Family
The Lion, The Mouse, & Other Aesop’s Fables
By Red Herring Puppets of Fairview, NC
Jun 8 - 20, 2010
After over 2,000 years, the enduring popularity of Aesop’s fables proves it’s never too late to learn a few valuable lessons. With colorful tabletop puppets and delightful music, Red Herring Puppets’ original rhymed version brings to life these classic tales about ingenuity, friendship, patience, and more.
More > or

Family
Hansel & Gretel
By Tanglewood Marionettes of Ware, MA
Jun 22 - Jul 3, 2010
What do you get when you mix together two children, a wicked witch, and a house made of sweets? One very sticky situation! Hand-crafted string puppets and the melodies of Englebert Humperdinck’s 1893 opera create an unforgettable retelling of the classic story by the Brothers Grimm. More > or

Family
Billy Goats Gruff and Other Stuff
By All Hands Productions of Atlanta, GA
Jul 6–18, 2010
Meet a cantankerous toll troll, persnickety chickens, a wolf that’s allergic to blueberries, and a host of other kooky characters in this mixture of traditional folk tales and witty original stories told by a solo puppeteer. Put on your toe-tapping shoes and get ready to laugh! More > or

Family
Everybody Loves Pirates
By Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers of Bar Harbor, ME
Jul 20 - Aug 1, 2010
Lucy and her friend Little Chucky have big dreams, a treasure map, and lots of determination. The duo sets off on the adventure of a lifetime only to find themselves walking the plank at the hands of some pesky pirates! See what happens in this swashbuckling adventure that’s fun for the whole family! More > or

Family
Rumpelstiltskin
Adapted by Bobby Box and Michael Haverty
Directed by Michael Haverty
Aug 6 - Sep 12, 2010
Previews Aug 3, 4, & 5: 10am & 11:30am
“My daughter can spin straw into gold!” brags Kate’s father. Now she must find a way to make good on her father’s boast! A mysterious little man appears and offers his magical services…but for a terrible price. Based on the fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, this marionette musical will spin grins onto the faces of kids and adults alike. More > or

Family
"Wake up Your Weird" with Lolly & Leslie
By Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, Los Angeles, CA
Sep 16 - 26, 2010
Previews Sep 15: 10am & 11:30am
Discover your own unique creative gifts with Sesame Street Puppeteer Leslie Carrara-Rudolph and her friend and Lolly! Together with her other puppet friends, Leslie will help the young and young at heart "wake up their weird" with this interactive performance-style workshop using puppets, storytelling, live music, improvisations, art, and movement. Explore the power of the voice, the body, and the imagination as the three main resources for "spreading joy." More > or

Family
Charlotte's Web
By E. B. White; Adapted by Joseph Robinette
Directed by Michael Haverty
Sept 30 - Oct 31, 2010
Previews Sept 28 & 29: 10am & 11:30am
Charlotte the friendly spider has a plan to save Wilbur the pig - she’s going to make him famous using her wits, words, and webs! With a colorful cast of barn-yard characters including the old sheep and Templeton the gluttonous rat, E.B. White’s award-winning tale of unlikely friendship will have you cheering: “Terrific, terrific, terrific!”

Produced by special arrangement with DRAMATIC PUBLISHING, Woodstock, Illinois. More > or

Family
Nightingale
By Figures of Speech Theatre of Freeport, ME
Nov 2 - 14, 2010
This lush production brings to life Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale of an Emperor who forsakes his beloved nightingale for a jeweled mechanical bird - only to find himself alone and dying when the machine breaks down due to overuse. Can the real nightingale return in time to bargain with Death and save the Emperor? More > or

Family
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™
Adapted and Directed by Jon Ludwig
Based on the classic television special
Nov 18, 2010 - Jan 2, 2011
Previews Nov 16 & 17: 10am & 11:30am
*Special Evening Performance Fri, Nov 26 at 7pm
Experience the timeless tale of Rudolph and friends in a whole new way - LIVE! You won’t want to miss Artistic Director Jon Ludwig’s faithful adaptation of this wonderful holiday tradition that speaks to the misfit in all of us.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and all elements from the 1964 television special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer © and ™ under license to Character Arts, LLC. More > or

Family
Hats Off to the Sea (Chapeau la Mer)
By Compagnie Coatimundi of Châteaurenard, France
Dec 3 - 5, 2010
Funny, gentle, colorful - such is the secret world of Monsieur Séraphin Lemercier who leaves his home and humdrum life behind to go on an expedition across the seas. Surprises abound in this nonverbal, interactive series of sketches. Using beautifully designed puppets (including giant inflatable figures), imaginative sets, and mime techniques, this internationally renowned French company will delight audiences of all ages.
Note: Still in negotiation – visit www.puppet.org in July 2010 for more details. More > or

Family
Randel McGee & Groark
By Randel McGee of Hanford, CA
Jan 4 - 16, 2011
Groark, the loveable, guitar-playing dragon often stumbles through the mishaps of life, but his trusty cohort Randel McGee always stays close by his side to point him in the right direction when he goes off course! With songs that will keep you singing for days, this high energy ventriloquist and puppet duo will have you cheering for more! More > or

Family
The Body Detective
Written and Directed by Jon Ludwig
Jan 20 - Mar 13, 2011
Previews Jan 18 & 19: 10am & 11:30am
Detective Sam Flat Foot has a new case - a living, breathing body has been found! But who’s responsible? Find out as Sam sleuths his way through Bodytown, hustling with the local muscle, boning up on his knowledge of the skeletal system, and catching a cab uptown to the heart of the city. More > or

