Puppet Showplace Theater Presents: We Wiggle Dolls! A DIY Puppet Cabaret, featuring The Velvet Dirtmunchers

What happens when decadently weird artists get together? A handmade and high-concept puppet cabaret, obviously! Puppets at Night fans, brace yourselves for the playful, uncanny, and rawly experimental works of We Wiggle Dolls! A DIY Puppet Cabaret. With acts from New York City and New Orleans, We Wiggle Dolls are kicking off their fall tour with a one-night-only performance at Puppet Showplace Theater in Brookline! Savor the bizarre, dream-like work of naughty little no good, who studied robotics and marionette hybrids. Behold YELLOWLEMONSHAPEDROCK’s diverse skills in hand puppetry, rod puppetry, marionettes, clowning, and more, which bring to life farce and tragedy. And sink your teeth into the absurd, satirical, and mythological work of duo Playdoh &amp; Basil. Local band The Velvet Dirtmunchers will provide musical interludes featuring their signature sultry vocals, haunting squeezebox, and heart-wrenching horn melodies. Band leader Camille Charlier and tuba player Eric Goode will also perform a puppetry piece — you may have seen one of their delightfully weird and interactive pieces at a past Puppet Showplace puppet slam! Don’t miss out on this supremely unique Puppets at Night performance, grab your ticket now! Recommended for adults and ages 14+ with guardian Length: 100 minutes, with intermission Language: English From New York City and New Orleans! Creation of this show was supported by the Puppet Slam Network.

Puppet Showplace Theater 

Puppet Showplace Theater Presents: The Fairy Tailor by Sarah Nolen of Puppet Motion

Meet the Fairy Tailor, hard at work in her enchanted shop, where dressing racks and laundry baskets are known to have a mind of their own. Watch as she transforms everyday garments into extraordinary characters, and shares stories of bravery, from “Little Red Riding Hood(ie),” to “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” With the audience’s help, the Fairy Tailor summons the courage to take a stand against a giant, crafting a solution that combines cleverness with creativity. This whimsical, interactive production is guaranteed to inspire audiences of all ages! After the Show: Meet the Puppets, Ice Cream &amp; More! Stay after the show to meet the artist and see the puppets up close! Plus, join us for free ice cream from <a href="https://www.jamiesicecreamco.com/">Jamie’s Ice cream</a> and enjoy a dress-up station, coloring sheets, bubbles, and sidewalk chalk! These activities are available after every performance, 11:30 am -12:30 pm and 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm. All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 4 - 9 Mixed puppetry styles Length: 45 minutes Language: English From Waltham, MA

Puppet Showplace Theater Presents: The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow by Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers

In this comedic version of the classic Washington Irving tale, school teacher Ichabod Crane helps the Headless Horseman find a new head and a spookier image! Meanwhile, a jealous Brom Bones tries to run Ichabod out of town as they both vie for the affection of Katrina Van Tassel. In the end the Horseman saves the day, and everyone lives "happily ever after!" The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow features 20 handcrafted mouth-and-rod puppets, plus some shadow puppetry! After the Show: Meet the Puppets &amp; More! Stay after the show to meet the artists and see the puppets up close! Plus, enjoy a dress-up station, coloring sheets, bubbles, and sidewalk chalk! These activities are available after every performance, 11:30 am -12:30 pm and 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm. All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by 4 - 8 Mixed puppetry styles: rod, mouth and rod ("Muppet style"), and shadow Length: 50 minutes Language: English From Maine! About the Ar

Puppet Showplace Theater Presents: Magnificent Monster Circus by CactusHead Puppets

Come one, come all, to a circus like no other!&nbsp;Encounter magnificent creatures from the wilds of your imagination as their quirky human caretaker tries to teach them new tricks. Kids can lend a hand to Eustace the Unicycling Unimonster, make friends with a Fiery Fanged Worm, cheer for Agnes the many-legged Acropod, and more! This colorful, silly, multi-sensory show is a perfect match for our youngest audiences. All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 3-7 Mixed puppetry styles, including table top and direct manipulation Length: 45 minutes Language: English From Western Mass! After the Show: Meet the Puppets &amp; More! Stay after the show to meet the artists and see the puppets up close! Plus, enjoy a dress-up station, coloring sheets, bubbles, and sidewalk chalk! These activities are available after the performance, 11:30 am -12:30 pm .

