigs.

April 12 - 13, 2025
10:30am and 1pm

$16-$18 all-ages general admission

Bedtime Adventure Tales - FAMILY

String Theory Puppet Theater

Puppet Showplace Theater
32 Station St
Brookline, MA
puppetshowplace.org/calendar/2025/04/18/bedtime-adventure-tales-by-string-theory-puppet-theater

What happens when a father and daughter create puppet shows together?! Meet performers Azaria Rose and Dirk (a professional puppeteer, educator — and dad!) who bring a collection of playful bedtime stories to the Puppet Showplace stage! In one story, a cat and dog host a talk show, interviewing every item needed to get ready for bed — including a gentle moon, some sassy stars, a toothbrush, and even a roll of toilet paper! In another tale, a young boy's attempts to fall asleep are interrupted by fantastical creatures from his dreams, who charge him with a daring mission! If he journeys to "a land within," can he help save the forests and end a war? Kids (and adults!) who love adventure stories and dreams will appreciate this story. These stories celebrate the power of imagination — "very much inspired by my joy of playing/performing with my daughter," says Dirk — and how our inner worlds fit into the larger world around us.

April 18 - 19, 2025
10:30am and 1pm

$16-$18 all-ages general admission

An Evening of Crankies with Katherine Fahey

Katherine Fahey

Mayo Street Arts
10 Mayo Street
Portland, ME
www.tickettailor.com/events/mayostreetarts/1587878?

Join renowned Baltimore artist, puppeteer, and storyteller Katherine Fahey and her magical shadow puppet Crankies! Joining Katherine will be puppeteer and foley artist Dan Van Allen.

April 20, 2025
Sunday, April 20 at 7:00 PM

$20

Riparian Rhapsody at Treecycle 2025 - Arm-of-the-Sea Theater

Hudson Valley Puppetry Festival

Stanley Deming Park
79 South St
Warwick, NY
https://www.artsmidhudson.org/hvpf

Riparian Rhapsody is a puppet extravaganza dives into Catskill ecology to reveal the intricate interactions between Forest & Stream and lyrically makes the case for protecting streamside buffer zones. Featuring stunning visuals, live music, and a singing Bear! This live puppet show by Arm-of-the-Sea Theater will perform at Treecycle 2025 at Stanley Deming Park in Warwick, NY at 2pm.

April 26, 2025
2PM

FREE

Peter Rabbit

Pumpernickel Puppets

Photo by: Photo courtesy of Pumpernickel Puppets

Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry
1 Royce Cir
Storrs, CT
https://shorturl.at/0nCUt

Naughty Peter Rabbit, against his mother’s wishes, ventures into Mr. McGregor’s garden for a taste of his favorite vegetable treats. He nearly escapes being made into rabbit stew with the help of his tag-along little sister Flopsy. This colorful and fun production is presented with large hand puppets, live voices and sound effects. Recommended for ages 3+. Runtime is approximately 40 minutes.
Ticket Prices: Adults: $12; Members/Seniors: $10; Students: $8; Kids: $6 (12 years and under).
Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry, by calling 860-486-8580, or online. A surcharge will be added to any purchases made online. Tickets may also be purchased at the Ballard Institute on the day of the performance starting at 10 a.m. There will be open seating and no reservations. Visitors can park in the Storrs Center Garage located at 33 Royce Circle. For more information about these performances or if you require accommodation to attend this event, please contact Ballard Institute staff at 860-486-8580 or bimp@uconn.edu.

April 26, 2025
11 a.m. & 2 p.m.

Adults: $12; Members/Seniors: $10; Students: $8; Kids: $6 (12 years and under)

XPT: Xperimental Puppetry Theater

Center for Puppetry Arts, Various Artists

Center for Puppetry Arts
1404 Spring St NW
Atlanta, GA
puppet.org/programs/xpt-xperimental-puppet-theater/

What happens when artists join forces to create original puppetry works for adult audiences? XPT! Celebrating close to 40 years of experimentation, come find out what this year holds! From traditional forms of puppetry to films and installation pieces, artists of all disciplines employ puppetry in startling new ways. XPT offers an array of stories, puppetry styles, and sensibilities in a single evening. Guaranteed to inspire, surprise, amuse and provoke. Inspired? – see the XPT application to find out how to get involved in the process!

April 30 - May 4, 2025

$18

Frankenstein

Manual Cinema

Photo by: Manual Cinema

Montclair State University, Alexander Kasser Theater
1 Normal Ave Hall, Suite 171
Montclair, NJ
https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/Kasser/1631/event/1385764?eventidlist=1385764

Love, loss, and creation merge in unexpected ways as Manual Cinema presents its thrilling version of the classic Gothic tale Frankenstein. The Chicago-based performance collective imaginatively combines shadow puppetry, cinematic techniques, sound effects, and live music in haunting shows like nothing else you’ve ever seen.

