Animal Amigos at the Center for Puppetry Arts

Three Mexican folktales come to life September 4-15 when Mesner Puppet Theater of Kansas City, Missouri, brings their bilingual production Animal Amigos to the Center for Puppetry Arts Families are invited to gather ‘round the Tree of Life for the retelling of these delightful tales. The performance includes the story of Medio Pollito, the little half-chick born with one leg, one wing, one eye, and half of a beak. In addition, guests can watch as a trickster rabbit outsmarts a hungry coyote again and again.  All of these classic stories portray the themes of friendship and overcoming adversity, making them perfect for young audiences and parents alike. “Each of the stories is like a favorite fable with important life lessons learned through thoughtful action…This particular group of stories bring a south-of-the-border flavor that is brilliantly colorful, tremendously fun and un poco picante,” said Paul Bolton of Broadway World. Mesner Puppet Theater has been performing nationally and internationally for more than 30 years. Animal Amigos features glove, hand-and-rod, and rod puppets and is presented in a combination of English and Spanish. WHAT:           Animal Amigos by Mesner Puppet Theater, Kansas City, Mo. Recommended for ages 4 and up WHEN:           September 4-15 Show times are as follows: Wednesday-Friday: 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Saturday: 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday: 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. WHERE:         Center for Puppetry Arts 1404 Spring Street NW Atlanta, GA 30309 Animal Amigos is presented in the Downstairs Theater HOW:            All-inclusive tickets are $9.75 (Members) and $19.50 (nonmembers) and include entrance to the Create-A Puppet Workshop™, where guests can make, decorate and perform with their own Ridiculous Rabbit Rod Puppet, as well as admission to the Worlds of Puppetry Museum, featuring a global gallery and the largest collection of Jim Henson puppets in the world.

Old MacDonald's Farm at the Center for Puppetry Arts!

Over a dozen animal puppets and two farmhand-puppeteers will take the stage at the Center for Puppetry Arts during Old MacDonald’s Farm through September 1 The Theater for the Very Young production is adapted and directed by award-winning director Amy Sweeney and is created specifically with the developmental stages of young children in mind. Based on the universally well-known children’s song, the family-favorite show explores a day in the life of a farm.  In designing and building the show, Resident Puppet Builder Jason Hines and his team focused primarily on two things: scale and texture. To capture the experience of actually being on a farm, the puppets were built as close to the actual size of the animals as possible. The puppet bodies are fabricated out of materials that replicate the same textures as their real-life counterparts. Even the set has a textured look and feel. The show will be performed using Overt Puppetry in which the puppeteers are visible and fully integrated into the action.  “Old Macdonald’s Farm is all about sound, movement, and the interaction between the puppets and children,” said Director Amy Sweeney.  “In order to engage audiences of all ages, we’ve created an environment that radiates fun and discovery to encourage children and adults alike to get up and play along with us!”   Sweeney is teaming up once again with Puppeteer and Musician Dolph Amick to compose the music for Old MacDonald’s Farm . Sweeney and Amick collaborated previously in 2014 on the Center’s Theater for the Very Young production of the Suzi Bass Award-Winning Mother Goose. Recommended for ages 2 and up, Old MacDonald’s Farm will be performed in the Downstairs Theater through September 1. Regular show times are as follows: ·     Wednesday-Friday: 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. ·     Saturday: 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. ·     Sunday: 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. All-inclusive ticket prices vary but start at $9.75 (Members) and $19.50 (nonmembers) and include entrance to the Create-A-Puppet Workshop™, where guests can make, decorate, and perform with their own Shy Sheep Hand Puppet, as well as admission to the Worlds of Puppetry Museum, featuring the largest collection of Jim Henson puppets in the world as well as a global gallery. Tickets can be purchased online at puppet.org or by calling 404.873.3391.

Center for the Puppetry Arts - Rainforest Adventures!