Puppet Showplace Theater Fall Puppet Slam

Ever seen shower curtain shadow puppetry? Or sex ed from a mole? No? Well, you should — these are just a few examples of past Puppet Slam acts! A couple times a year Puppet Showplace Theater stays open late to showcase the region's finest short-form puppetry acts... for adults! Each piece is performed by a different artist, and the content ranges from the hilarious to the profound. Performers include veteran professionals and first-time puppeteers, and acts often feature musicians, dancers, circus performers, and other artists. So, what are you waiting for? Join us for an evening of short-form puppetry for adults, featuring a range of puppetry styles, beer and wine, and a guaranteed good time. Stay tuned for updates on the performers! Recommended for adults and teens 16+ Mixed puppetry styles Language: English From: All over!

Puppet Showplace Theater Presents:  A Diwali Double Feature! by WonderSpark Puppets and The Culture Tree

It’s the festival of lights! Let’s light lamps, eat sweets, clean house, and celebrate this cherished Hindu holiday. This Diwali Double Feature features two stories that celebrate the victory of light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance —&nbsp;with comedy and hand puppetry, of course! Story #1: Ramleela What is the meaning of true devotion, love, kindness and valor? Brave prince Ram and his allies must rescue his kidnapped wife Sita from the King Ravan in this ancient Indian story from the Ramayana, coming to learn the true meaning of why we celebrate Diwali. Story #2: Amrita’s Tree Little Amrita loves to nap under her favorite tree, swinging from its branches and watching the animals. When the king orders all the trees to be chopped down to build himself a bigger palace, how can one little person possibly stop them? Inspired by the true story of the original tree huggers, the Bishnoi Hindus, who used peaceful resistance to defend their village's trees in 1700s India. This show was designed to be enjoyed equally by those who know the stories and traditions of Diwali, as well as to welcome those who have no prior knowledge of Diwali. It was created through a special collaboration with <a href="http://www.theculturetree.com/">The Culture Tree</a>, whose mission is to promote South Asian culture through educational and enrichment programs, and <a href="https://www.wondersparkpuppets.com/">WonderSpark Puppets</a>, an acclaimed puppet theater that performs joyful tales all over their New York City home, and as far away as Thailand and Taiwan! After the Show: Meet the Puppets &amp; Diwali Festivities! Stay after the show to meet the artists and see the puppets up close! Plus, enjoy special snacks, a Diwali-themed coloring sheet, and a paper lantern craft! These activities are available after every performance, 11:30 am -12:30 pm and 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm. All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 3-7 Hand puppets Length: 40 minutes Language: English From New York City!

Puppet Showplace Theater Presents: The Not-So-Spooky Ghost by WonderSpark Puppets

A timid ghost, his skeleton father, and a mysterious scarecrow have lots of laughs in this all-ages Halloween puppet show. The little ghost can't scare a soul to please his Big Bad Dad, but help is on the way as the audience and some friends scare up some fun fright! New York City-based WonderSpark Puppets are known for their dynamic hand puppetry, which shines as the puppets bring physical comedy to life! Get in the mood for the show by coming in your spookiest, Halloween-best! After the Show: Meet the Puppets &amp; More! Stay after the show to meet the artists and see the puppets up close! Plus, enjoy a dress-up station and coloring sheets! These activities are available after every performance: 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm on Saturday and 11:30 am - 12:30 pm on Sunday. All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 3 - 6 Hand puppets Length: 35 minutes Language: English From New York City!

Puppet Showplace Theater Presents: The Loose Caboose by Harry LaCoste

A train engineer finds his caboose has disconnected and is stranded without an engine! To pass the time while waiting for the engine's return, the engineer peeks through the suitcases left behind to discover delightful puppet characters and enchanting musical stories.&nbsp; Join puppeteer, ukulele rockstar, and all around funny guy Harry LaCoste for this interactive family-friendly show that is sure to make you giggle! Meet the Puppets Stay after the show to meet the artist and to see the puppets up close! Plus, enjoy a dress-up station and coloring sheets! These activities are available after every performance, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm on all dates and 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm on Tuesday. All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 3 – 7 Hand puppets and live music Length: 40 minutes Language: English From Waltham!