May 3, 2025
8:00pm

Starting at $35

Symphonie Fantastique * - Film

Basil Twist

Photo by: Richard Termine

HERE - URHERE, online
here.org/shows/symphonie-fantastique-urhere/

Twenty years ago in 1998, Basil Twist debuted his boundary-breaking response to Berlioz’s 1830 “Symphonie Fantastique” to universal acclaim. In this revival, accompanied live by virtuosic pianist, Christopher O’Riley, the exquisite Liszt transcription, Symphonie floats and swirls in a 1,000-gallon water tank neatly disguised as a puppet stage. For the many who never saw it, and for those who relish seeing it again and again, the return of this tour de force to HERE is the event of the season. Watch on-demand on URHERE.

* Recipient of a Jim Henson Foundation Production Grant (1998) and Workshop Grant (1996)

Available on-demand on URHERE

9000 Paper Balloons * - Film

Maiko Kikuchi & Spencer Lott

Photo by: Richard Termine

HERE - URHERE, online
here.org/shows/9000-paper-balloons-urhere/

Inspired by the stranger-than-fiction secret weapons that floated over America during World War II, 9000 Paper Balloons is a poetic and eerie performance that examines distance – the distance between two friends, between two enemies, two cultures and two generations. Japanese artist Maiko Kikuchi and American puppeteer Spencer Lott blend puppetry, animation and mask as they weave their own family histories into a surreal and visually stunning collage that speaks to the past and the future. 9000 Paper Balloons is available on demand on URHERE, a one-of-a-kind, rigorously curated virtual platform for outdoor and digital premieres. URHERE aims to occupy an important part of the art ecosystem which nurtures experimentation, sparks dialogue, and creates engagement with the local community.

* Recipient of a Jim Henson Foundation Production Grant (2020) and Workshop Grant (2019)

Available on-demand on URHERE

The Fortune Teller * - Film

by Phantom Limb Company | Jessica Grindstaff and Erik Sanko With Music by Danny Elfman

HERE - URHERE, online
https://here.org/shows/urhere/

Seven strangers’ twisted tales are brought to life in this marionette play and woven with haunting music to tell an eerily comic story of fate and fortune. On a dark night, the strangers are invited to the mansion of a deceased millionaire, and learn that their inheritances will be based not on a will, but on the readings of a fortune teller. Each soon meets a gruesome end in this production developed through HERE’s Dream Music puppetry program. The Fortune Teller played at HERE November 28 - December 4, 2010. The Fortune Teller is available on demand on URHERE, a one-of-a-kind, rigorously curated virtual platform for outdoor and digital premieres. URHERE aims to occupy an important part of the art ecosystem which nurtures experimentation, sparks dialogue, and creates engagement with the local community.

* Recipient of a Jim Henson Foundation Production Grant (2006)

Available on-demand on URHERE

The Scarlet Ibis - Film

Beth Morrison Projects

HERE - URHERE, online
urhere.art/archive/ibis

The Scarlet Ibis is an opera about family, illness, and the power of the imagination to soar above what’s considered “normal.” This world premiere by composer Stefan Weisman (Darkling) and librettist David Cote (Blind Injustice) fuses singers, puppetry, and multimedia stagecraft to tell the story of a remarkable disabled boy nicknamed “Doodle,” whose older brother pushes him to be like other kids. Set in rural North Carolina a century ago, The Scarlet Ibis contrasts notions of physical wholeness with mystical otherness The narrative (inspired by the short story by James Hurst) draws on elements of Southern Gothic, boy’s adventure, and domestic tragedy. Mallory Catlett directs; Steven Osgood (Dead Man Walking, Metropolitan Opera) conducts the American Modern Ensemble. For audiences 10 and up. The Scarlet Ibis was a part of the 2015 PROTOTYPE Festival, co-produced with Beth Morrison Projects

Available on-demand on URHERE

Spirited Away (Live on Stage) - Film

Based on the animated feature film by Hayao Miyazaki

On Demand
gkids.com/films/spirited-away-live-on-stage/#watch-now

Hayao Miyazaki’s Academy Award®-winning animated feature film comes to life in this first-ever stage adaptation, full of dazzling sets, captivating musical numbers, and wondrous puppets of beloved characters. Adapted and directed by Tony Award®-winner John Caird (Les Misérables), two unique casts and performances were filmed during the show’s acclaimed 2022 run at Tokyo’s historic Imperial Theatre, featuring Kanna Hashimoto and Mone Kamishiraishi as Chihiro.

Send for the Million Men * - Film

Joseph Silovsky

HERE - URHERE, online
urhere.art/archive/sftmm

The “crime of the century” of the 1920s jolts to life in modern-day New York City in Joseph Silovsky’s micro-history multimedia tale, Send for the Million Men. With a compelling command of animatronics, robotics, puppetry, and handmade projectors, Silovsky examines the controversial executions of notorious anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti. Their bleak fates intertwine with Silovsky’s own micro-tragic biography in a humorous and captivating history-rethink.

* Recipient of a Jim Henson Foundation Production Grant (2010) and Workshop Grant (2009)

Available on-demand on URHERE