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

Word Play by Puppet Motion / Good Hearted Entertainment | Pay-What-You-Can Summer Sundays!

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. With an array of instruments by his side, Paul Watkins sets the stage with live music for every magical moment. It’s the perfect blend of education and entertainment — a play on words, literally! Word Play was inspired by creator Honey Goodenough’s experience learning to manage her own dyslexia and literacy challenges. Audiences can make friends with vowels, teach tricks to a “C-A-T” and “D-O-G,” and visit a whole “Z-O-O” full of surprises. All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 3-7 Object puppetry, live actors, and original music Length: 45 minutes Language: English From Greater Boston! This show was created by Honey Goodenough with support from the 2016 Incubator Program at Puppet Showplace Theater. It will be performed by Sarah Nolen, Harry LaCoste, and Paul Watkins.

Puppet Showplace Theater

Magnificent Monster Circus by CactusHead Puppets | Pay-What-You-Can Summer Sundays!

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.

"Tholpavakoothu: Shadow Puppet Play of Kerala, India" at Allerton Overlook | Summer Outdoor Series

About the Show Scenes from the Ramayana by Tholpavakoothu Puppet Centre, co-presented by Breakfast Puppets Presented in English Experience shadow puppetry by firelight! Witness scenes from the dramatic epic Ramayana, complete with scenes of battles, trickery, and the natural world, performed by masters of Tholpavakoothu, a traditional form of shadow puppetry from Kerala, India. Come at 8:00 pm to try your hand at manipulating the handmade leather puppets, with guidance from our visiting artists; and then as dusk falls, stay to see a performance. Even puppet fans may never have seen shadow puppetry like this — the screen is illuminated by 21 lighted lamps made of coconuts cut in half, filled with coconut oil and lit with cotton wicks. About 160 puppets are used for this performance!&nbsp; This ensemble is led by Rahul Koonathara, a 13th-generation practitioner of this traditional form of fire-lit shadow puppetry from Kerala, India. All ages welcome; recommended for everyone 4 and up! No matter your age, you will be delighted by the storytelling, drama, and skill displayed in this traditional art form. About the Artists Rahul Koonathara (he/him) is an accomplished artist and a 12th generation shadow puppet practitioner from Kerala, India. He holds a BFA in physics and theatre, an MA in Comparative Literature, and is currently working towards his PhD. He is also the recipient of UConn’s Harriott Fellowship. He has toured extensively through the U.S. and has dedicated his life to preserving and showcasing this extraordinary art form on national and international platforms. Anthony Sellitto-Budney (they/them) is a graduate of the UConn Puppet Arts BFA Program and founder of BreakFAST Puppets. They are a puppeteer, clown, and performance artist and have been featured in the NOLA Giant Puppet Fest, the Asheville Fringe Fest, and were the 2023 Emerging Artist at the Eugene O’Neill Puppetry Conference. This presentation was made possible in part with support from the Brookline Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community Relations.

Allerton Overlook

Sir George and The Dragon by Pumpernickel Puppets | Pay-What-You-Can Summer Sundays!

Join an adventurous princess as she journeys to Mystery Mountain to visit the Great Green Dragon. Along the way you'll meet Zelda the babysitter, Sir George and his clumsy dog, and of course, a lovable dragon. This tale is told with colorful, friendly hand puppets and features lots of audience participation!

The Bella Show: Bugs! by Brenda Huggins & Phil Berman | Pay-What-You-Can Summer Sundays!

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. Peformers Brenda Huggins and Phil Berman combine their talents as puppeteers, early childhood educators, and exceptional musicians — Huggins is a classically trained soprano and Berman is the singer-songwriter frontman of Americana-vaudeville band Phil and the Flying Leap — to create an engaging and interactive puppetry experience ideal for the very young and their grown-ups.

The Good News Gus Show by Harry LaCoste | Pay-What-You-Can Summer Sundays!

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. For three years Harry has entertained our youngest audiences on Tuesday mornings at Puppet Playtime, and now we’re bringing him to our Mainstage for an all-ages show that’s&nbsp; great for big and little kids alike! Audience members have said, "Harry is so great! Out of all our weekly activities this is by far the best one!" and “We are still talking about it!” Get ready to wiggle, giggle, and jam with Harry and his sunshine-spreading sidekick Good News Gus!

