Puppet Showplace Theater
The exterior and sidewalk of a brick building. Above two large windows hangs a sign with the words "THE PUPPET SHOWPLACE." The left window is painted with the words, "Puppet Showplace gives THANKS to our generous donors." The right window is painted with the words, "PUPPETS AT NIGHT. CAMPS. CLASSES. WORKSHOPS." Steps lead up to a glass door through which the Puppet Showplace Theater logo is visible.
Entrance to Puppet Showplace Theater (2021)
Address32 Station Street
Brookline, Massachusetts
Coordinates42°19′59″N 71°07′01″W / 42.33301°N 71.11681°W / 42.33301; -71.11681
Public transit
  Green Line (D branch)
Brookline Village Disabled access
TypeTheater
Genre(s)Puppetry
OpenedJune 1974 (1974-06)
Website
www.puppetshowplace.org

Puppet Showplace Theater is a nonprofit puppet theater in Brookline, Massachusetts. The organization was founded in June 1974 by Mary Churchill. Since 1981, it has been located at 32 Station Street.[1] The theater presents performances by local and traveling professional puppet companies.[2]

Puppet Showplace Theater houses one performance space, a proscenium with a "comfortable capacity" of 80 adults.[3] Each year, it presents over 300 performances at its home in Brookline. The theater also presents touring productions performed in schools, libraries, and cultural centers throughout the Northeastern United States.[4]

History

On the left, a sign reads, “Welcome to Puppet Showplace BOX OFFICE.” Below is a light blue wall with an opening and counter. Puppets are visible on the counter, through the opening, and near the sign. On the right, an opening in a brick wall leads to the theater. Colorful curtains frame the opening. In the theater, there are benches with light blue cushions.
Box office and entrance to performance space (2021)

1974-1999

Puppet Showplace Theater was founded in June 1974 in Brookline, Massachusetts by Mary Churchill.[5] As a teacher in the Boston school system, she had used puppets to teach students who had trouble learning to read. Later, Churchill began creating her own puppet shows. She named her company The Cranberry Puppets.[6]

After leaving teaching, Churchill found a vacant storefront at 30 Station Street in the historic Building at 30–34 Station Street. It was located in her neighborhood of Brookline Village across from the Brookline Village (MBTA station). Churchill acquired the property and began to offer her own shows on weekends. Soon, other puppeteers from Greater Boston began performing there as well.[7] Performers included Eleanor Boylan, Elizabeth Clark, and Caleb Fullam and Company.[8]

In 1976, at a Russian puppet festival, Churchill met hand puppet artist Paul Vincent Davis. He became the theater's first artist in residence. Davis held the position for 33 years.[1] He also served as the theater's artistic director.[9] Davis and Churchill became lifelong companions and partners.[1]

By 1978, Showplace served as the information center for the Puppeteers of America and Union Internationale de la Marionette. Performers included Susan Linn, Ruth Brand as Henrietta the Clown, and George Latshaw.[10]

In 1980, storefront properties became available at 32-33 Station Street. Churchill acquired the properties, removed a shared wall, and moved the theater next door in 1981. The new space was twice the size of the previous location. It had a small lobby, store, accessible restroom, and space for birthday parties and workshops.[1] Showplace celebrated by premiering "Beauty and the Beast," a lavish production by Paul Vincent Davis.[11]

Over time, the theater became a venue for puppeteers visiting from across the United States and around the world. Puppet Showplace Theater grew "from a few weekend shows to an internationally recognized puppetry center."[12] It also served as a meeting space for the Boston Area Guild of Puppetry.[5]

2000-present

There is a black, proscenium-style stage platform surrounded by bright red curtains. In the foreground are benches with blue cushions. On the right is a brick wall with blue door.
Performance space (2021)

In 2000, Karen Larsen succeeded Davis as artistic director.[13]

In 2007, Puppet Showplace created the Mary Churchill Memorial Fund. It honors “her legacy of generosity and her commitment to making arts accessible to all.”[14] The fund brings schoolchildren from low-income neighborhoods to see puppetry at Showplace.[15]