Puppet Showplace Theater Presents: Jokes with Josue + The Tales of Turtle Boy by Emmanuel Elpenord

Join Haitian-American actor, puppeteer, and voice-over artist Emmanel Elpenord for an interactive performance featuring folklore, jokes, and adventure — and, you might even learn a few words of Creole! In the first story, Uncle Josue pays us a visit from Haiti, bringing tricky riddles and silly stories to share — inspired by Haitian folklore. The second act of this double feature is The Tales of Turtle Boy, a choose-your-own-adventure where the bashful, yet rambunctious, Turtle Boy marionette leads us through an action movie of the audience’s making — think Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles meets John Wick (kid-friendly edition)! Emmanuel Elpenord is an alumnus of Puppet Showplace’s <a href="https://www.puppetshowplace.org/creative-residency-for-black-puppeteers">Creative Residency for Black Puppeteers</a>, where he built his Turtle Boy marionette and workshopped ideas for this performance. Now, he returns to Puppet Showplace with a premiere of this all-ages show! After the Show: Meet the Puppets &amp; More! Stay after the show to meet the artist and see the puppets up close — the artist speaks English and Creole! Plus, take part in a craft inspired by the show and enjoy a dress-up station and coloring sheets! These activities are available after every performance, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm. All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 5 - 10 Marionettes Length: 40 minutes Language: English &amp; Creole From New York City! This project was supported by the Coney Island History Project, Jim Henson Foundation, Haiti Cultural Exchange, and Puppet Showplace Theater.

Puppet Showplace Theater Presents: Little Red Riding Hood! by Lucky Duck Puppets

Come along with Lucky Duck and his friends from the Fairy Tale Forest in this interactive, silly rendition of the classic story of Little Red Riding Hood! Little Red is off to visit her Grandmother, and she has a Big Bad Wolf to deal with! Will she be able to have milk and cookies with her grandmother? Come to the show and find out! You’ll also get a chance to learn how to be a puppeteer so you can tell your own stories and have your own adventures! After the Show: Meet the Puppets &amp; More! Stay after the show to meet the artist and see the puppets up close! Plus, enjoy a dress-up station and coloring sheets! These activities are available after every performance, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm. All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 2 - 9 Hand, hand and rod, and rod puppets Length: 30 minutes Language: English From New York City!

Puppet Showplace Theater Presents: Hansel and Gretel by Tanglewood Marionettes

In this beautiful adaptation of the classic fairytale by the Brothers Grimm, the pages of a giant storybook turn to reveal each scene of Hansel and Gretel’s adventure! While lost in the woods, the pair encounter many challenges (including a witch!) and must call upon their inner reserves to make it through. The story is accompanied by melodies from the opera of the same name by Engelbert Humperdinck, adding another layer of richness to this delightful production. After the Show: Meet the Puppets &amp; More! Stay after the show to meet the artists and see the puppets up close! Plus, enjoy a dress-up station and coloring sheets! These activities are available after every performance, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm. All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 4 - 9 Marionettes Length: 45 minutes Language: English From Western Mass!

Puppet Showplace Theater Presents: The Trolls and the Tree: An Environmental Fable by Margaret Moody Puppets

Trolls Skimpa and Blompa are excited to take care of the fairies’ beautiful garden. But, they can't imagine a week without their furniture and shopping! When they can’t fit their favorite things into the garden, Skimpa and Blompa have to decide what’s more important — their deluxe toaster or the fairies’ cherished tree? With the help of the audience the fairies find a way to gently teach the trolls the value of nature in this funny and poignant environmental fable. The performance is accompanied by live lute music played by Peter Lehman, who is inspired by everything from the Renaissance to Willie Nelson tunes! After the Show: Meet the Puppets &amp; More! Stay after the show to meet the artists and see the puppets up close — the artists speak English and Mandarin! Plus, enjoy a dress-up station and coloring sheets! These activities are available after every performance, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm. All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 4 - 10 Hand puppets and live lute music Length: 35 minutes&nbsp; Language: English From Arlington, MA!

Puppet Showplace Theater Presents: Hanukkats by Talking Hands Theatre

How do you play dreidel and why? Join Ziva the cat as she goes back to the time of the first Hanukkah to recover the missing letters on her dreidel! You’ll meet Judah Meowcabee, Oliver the olive oil maker, and a cast of other wonderful cat characters who help Ziva solve the mysterious connection between the dreidel letters, the Hanukkah story, and the way the game of dreidel is played. Audience members will have a chance to get up and dance, sing, and act out parts of the story in this musical, interactive journey through time. After the Show: Meet the Puppets &amp; More! Stay after the show to meet the artist and see the puppets up close! Plus, enjoy a dress-up station and coloring sheets! These activities are available after every performance, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm. All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 2 - 9 Hand puppets Length: 40 minutes Language: English From Shutesbury, MA!