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!

puppet showplace theater

POCKET MOXIE! A Happenstance Vaudeville by Happenstance Theater

An homage to the style and spirit of the Great Age of Vaudeville with slapstick comedy, tight harmonies and celestial charades! Five versatile players breathe new life into classic old routines, from a ventriloquist’s dummy to a magic act that goes awry, from novelty songs to a puppet Pierrot, a musical saw to waiters juggling meatballs, all with full live “foley” sound effects! This show is teeming with hijinks, harmonies, nostalgic beauty, and physical comedy. Something for everyone and family friendly! Happenstance Theater brings old Vaudeville back! Featuring: Mark Jaster, Sabrina Mandell, Gwen Grastorf, Sarah Olmsted Thomas, and Alex Vernon. Enjoyed by all ages 5 to 95! Ventriloquism, marionettes, humanettes, clowning, music, and hijinks! Length: 75 min Language: English From Rockville, Maryland! <a href="https://www.happenstancetheater.com/">Happenstance Theater</a>, founded in 2006, is a professional company committed to devising, producing and touring original, performer-created visual, poetic Theatre. Our ensemble has been developing work together since 2012. We are eclectically skilled artists who craft all aspects of our pieces from concept to realization. Under the Artistic co-Direction of Mark Jaster and Sabrina Mandell, we harvest imagery from the past and re-contextualize it in performances that address the universal themes of mortality and the ephemeral. With the simplest means —  humor, whimsy, music, silence, text, physical comedy, object manipulation, vulnerability and generosity - we seek to elevate the moment when the performers and audience meet, to lift the encounter beyond the daily and pedestrian into the realms of dreams, poetry, and art. Meaning is often found by happenstance. In 2016 Happenstance received three Helen Hayes Awards for Outstanding Ensemble, Outstanding Costume Design and Outstanding Lead Actor. In 2017 Happenstance received two Helen Hayes Awards for Outstanding Costume Design and Outstanding Musical Direction.

Amplify: The Creative Residency for Black Puppeteers Showcase

Location &amp; Tickets<ul><li>$25 General Admission</li><li>$50 Supporter Ticket</li><li>$10 Card to Culture (WIC, EBT, MassHealth, ConnectorCare) <a href="https://www.puppetshowplace.org/community-discounts">Learn more →</a></li><li>Members receive discount tickets, priority seating, and more! <a href="https://www.puppetshowplace.org/memberships">Become a Member →</a></li></ul>Choose a showtime to purchase tickets. You will be redirected to our ticketing service website to complete your purchase. Review our <a href="https://www.puppetshowplace.org/ticket-policy">ticket policies here.