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Center for Puppetry Arts^® is pleased to announce its upcoming 2012-2013 season, a journey filled with classic tales, lovable characters and plenty of adventures and fun for the entire family. Puppet lovers will have numerous opportunities to catch a show as this action-packed new season will feature a total of 665 theatrical performances – an average of almost 13 shows per week! In addition to hosting shows produced by the Center Company, Center for Puppetry Arts is proud to remain a premier destination for touring puppetry groups. This season, the Center will host productions from eight cities across the U.S. as well as an acclaimed production from Perth, Australia.

Highlights from the upcoming Family Performances include the return of Artistic Director Jon Ludwig’s musical tale of a mermaid princess turned pirate, The Little Pirate Mermaid, which was recently awarded an UNIMA Citation of Excellence. The Tortoise, the Hare, and other Aesop’s Fables, a new original production adapted and directed by Michael Haverty, will delight audiences with a cheerful, interactive take on five classic stories based on the fables by Aesop.

One of Atlanta’s most endearing holiday traditions, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™, will return to spread the magic of the season and bring in the New Year. Next February, Jon Ludwig’s The Adventures of Mighty Bug will entertain audiences as superhero Mighty Bug saves Bugville from the evil Scorpiana. Wrapping up the Family Series, the perennial favorite Brer Rabbit & Friends, directed by Spencer G. Stephens, will fill the stage with live music and delightful stories.

Proving that puppets aren’t just for the young, the Center’s New Directions Series features programming recommended for more mature audiences (age recommendations below). This August, Center for Puppetry Arts will proudly host the Second Annual National Puppet Slam, where the nation’s best adult puppetry slam performances will be presented for two nights only. The Ghastly Dreadfuls will return in October – back and deader than ever – with eerie stories, spooky songs and devilish dances from around the world. Next April, The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer will wow adult and teen audiences with a touching story about enduring love and the end of the world. Performed by one of Australia’s most cutting-edge solo puppeteers, this show was named “Outstanding Solo Show” at the New York International Fringe Festival in 2009.

In addition to its diverse range of family and adult performances, Center for Puppetry Arts offers a great deal of other programs, including its exclusive Jim Henson exhibits and its new Passports Gallery, a rotating exhibit featuring treasures from the Museum’s collection. The Center’s Film Series features classic movies, hidden gems and contemporary productions as it explores puppetry through narratives, documentaries and short films. New to the Center this year, Discovery Days offer opportunities to celebrate global puppetry traditions through interactive, educational activities showcasing African, American and Asian cultures. Audiences can now also participate in select Explore Puppetry Series lectures and workshops from home via interactive webinars.

For more information, please visit www.puppet.org.

The 2012-2013 Family Series Includes:

CINDERELLA, May 29 – June 10, 2012

By Tears of Joy Theatre of Portland, OR

THE LITTLE PIRATE MERMAID, June 14 – July 15, 2012

By the Center for Puppetry Arts

THE DINOSAUR SHOW, July 17 – 29, 2012

By Paul Mesner Puppets of Kansas City, MO

THE TORTOISE, THE HARE, AND OTHER AESOP’S FABLES, August 2 – September 9, 2012

By the Center for Puppetry Arts

THE THREE LITTLE PIGS & MORE, September 12 – 23, 2012

By Grey Seal Puppets of Charlotte, NC

SLEEPING BEAUTY, September 26 – October 7, 2012

By National Marionette Theatre of Brattleboro, VT

PETER AND THE WOLF & THE FROG PRINCE, October 10 – 21, 2012

By Frisch Marionettes of Cincinnati, OH

THE HEADLESS HORSEMAN OF SILLY HOLLOW, October 24 – November 4, 2012

By Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers of Bar Harbor, ME

RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER^TM,November 8, 2012 – January 6, 2013

By the Center for Puppetry Arts

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.

BROTHER COYOTE AND SISTER FOX, January 8 – 27, 2013

By Thistle Theatre of Seattle, WA

THE ADVENTURES OF MIGHTY BUG, January 31 – March 17, 2013

By the Center for Puppetry Arts

GALAPAGOS GEORGE, THE LITTLE TORTOISE THAT COULD, March 19 – April 7, 2013

By Barefoot Puppet Theatre of Richmond, VA

BRER RABBIT & FRIENDS, April 11 – May 26, 2013

By the Center for Puppetry Arts

The 2012-2013 New Directions Series Includes:

NATIONAL PUPPET SLAM (ages 18+ only), August 3-4, 2012

Learn more at www.puppetslam.com

THE GHASTLY DREADFULS (ages 16+ only), October 11 – 27, 2012

By the Center for Puppetry Arts

TALES OF EDGAR ALLEN POE (ages 12+), February 12 – March 3, 2013

By the Center for Puppetry Arts.

THE ADVENTURES OF ALVIN SPUTNIK: DEEP SEA EXPLORER, April 26 – 28, 2013

(ages 12+ ONLY)

By Weeping Spoon Productions of Perth, Australia

XPERIMENTAL PUPPETRY THEATER (XPT) (ages 18+ only), May 16 – 19, 2013

By the Center for Puppetry Arts

MEMBERSHIP

The best way to travel through the World of Puppetry is by becoming a Member. Members receive up to 45% OFF tickets to performances and enjoy benefits like free museum entry, free films and priority seating. For more information, visit WWW.PUPPET.ORG or call the membership office at 404-881-5151.

TICKETING

Tickets for patrons two and older are $16.50 and include admission to the performance, Create-A-Puppet Workshop (or Create-A-Puppet To-Go Kit), and all museum exhibits. Membership and group rates are available. Order tickets online at WWW.PUPPET.ORG or call the ticket sales office at 404-873-3391.