In 2008, Davis retired as artist in residence.[8] Brad Shur succeeded him in 2009.[16] During his tenure, Shur created five original shows, including Dr. Doohickey’s Monster Machine, The Magic Soup and Other Stories, Tall Tales, and Robin Hood. In 2016, Shur received a Family Grant from The Jim Henson Foundation for his production Cardboard Explosion! It was an interactive work of puppet theater for family audiences.[17]

By 2009, Kathleen Conroy Mukwashi was artistic director.[8] Roxanna Myhrum became artistic director in 2010.[18] During her tenure, she developed adult education programs, school residencies, and tours. Myhrum also helped expand the Incubator project night into a program that partnered with local artists to develop new work. Incubator went on to launch 15 full-length touring productions.[19]

In 2016, Puppet Showplace partnered with Franklin Park Zoo to present The Midnight Zoo. The Halloween nighttime trail walk featured life-size fantasy creatures.[20]

In 2017, Sarah Nolen became the theater's third resident artist.[21] After joining Showplace, she debuted two new shows: The Fairy Tailor in 2018 and Judy Saves the Day in 2019.[22] In 2022, Nolen received a Family Grant from The Jim Henson Foundation for her production Party Animals. The show follows four young animals as they prepare for their first party.[23]

In March 2020, performances at the theater were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In October 2021, the theater resumed live, in-person performances while continuing virtual performances.

In June 2020, in the wake of the George Floyd protests, Puppet Showplace opened applications for a Black Puppeteer Empowerment Grant & Creative Research Residency. The grant offered five Black artists $1,000 grants to support the research and development of new projects.[24]

Operations

From the beginning, Mary Churchill served as the theater's principal administrator and benefactor. In The Boston Globe, Lynda Morgenroth wrote, "The Puppet Showplace is the house Mary Churchill built."[11]

Following Churchill's death in 1997,[25] Paul Vincent Davis became executive director. He held the position for three years.[8] Joe Callahan became executive director in 2004.[26] By 2007, Kris Higgins held the position.[27] Isabel Fine was executive director by 2011.[28] Thom Yarnal became executive director in 2013.[29] As of 2021, no executive director position was listed on the theater's official website.[30]

Notable productions

While serving as artist in residence, Paul Vincent Davis earned Citations of Excellence from UNIMA-USA for five productions. These include The Leprechaun of Donegal (1980), The Golden Axe (1982), Three Festival Dances (1982), Beauty and the Beast (1984), and Fables of Ancient Rome (1988).[31]

In 2013, the production of Squirrel Stole My Underpants by Bonnie Duncan and The Gottabees premiered at Puppet Showplace Theater.[32] In 2017, the production earned a Citation of Excellence from UNIMA-USA.[33]