</a> June 20 (Fri) 2025: <a href="https://111884.blackbaudhosting.com/111884/tickets?tab=2&amp;txobjid=36b7a26a-97c6-478d-8488-6a58eecc722f">8:00 pm</a> Location: Joan &amp; Edgar Booth Theatre at Boston University, <a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/A1a2Gw5Tvk2aZtkR9">820 Commonwealth Ave, Brookline, MA</a> Celebrate bold new voices in puppetry! Discover innovative works at a one-night-only finale to the 5th edition of the <a href="https://www.puppetshowplace.org/creative-residency-for-black-puppeteers">Creative Residency for Black Puppeteers</a> (CRBP) — at Boston University’s lovely Joan &amp; Edgar Booth Theatre. The evening will feature “puppet slam”-style performances by the five artists of the 2025 cohort, plus performances by other artists from the CRBP community. From re-examined histories to fantastical narratives, these works are full of surprises. Expect an eclectic mix of puppetry styles, including string marionettes, shadow puppetry, large-scale creations, and more. The artists are traveling from across the country to share their work in this culminating event — you won’t want to miss it! Featuring performances by the 2025 cohort:<ul><li>William PK Carter (New York)</li><li>ChelseaDee Harrison (Washington, DC)</li><li>Fatima Seck (Boston)</li><li>Brett Swinney (Chicago)</li><li>Khaleshia Thorpe-Price (Maryland)</li></ul>Plus:<ul><li>Charlotte Lily Gaspard of Midnight Radio Show, CRBP 2025 Project Mentor</li><li>Tanya Nixon-Silberg of Little Uprisings, CRBP 2020 and 2025 Community Curator</li><li>Ash Winkfield, CRBP 2023</li><li>Roshina Ratnam, South African puppeteer, recently in Handspring Puppet Company’s Life and Times of Michael K, and Project Advisor at the 2025 O’Neill National Puppetry Conference</li></ul>The <a href="https://www.puppetshowplace.org/creative-residency-for-black-puppeteers">Creative Residency for Black Puppeteers</a> (CRBP) is a national initiative of Brookline’s Puppet Showplace Theater that supports the development of original works by Black artists. It amplifies diverse voices in puppetry arts and centers the creation of new narratives by supporting artists at the earliest stages of development. The residency provides fellows with mentorship, skill-building opportunities, community connection, and a $1000 grant. This program is about representation, storytelling, and creating space for voices that aren’t always heard. Come experience the future of puppetry! Recommended for adults &amp; teens Learn more about the <a href="https://www.puppetshowplace.org/creative-residency-for-black-puppeteers">Creative Residency </a>, the <a href="https://www.puppetshowplace.org/creative-residency-for-black-puppeteers-previous-artists">artists from 2020-2025</a>, and <a href="https://www.puppetshowplace.org/blog">follow our blog</a> for a q&amp;a with each artist of the 2025 cohort. Thank you to our supporters<ul><li>Brookline for Racial Justice &amp; Equity (BRJE)</li><li>Town of Brookline Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Community Relations</li><li>Brookline Commission for the Art</li><li>Boston University’s Joan &amp; Edgar Booth Theatre</li></ul>

Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre at Bosston University

"Party Animals" by Sarah Nolen of Puppet Motion — World Premiere!

Party Animals&nbsp;follows four furry friends as they navigate the biggest social hurdle of their young lives — throwing their first party! This latest Incubator world premiere comes from Sarah Nolen (Puppet Motion) — creator of&nbsp;Judy Saves the Day&nbsp;and&nbsp;Lisa the Wise; and our beloved Resident Artist! &nbsp; Showtimes &amp; Tickets<ul><li>$16-18 all-ages general admission&nbsp;/&nbsp;$12.50-14.50 members</li><li>$14-16 Early Bird tickets&nbsp;/ $10.50-12.50 members; until 11:59 pm the Monday before the show.&nbsp;Discount will automatically appear in your shopping cart after tickets are added.</li><li>$3 Card to Culture&nbsp;(WIC, EBT, MassHealth, ConnectorCare)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.puppetshowplace.org/community-discounts">Learn more →</a></li><li>Pay-What-You-Can Performance:&nbsp;Saturday June 7 at 1:00 pm&nbsp;— choose your price, starting at $6!</li><li>Members&nbsp;receive discount tickets, priority seating, and more!&nbsp;<a href="https://www.puppetshowplace.org/memberships">Become a Member →</a></li></ul>Choose a showtime to purchase tickets. You will be redirected to our ticketing service website to complete your purchase. Review our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.puppetshowplace.org/ticket-policy">ticket policies here.</a> June 7 (Sat) 2025:&nbsp;<a href="https://111884.blackbaudhosting.com/111884/tickets?tab=2&amp;txobjid=625f7d56-c2c6-42d6-ba57-0b955c9f45e7">10:30 am</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://111884.blackbaudhosting.com/111884/tickets?tab=2&amp;txobjid=97549daf-dd4a-4551-ae3c-f30073d1c04f">1:00 pm</a>&nbsp;(PWYC) June 8 (Sun) 2025:&nbsp;<a href="https://111884.blackbaudhosting.com/111884/tickets?tab=2&amp;txobjid=5478c4e9-37f5-4281-8134-5948abc6c8ce">10:30 am&nbsp;</a>|&nbsp;<a href="https://111884.blackbaudhosting.com/111884/tickets?tab=2&amp;txobjid=f976a17b-d210-41f5-87f1-97b7fc048de1">1:00 pm</a> June 14 (Sat) 2025:&nbsp;<a href="https://111884.blackbaudhosting.com/111884/tickets?tab=2&amp;txobjid=d0ba5df5-7919-46de-8a57-829c63aeea45">10:30 am</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://111884.blackbaudhosting.com/111884/tickets?tab=2&amp;txobjid=832c33ee-e6e6-4026-9058-cceb2708730f">1:00 pm</a> June 15 (Sun) 2025:&nbsp;<a href="https://111884.blackbaudhosting.com/111884/tickets?tab=2&amp;txobjid=5a99e10b-4fb7-4202-a168-1b334ab69b36">10:30 am</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://111884.blackbaudhosting.com/111884/tickets?tab=2&amp;txobjid=feab24ec-3e72-42f4-bb8c-d6677d51fa10">1:00 pm</a> &nbsp; About the Show Party Animals&nbsp;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. Through song, dance, and original rock 'n' roll music by Boston local Phil Berman (of Puppet Playtime &amp;&nbsp;The Holiday Sing-Along), these little stars discover that music can be an exuberant and healthy way to express their inner selves.&nbsp; This latest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.puppetshowplace.org/incubator">Incubator</a>&nbsp;world premiere comes from Sarah Nolen (Puppet Motion) — creator of&nbsp;Judy Saves the Day&nbsp;and&nbsp;Lisa the Wise; and our beloved Resident Artist!&nbsp;Party Animals&nbsp;balances silly antics with deeper truths, all conveyed through traditional hand puppetry performance: the life of the party! Legendary rock star Pete Townshend once said, "Rock 'n' roll might not solve your problems, but it does let you dance all over them" — equally true for children and their grown-ups! &nbsp; Meet the Puppets Stay after the show to meet the artists and see the puppets up close! All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 5 - 9 Hand puppetry Length: 40 minutes Language: English From Waltham! The development of Party Animals was funded in part by a Family Grant from the Jim Henson Foundation and supported by Puppet Showplace Theater’s Incubator program. &nbsp; About the Artist <a href="https://www.sarahnolen.com/">Sarah Nolen</a>&nbsp;is a puppeteer and filmmaker originally from Austin, Texas. As Puppet Showplace Theater’s Resident Artist, she performs regularly for youth and family audiences and teaches puppetry in camps, workshops, residencies, and evening adult classes. Her three original productions,&nbsp;The Fairy Tailor, Judy Saves the Day, and Lisa the Wise,&nbsp;are all<a href="https://www.puppetshowplace.org/touring">&nbsp;available to tour</a>. Sarah recently designed puppets for Little Uprisings’s&nbsp;My Night in the Planetarium, Metropolitan Chorale's&nbsp;The Unicorn, the Gorgon, and the Manticore, and for Suffolk University's&nbsp;Loss of Breath: The Death and Life&nbsp;of Edgar Allan Poe. In addition to her work in puppetry, Sarah is an experienced filmmaker. In 2015, she received the Mister Rogers Memorial Scholarship in support of her television pilot&nbsp;Treeples, a show geared towards empowering girls, which screened at film festivals across the U.S. Sarah earned her BFA in film from Southern Methodist University, and an MFA in Puppet Arts from the University of Connecticut.