Prepare for a wild adventure beneath a Brazilian treetop canopy, courtesy of toucans, anacondas, sloths, and more! Playing January 23-March 4, Rainforest Adventures is an up-close look at a day in the life of animals living in one of the most amazing, mysterious places on earth.  Explorers of all ages will experience Brazilian-inspired music as they come face-to-face with more than 30 exotic plants and animals that inhabit the Amazonian ecosystem.  A mischievous howler monkey leaping from tree to tree, bats beating their wings in a glorious evening ballet, a keen-eyed harpy eagle searching for its next meal, and pink river dolphins playfully exploring the waterways create a vibrant escape to the tropics as the Amazon Rainforest comes to life!  Co-written by the Center’s Artistic Director Jon Ludwig, with Stephanie Kaskel Bogle and Raylynn Hughes, Rainforest Adventures features numerous puppets performed in a Czech Black style by puppeteers Brian Harrison, Jake Krakovsky, Emily Marsh, Tim Sweeney, and Anna Claire Walker.  As part of the Czech Black tradition, puppeteers dress in black from head to toe and manipulate puppets in a tight curtain of light in front of them, ultimately allowing them to disappear behind the light.  Hidden from sight, puppeteers are able to create dazzling, complex movements of all kinds with the puppets and props, sometimes with three or four puppeteers working together to execute a single movement.  The scenery as well as all of the puppets were designed and built by the Center, and many of the puppets were built to scale making them the same size as their counterparts in the wild.  Recommended for ages 4 and up, Rainforest Adventures is presented in the Mainstage Theater, January 23 – March 4 with reduced-price previews on January 23 and 24 at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. On Sunday, January 28, Girl Scouts are invited to participate in a series of activities that will allow them to be eligible for all four STEM patches in a single day.  Scouts will explore the science of the rainforest ecosystem, technology behind puppet performances, engineering used to design some of the puppets in the Worlds of Puppetry Museum exhibits, and the math skills utilized to build a puppet in the Create-A-Puppet Workshops™.   Activities will take place from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Center for Puppetry Arts will continue its dedication to programming for patrons with ASD on Sunday, February 11, with sensory-friendly modifications to the performance as well as in the Museum and in the Create-A-Puppet Workshops™.  The Center will also provide a quiet room, social stories, noise-reducing headphones, and fidget toys for guests who need those resources.  For details, visit http://puppet.org/asd.  Regular show times are as follows: ·     Tuesday-Friday:  10 a.m. and 11:30 am.        ·     Saturday:  11 a.m. and 1 pm. ·     Sunday:  1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tickets are $9.75 (Members) and $19.50 (nonmembers).  The Family Series All-Inclusive Tickets include admission to the performance, Worlds of Puppetry Museum (with the largest collection of Jim Henson puppets and artifacts in the world as well as a Global Gallery), and the Create-A-Puppet Workshop™, where guests can make and perform with their own Pink River Dolphin marionette. Tickets can be purchased online at www.puppet.org or by calling 404.873.3391.

Rudolph Has an Extended Stay at the Center for Puppetry Arts!

A performance so bright, some might even say it glows! Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™ is flying to the Center for Puppetry Arts once again this holiday season!  The classic tale will be presented in the Mainstage Theater, November 7 – December 31.  The holiday spectacular was adapted by Jon Ludwig and is directed by Tim Sweeney.  Based on the timeless 1964 stop-motion animated television special, this must-see show is a favorite for all ages. Rudolph the Red Nosed-Reindeer™ is filled with adventure, friendship, and bound to bring joy to all this bright and merry season!  Patrons will watch in wonder as the North Pole truly comes to life through the use of rod and body puppets meticulously designed by the Center’s Resident Puppet Builder Jason Hines and constructed by the Center’s team of puppet builders. Puppeteers Dolph Amick, Nikolas Carleo, Brian Harrison, Emily Marsh, Kathryn O’Shea, and Anna Claire Walker create the magic of the classic tale on stage. Sam the Snowman™ will once again narrate the beloved tale of unlikely friendship formed among Rudolph™, Hermey the Elf™, Yukon Cornelius™,   and all of the magnificent misfit toys.  While narrowly escaping the grips of Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster™ and braving perilous blizzards, their journey is sure to warm hearts as the friends learn the importance of being true to one’s self and accepting others along the way.  Rudolph the Red-Nosed ReindeerTM is recommended for ages 4 and up. All-inclusive tickets to all shows also include entrance to the Create-A-Puppet Workshop™, where guests can make and decorate their own King Moonracer™ Rod and String Puppet, as well as admission to the Worlds of Puppetry Museum.                                                The show schedule is as follows: ·     November 7-19:             o  Tuesday-Friday: 10 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. o  Saturday: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.  o  Sunday: 1 p.m. and 3 p.m *Reduced-price previews November 7 & 8 ·     November 21-26: o  Tuesday: 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. o  Wednesday: 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. o  Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. o  Sunday: 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. *The Center will be closed on Thursday, November 23 in observance of Thanksgiving Day ·     November 28-December 10: o  Tuesday-Friday: 10 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. o  Saturday: 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. o  Sunday: 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. (special 5 p.m. show on December 10 only) ·     December 12-24: o  Tuesday-Wednesday: 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. o  Thursday-Friday: 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. o  Saturday: 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. o  Sunday: 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. *The Center will be closed on Monday, December 25 in observance of Christmas Day ·     December 26-31: o  Tuesday-Wednesday: 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. o  Thursday-Friday: 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. o  Saturday: 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. o  Sunday: 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tickets prices vary by date and start at $9.25 (Members) and $19.50 (nonmembers); all-inclusive tickets include admission to the show, the Worlds of Puppetry Museum (with the largest collection of Jim Henson puppets and artifacts in the world as well as a Global Gallery), and entrance to the Create-A-Puppet Workshop™ where guests can make and decorate their own King Moonracer™ Rod and String Puppet and perform with it on the Center’s classroom stage.  Tickets can be purchased online at www.puppet.org or by calling 404.873.3391.