Family
There's a Dinosaur in the Closet
By Coad Canada Puppets of North Vancouver, BC, Canada
Feb 1 - 13, 2011
Despite Darryl’s begging and pleading, his Aunt Amelia has never allowed him to keep a pet in her house. One day he smuggles a pet rock into his room, thinking it’s the next best thing to the real deal. Imagine his surprise when his rock turns out to be an egg with a very hungry dinosaur inside! More > or

Family
Coyote Sings
By Magical Moonshine Theatre of Vallejo, CA
Feb 22 - Mar 6, 2011
In this Spanish/English retelling of Native American folktales from three Southwest tribes, enjoy a crazy coyote’s bumbling efforts and hilarious antics. This energetic show is full of slapstick, Southwestern motifs, and lively Mexican folk tunes. More > or

Family
The Dragon King
By Tanglewood Marionettes of Ware, MA
Mar 8 - 20, 2011
A terrible drought has overtaken the land. A wise and intrepid Grandmother is determined to find out why the Dragon King is holding back the precious rains – even if it means a journey to the bottom of the sea! More > or

Family
The Stinky Cheese Man
Based on the book by Jon Scieszka (used by permission)
By Paul Mesner Puppets of Kansas City, MO
Mar 22 - Apr 10, 2011
Adapted from the wildly popular book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith, this rip-roaring fairy-tale adventure is loads of fun for all ages. You’ll have fun with Jack, the narrator, as he takes you through the twists and turns of this wacky tale, which contains zany versions of storybook classics! More > or

Family
Beauty and the Beast
Adapted and Directed by Jon Ludwig
Apr 7 - May 29, 2011
Previews Apr 5 & 6 @ 10am & 11:30am
This classic fairy tale hip-hops its way into a modern day city complete with alley-cats, beauty shops, and exercise videos! The story is brought to life using the “found object” style of puppetry in which the puppets are constructed from everyday items such as mops, rags, and brooms, this Spanish/English adaptation brings to life lessons of hard work and acceptance in a delightfully hip and humorous fashion. More > or

Teen & Adult
The Ghastly Dreadfuls: Demi-Omnibus
By Jon Ludwig & Jason von Hinezmeyer
Oct 14 - 31, 2010
Preview Oct 13: 8pm
Recommended for ages 16+
(No one under age 14 admitted)
Come celebrate the spooky season with your favorite band of spectres as the Ghastly Dreadfuls reprise their cavalcade of paranormal puppetry, macabre music, and haunting horror stories from around the world and beyond this mortal plane. It’s fun for the living and the dead! More > or

Teen & Adult
A November Day: A War Story
By Thingumajig Theatre of West Yorkshire, England
Feb 15 - 20, 2011
Recommended for ages 12+
(No one under age 10 admitted)
In forgotten boxes in an attic, a woman discovers the story of her grandfather, a veteran of the First World War, and his unexpected encounter with a stray dog who knew no boundaries. With evocative puppet characters, live music, and an ever-changing set,
Thingumajig Theatre presents a timeless fable on war, remembrance, and the miracle of friendship when all else seems lost. More > or

Handmade Puppet Dreams IV
Curated by Heather Henson
Sat, Jun 5, 2010 @ 8pm
Recommended for ages 14+
Always fresh and imaginative, Handmade Puppet Dreams IV is a selection of short puppet films by independent artists exploring their handmade craft especially for the camera. Films include: Omar’s Mother by Paul Andrejco, Señor Huesos by Jerrold Ridenour, BottleStopper by Martin P. Robinson, Space Kitty in Japan by Anney Fresh, Maika-Desert Gold by Rob Saunders, A Dog Goes from Here to There by Carl Knickerbocker, and The Whole World and You by Frankie Cordero, among others. More > or

Mary and Max
Directed by Adam Elliot
Fri, Jul 9, 2010 @ 8pm
Recommended for ages 14+
On the surface, it would seem that Mary (Toni Collette), a portly eight-year-old girl from the suburbs of Melbourne, and Max (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a morbidly obese, middle-aged Jewish New Yorker suffering from Asperger’s Syndrome, would have little in common, but over the course of twenty years, the unlikely pen pals exchange letters discussing everything from taxidermy, trust, pets, religion, obesity, autism, agoraphobia, and alcoholism, to just about any other topic that comes to mind as they sit down and put pen to paper. Don't miss this stop motion masterpiece of true friendship and acceptance. More > or

A Muppet Family Christmas
Directed by Peter Harris and Eric Till
Sat, Dec 11, 2010 @ 7pm
Recommended for ages 4+
You’re invited to a zany holiday celebration as Fozzie Bear and all his show-biz pals head to the country to spend Christmas at Fozzie’s Mom’s farm house! With snow falling outside and more friends dropping by, something magical happens. The sparkle of the stage lights up the farm house as the Muppets share their gifts of music, a play, and of course, Fozzie’s stand-up comedy act! More > or

Dreamchild
Directed by Gavin Millar
Fri, Feb 11, 2011 @ 8pm
Recommended for ages 10+
Set in the 1930’s, the real-life Alice in Wonderland, 80-year-old Alice Hargreaves, makes her first trans-Atlantic voyage to New York to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s birth. As she comes to terms with America’s “Alice mania,” she returns in her thoughts and dreams to her idyllic childhood, in mid-1800’s England. In a wondrous blend of fantasy and reality, she confronts the unsettling memories of her past – and the strangely repressed Reverend Dodgson (Lewis Carroll), whose powerful affection for Alice surfaced in his writing to create one of the world’s most beloved literary classics. More > or

Puppets provided by The Jim Henson Creature Shop.