Reception

In 2004, Puppet Showplace Theater received an Elliot Norton Award Special Citation for its 30 years of productions.[34] Boston magazine named Puppet Showplace Theater as “2018 Best Kids’ Birthday Venue.”[35] In 2020, Boston Parents Paper named Puppet Showplace Theater a Family Favorite. It won in the category of Live Theater in Greater Boston.[36]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Mukwashi, Kathleen Conroy (Fall 2009). "The Little Theatre That Could: Celebrating 35 Years of the Puppet Showplace Theatre". The Puppetry Journal. 61: 1: 6–7. ProQuest 231964767 – via ProQuest.
  2. ↑ "Theaters". Puppeteers of America. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Renting Puppet Showplace Theater". Puppet Showplace Theater. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Mission and History". Puppet Showplace Theater. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  5. 1 2 Morgenroth, Lynda (September 17, 1981). "Puppet Paradise: MARY CHURCHILL IS WOMAN BEHIND SHOWPLACE IN BROOKLINE". Boston Globe. ProQuest 1009575330. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  6. ↑ Kneeland, Paul (February 20, 1974). "In This Corner: Little Red Riding Hood Joins Women's Lib". Boston Globe. ProQuest 746877647. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  7. ↑ Robb, Christina (November 26, 1974). "They're pulling strings at Puppet Show Place". Boston Globe. ProQuest 612891642. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Robb, Christina (November 26, 1974). "They're pulling strings at Puppet Show Place". The Boston Globe  – via ProQuest (subscription required) . ProQuest 612891642. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  9. ↑ Dolen, Patti (November 26, 1992). "PUPPETS PULLING THE RIGHT STRINGS IN BROOKLINE". Boston Globe. ProQuest 294709084. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  10. ↑ Leone, Loretta (March 23, 1978). "NO STRINGS ATTACHED". The Boston Globe  – via ProQuest (subscription required) . ProQuest 757679272. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  11. 1 2 Morgenroth, Lynda (September 17, 1981). "Puppet Paradise: MARY CHURCHILL IS WOMAN BEHIND SHOWPLACE IN BROOKLINE". The Boston Globe  – via ProQuest (subscription required) . ProQuest 1009575330. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  12. ↑ Brown, Nell Porter (November 2015). "Life On a Tabletop: An ancient art form thrives at the Puppet Showplace Theater". Harvard Magazine. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  13. ↑ Jones, Vanessa (October 4, 2003). "TALK TO THE HAND SPEWING INSULTS AND PERFORMING LOVE SCENES, PUPPETS ARE ACTING UP FOR AN OLDER CROWD". Boston Globe. ProQuest 404874085. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  14. ↑ "The Mary Churchill Memorial Fund". Puppet Showplace Theater. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Globe West Community briefing: Fire department renovations in Arlington". Boston Globe. February 14, 2010. ProQuest 404740169. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  16. ↑ Avery, Brad (February 4, 2015). "Celebrating 40 years of puppetry". The Patriot Ledger. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Jim Henson Foundation awards Puppet Showplace Theater $4K grant to support resident artist". Wicked Local Media Solutions - Brookline. December 19, 2015. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  18. ↑ Downs, Andreae (June 17, 2010). "Her heroes have always been puppets: Theater's director hopes to win converts to age-old art form". Boston Globe. ProQuest 500723382. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  19. ↑ West, Amy (Summer 2020). "The Puppet Whisperer". The Puppetry Journal. 71 (3): 5. ProQuest 2478790484 – via ProQuest.
  20. ↑ Ornell, Natalie (October 30, 2016). "Moonlight trail walk is more fantasy than frightful". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. ProQuest 1833753944. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  21. ↑ Wagenheim, Jeff (September 10, 2017). "Top picks for what to do with your family in Boston this fall". Boston Globe. ProQuest 1936960871. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Judy Saves The Day". Patch Media. May 30, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  23. ↑ "2022 Grant Recipients". The Jim Henson Foundation. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  24. ↑ Colby, Celina (June 24, 2020). "Puppet Showplace debuts grant for black artists". The Bay State Banner. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Puppeteer dead at 66". The Associated Press. November 19, 1997. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  26. ↑ Samburg, Bridget (January 16, 2005). "PUPPET THEATER'S FATE HANGS BY - WHAT ELSE? - A STRING". Boston Globe. ProQuest 404941695. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  27. ↑ "NEWS IN BRIEF". Boston Globe. August 5, 2007. ProQuest 405079494. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  28. ↑ "ACTON: Railroad sign brings concern". Boston Globe. June 26, 2011. ProQuest 873745044. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  29. ↑ "Brookline's Puppet Showplace names Yarnal executive director". Wicked Local Media Solutions - Brookline. June 27, 2013. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  30. ↑ "Staff". Puppet Showplace Theater. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  31. ↑ Abrams, Steve. "Paul Vincent Davis". World Encyclopedia of Puppetry Arts. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  32. ↑ Campbell, Karen (January 26, 2013). "Reshaping a career, with a rodent on her arm: A solo show takes a veteran performer into children's puppetry". Boston Globe. ProQuest 1280627697. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  33. ↑ "Winners". UNIMA-USA. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  34. ↑ "The 22nd Elliot Norton Awards". Elliot Norton Awards. 2004. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  35. ↑ "Best of Boston". Boston Magazine. 2018.
  36. ↑ "Top 5 Live Theater in Greater Boston and Massachusetts in 2020". Boston Parents Paper. July 31, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
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