Center for Puppetry Arts - Holiday Programming

Families are invited to enjoy a little extra holiday cheer this season as the Center for Puppetry Arts celebrates the 2017 run of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™ with festive weekend events! First up, guests can kick off the holiday season with a tasty treat on Saturday, November 11.  Famed Atlanta chef (and former "Top Chef" contestant) Kevin Gillespie will be at the Center dressed as his doppelgänger Yukon Cornelius.  Patrons are invited to join Chef Gillespie and the Yukon Cornelius puppet for a holiday photo opportunity.  In addition, the Center’s special guest chef will be serving up samplings of his signature Warm Embrace Hot Cocoa and guests will have the opportunity purchase a can of the hot chocolate mix to take home as a holiday gift.  The event will take place from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and is free with paid admission. On the evening of Saturday, November 11, the Center will present another beloved holiday classic:  a screening of “Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas” at 7 p.m. in the Mainstage Theater.  In this 1977 Jim Henson film, Ma and Emmet Otter enter a talent competition to win money to fund their Christmas gift-giving.  This screening was added to the line-up due to popular demand after the December showing sold out.  Tickets include admission to the Worlds of Puppetry Museum, and beer and wine will be for sale.  Tickets are $12.50 for nonmembers and free for Members. On Saturday, November 18, the model builders from LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Atlanta will be at the Center for a special holiday LEGO® build activity, where guests can make and take home a special holiday-themed LEGO build.  This special event is from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and free with paid admission, while supplies last. Families attending Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™ on Saturday, November 25, can enjoy a very special, free holiday photo opportunity with one of the puppets from the show!  Don’t forget to bring a camera because the Rudolph lineup makes a great holiday photo. Big news!  LEGO Rudolph is returning to the Center for Puppetry Arts’ lobby beginning Thursday, November 30!  The Rudolph statue is built out of LEGO bricks courtesy of our friends at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta. Finally, the Center for Puppetry Arts will have a float filled with fan-favorite puppets during the 2017 Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 2!                  Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer  is recommended for ages 4 and up.  All-inclusive tickets to all shows include entrance to the Create-A-Puppet Workshop™, where guests can make, decorate, and perform with their own King Moonracer™ Rod & String Puppet, as well as admission to the Worlds of Puppetry Museum (with the largest collection of Jim Henson puppets and artifacts in the world as well as a Global Gallery).  Special events are included at no extra charge with paid admission.             Rudolph tickets prices vary by date and can be purchased online at www.puppet.org or by calling 404873.3391. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and all elements © and ™ under license to Character Arts, LLC.

Center for Puppetry Arts to host enchanting events for boys and girls of all ages

Step right up! The Center for Puppetry Arts will kick off the 2017-2018 season with the anticipated return of Cinderella Della Circus.  The magical, circus-themed show will be supplemented with a number of applause-worthy, free weekend events to celebrate the high-flying spirit of the show.   The Center for Puppetry Arts will somersault into fun on Saturday, June 24 with a carnival to celebrate the show’s opening weekend.  Patrons can enjoy a bounce house, fresh popcorn, and a visit from our friends Bean & Bear who will be clowning and performing walk around puppetry and magic tricks. Cinderella is a pro at walking the tightrope, so patrons will have a chance to learn some of her tricks!  On Saturday, July 8, the Center will host Circus Arts Day.  Members of Atlanta’s Circus Arts Institute will be on-site giving lessons in tightrope walking simulations and scarf juggling. They will be joined by a stilt walker, who will roam the atrium on sky-high stilts.                            A sensory-friendly version of Cinderella Della Circus will take place at 1 p.m. on Sunday, July 9, to continue the Center’s ASD initiative.  During this performance, the following alterations will be employed:  theater lights dimmed down but not out, consistent sound levels and lower volume of show soundtrack, freedom for children to talk and to leave their seat if necessary, a quiet zone in the lobby and permission to bring quiet, contained snacks, and beverages.  These adjustments will continue into the museum and Create-A-Puppet Workshop. Cinderella Della Circus uses marionette puppets, including some that do special tricks.  Guests interested in learning how to use a marionette will get the chance on Saturday, July 15!  The Center’s staff of puppeteers will be leading demos and teaching an introductory lesson on marionette puppetry using hand-made scarf marionettes. Finally, the Center will celebrate the show’s final weekend on Saturday, July 22, with a truly sparkling activity – bedazzling!  In the spirit of Cinderella’s famous slippers, patrons are invited to bedazzle their own shoes.  The Center has partnered with Atlanta-area Shoe Carnival stores to offer a 30% off discount on a new pair of shoes.  Families are encouraged to purchase those before the show and bring them to decorate after the performance.  The Center will provide all the bedazzling supplies. All of these events will take place between 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on the days listed and are included at no additional charge with an all-inclusive admission.  Cinderella Della Circus is presented in the Mainstage Theater, June 20 – July 23.  Reduced-price previews will take place June 20 and 21.  Show times are as follows: Tuesday – Friday: 10 a.m. and noon Saturday: 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday: 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tickets are $9.75 (Members) and $19.50 (nonmembers) – plus sales tax.  Tickets include admission to the performance, the Worlds of Puppetry Museum (with the largest collection of Jim Henson puppets and artifacts in the world as well as a Global Gallery) and entrance to the Create-A-Puppet Workshop™, where guests can make and decorate their own special Stretcho Rod Puppet and perform with it on our classroom stage.  Tickets are available online at www.puppet.org or by calling 404.873.3391.