"Don't Make Me Get Dressed" by the Gottabees

Showtimes &amp; Tickets<ul><li>$16-18 all-ages general admission / $12.50-14.50 members</li><li>$14-16 Early Bird tickets / $10.50-12.50 members; until 11:59 pm the Monday before the show. Discount will automatically appear in your shopping cart after tickets are added.</li><li>$3 Card to Culture (WIC, EBT, MassHealth, ConnectorCare) <a href="https://www.puppetshowplace.org/community-discounts">Learn more →</a></li><li>Members receive discount tickets, priority seating, and more! <a href="https://www.puppetshowplace.org/memberships">Become a Member →</a></li></ul>Choose a showtime to purchase tickets. You will be redirected to our ticketing service website to complete your purchase. Review our <a href="https://www.puppetshowplace.org/ticket-policy">ticket policies here.</a> May 17 (Sat) 2025: <a href="https://111884.blackbaudhosting.com/111884/tickets?tab=2&amp;txobjid=e61fefe1-4120-4a0b-828c-dd742ea66ee2">10:30 am</a> | <a href="https://111884.blackbaudhosting.com/111884/tickets?tab=2&amp;txobjid=95f23851-2f13-4bfb-a1b2-63de661c94f9">1:00 pm</a> May 18 (Sun) 2025: <a href="https://111884.blackbaudhosting.com/111884/tickets?tab=2&amp;txobjid=f31468ab-dd9e-4b07-bda9-4cee44d33be9">10:30 am</a> | <a href="https://111884.blackbaudhosting.com/111884/tickets?tab=2&amp;txobjid=04c2d9b3-7aa0-4e7a-b482-bff9145e08ed">1:00 pm</a> About the Show For every child who has struggled to get into their clothes first thing in the morning (and for every parent who has fought valiantly in the battleground of the morning routine), comes Don't Make Me Get Dressed — a gloriously silly and inventive ode to the feelings we have when we choose our clothes… and what happens when our clothes come to life and choose us. Featuring a mix of puppetry, physical theater, live music, and the recorded voices of over 20 children, Don’t Make Me Get Dressed will make you rethink the experience of putting on clothes and going out into the world.&nbsp; Puppet Showplace is thrilled to bring back The Gottabees’ latest show, which premiered through our Incubator program in November 2023. Ranging from the joyously absurd to the sweetly poignant, Don’t Make Me Get Dressed is full of The Gottabees’ signature silliness, charm, and insight into the inner lives of children — and adults! Meet the Puppets Stay after the show to meet the artists and see the puppets up close — The Gottabees speak English and Spanish! All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by 3 - 8 Mixed puppetry styles: hand puppetry, sock puppets, object puppetry, and live music Length: 40 minutes Language: English and nearly wordless From Boston! Lead Artist / Performer / Scenographer / Fabricator: Bonnie Duncan&nbsp; Co-creator / Director: Dan Milstein Music Composer / Performer / Audio Engineer: Brendan Burns Music Composer / Performer: Anthony Leva Costume Concept Co-Designer: Penney Pinette Plus the voices and silly sounds of over 20 children, ages 3-11, and adults who lent their stories to this show. About the Artist <a href="http://www.thegottabees.com/">The Gottabees</a> started making super fun theater for families in 2013. They regularly sell out venues, inhabit computer screens, and inspire homemade puppet shows throughout the US, Canada, and beyond. They aim to inspire community, connection, and autonomy by providing an outlet for families to giggle, gasp, sigh, and cheer in forty-five minutes or less. The Gottabees' stories reflect children's everyday aspirations, concerns, and emotional experiences. ​​We want children to know in their hearts that they, too, can make theater wherever they are and whomever they are. The Gottabees’ work has been performed in 19 states, 5 countries, for over 45,000 people and was awarded an UNIMA-USA Citation of Excellence. Their projects have been funded by the Jim Henson Foundation, Puppeteers of America, USArtists International, Boston Cultural Council, and the Boston Foundation. Development of this show was supported by a 2023 Jim Henson Foundation family grant, a 2023 Puppeteers of America Rufus and Margo Rose Endowment Fund grant, and Puppet Showplace Theater’s Incubator program.

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

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

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

Hot & new 🔥

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

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

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

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

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

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

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.

The hottest events happening in Boston

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Trending 📈

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.

puppetshowplace

Experiences

Puppet Showplace Theater at UnCommon Stage

Word Play by Puppet Motion / Good Hearted Entertainment | Pay-What-You-Can Summer Sundays!

Magnificent Monster Circus by CactusHead Puppets | Pay-What-You-Can Summer Sundays!

Magnificent Monster Circus by CactusHead Puppets | Pay-What-You-Can Summer Sundays!

"Tholpavakoothu: Shadow Puppet Play of Kerala, India" at Allerton Overlook | Summer Outdoor Series

Sir George and The Dragon by Pumpernickel Puppets | Pay-What-You-Can Summer Sundays!

The Bella Show: Bugs! by Brenda Huggins & Phil Berman | Pay-What-You-Can Summer Sundays!

The Bella Show: Bugs! by Brenda Huggins & Phil Berman | Pay-What-You-Can Summer Sundays!

The Good News Gus Show by Harry LaCoste | Pay-What-You-Can Summer Sundays!

The Good News Gus Show by Harry LaCoste | Pay-What-You-Can Summer Sundays!

The Bremen Town Musicians by CactusHead Puppets

POCKET MOXIE! A Happenstance Vaudeville by Happenstance Theater

Amplify: The Creative Residency for Black Puppeteers Showcase

"Party Animals" by Sarah Nolen of Puppet Motion — World Premiere!

"Don't Make Me Get Dressed" by the Gottabees