Puppet Showplace Theater at UnCommon Stage

This summer, Puppet Showplace Theater is bringing puppetry to Emerson College’s UnCommon Stage in the Boston Common for free outdoor performances July 5 – August 30. July 5 at 12pm: “Party Animals” by Puppet Motion Party Animals follows four furry friends as they navigate the biggest social hurdle of their young lives — throwing their first party! Meet a bunny with boundless energy, a sloth with social anxiety, a hedgehog wrestling with wrapping, and a skunk who's trying to keep everything cool and under control. &nbsp; July 12 at 12pm: “Word Play” by Puppet Motion, created by Good Hearted Entertainment Word Play uses clowning, puppetry, and live original music to take audiences on an adventure through the alphabet. Words come to life in the hands of Sarah Nolen and Harry LaCoste, who clown around with sounds and letters to create dozens of interactive characters and imaginative scenes. &nbsp; July 19 at 12pm: “Magnificent Monster Circus” by CactusHead Puppets Come one, come all, to a circus like no other!&nbsp;Encounter magnificent creatures from the wilds of your imagination as their quirky human caretaker tries to teach them new tricks. &nbsp; July 26 at 12pm: “Growing Things: A Cow and Mouse Story” In this interactive show, friends Cow and Mouse learn about healthy soil, careful planting, and how important weather is to farmers, all accompanied by live mandolin music. At the end of the story, audience members join the puppeteers in harvesting the crops together!&nbsp; &nbsp; Aug 2 at 12pm: “The Bella Show!” by Brenda Huggins &amp; Phil Berman Aug 9 at 12pm: “The Bella Show!” by Brenda Huggins &amp; Phil Berman Go on a pink and furry adventure with Bella and her friends through a beautiful garden to meet silly bugs, creepy-crawlers, and musical surprises! Sing-along to your favorite tunes like "The Ants Go Marching" and "The Itsy Bitsy Spider," as well as original songs including "Leg Up on You!" and "Chuck it In." We even get to meet the Very Hungry Caterpillar in a colorful and hilarious adaptation. &nbsp; Aug 16 at 12pm: “The Good News Gus Show” by Harry LaCoste Join puppeteer, ukulele rockstar, and all around funny guy Harry LaCoste for his family-friendly variety show! Along with his fuzzy puppet pals, Harry will sing songs you know, tell jokes you might not, and charm you with his interactive storytelling. &nbsp; Aug 23 at 12pm: “Magnificent Monster Circus” by CactusHead Puppets Come one, come all, to a circus like no other!&nbsp;Encounter magnificent creatures from the wilds of your imagination as their quirky human caretaker tries to teach them new tricks. Aug 30 at 12pm: The Good News Gus Show” by Harry LaCoste Join puppeteer, ukulele rockstar, and all around funny guy Harry LaCoste for his family-friendly variety show! Along with his fuzzy puppet pals, Harry will sing songs you know, tell jokes you might not, and charm you with his interactive storytelling.

Boston Common

The Bremen Town Musicians by CactusHead Puppets

About the Show What can a donkey, a dog, a cat, and a rooster do when they have to leave their farm? Become world famous musicians, of course! CactusHead Puppets brings to life the funny, inspiring tale of four farm animals who set out to pursue their dreams of stardom. Along the way, they foil some robbers, discover riches, and learn how to work together in harmony. This production features elaborate shadow and rod puppets, lovable characters, and CactusHead Puppets' signature sense of humor. All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 4 - 8 Shadow &amp; rod puppetry Length: 40 minutes Language: English From Western Mass! After the Show: Meet the Puppets! Stay after the show to meet the artists and see the puppets up close! Pay-What-You-Can Summer Sundays In a celebration of puppetry for all, we're offering Pay-What-You-Can pricing during our Summer Mainstage season! <ul><li>Choose the Supporter level ticket to support affordable access for everyone.</li><li>Choose a reduced price PWYC option if the regular price is out of your range.</li></ul>As always, our $3 Card to Culture ticket is available for EBT, WIC, MassHealth, and ConnectorCare cardholders. About the Artist <a href="https://www.cactusheadpuppets.com/">CactusHead Puppets</a> are known for their playful performance style and exuberant creativity. The West Springfield-based company was started in 2010 by married couple John and Megan Regan. Since then they have toured throughout the Northeast with their original family-friendly shows, several of which are based on favorite and familiar folktales. Megan is originally from the Kansas City area, where she worked with Paul Mesner Puppets, now known as What is Puppets. John is from Western Massachusetts, and is honored to be performing at the same venues where he saw puppet shows growing up. Megan collects pop-up books, and John has a love for giant monster movies. Both Megan and John are graduates of the University of Connecticut's Puppet Arts program, and were interns at Puppet Showplace Theater way back — they are excited to return to Boston to share their work as professional puppeteers!

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S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

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S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

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S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

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S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

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Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

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S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

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S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

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S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

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S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Kid-friendly events in Boston

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.

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