Key Takeaways:
- Puppetworks, a puppet theater in Brooklyn’s Park Slope neighborhood, has been entertaining children for over 30 years with its unique blend of traditional and modern storytelling.
- The theater’s founder and artistic director, Nicolas Coppola, has been a professional puppeteer since 1954 and has adapted the theater’s shows to meet the cultural moment.
- Puppetworks offers a range of puppet shows, including marionette, swing, hand, and rod puppets, and has recently brought back classic tales like Rumpelstiltskin after their popularity was revived by streaming services.
- The theater’s mission is to provide a sense of community and imagination for children, and to offer an alternative to screen-based entertainment.
- Puppetworks has become a staple in the Park Slope community, with many parents and children attending shows regularly and appreciating the theater’s unique approach to storytelling.
Introduction to Puppetworks
Puppetworks, a beloved puppet theater in Brooklyn’s Park Slope neighborhood, has been delighting children and parents alike for over 30 years. Every weekend, at 12:30 or 2:30 p.m., children gather on foam mats and colored blocks to watch wooden renditions of classic tales like The Tortoise and the Hare, Pinocchio, and Aladdin. The shows are carefully crafted to last exactly 45 minutes, the length of one side of a cassette tape, and are performed by a team of skilled puppeteers, including Alyssa Parkhurst, who introduces each show with the phrase, "This isn’t a screen! It’s for reals happenin’ back there!"
The History of Puppetworks
Puppetworks was founded by Nicolas Coppola, a 90-year-old professional puppeteer who has been in the business since 1954. Over the years, Coppola has adapted the theater’s shows to meet the cultural moment, making changes to the characterization of princesses in the 1960s and 1970s, for example. Today, the theater offers a range of puppet shows, including marionette, swing, hand, and rod puppets, and has recently brought back classic tales like Rumpelstiltskin after their popularity was revived by streaming services like Dreamworks’ Shrek film franchise.
The Impact of Streaming on Puppetworks
The rise of streaming services has had a significant impact on Puppetworks, with many parents seeking out the theater as a way to provide their children with an alternative to screen-based entertainment. Whitney Sprayberry, a parent who attends Puppeworks with her child, notes, "My husband and I are both artists, so we much prefer live entertainment. We allow screens, but are mindful of what we’re watching and how often." Other parents, like Sabrina Chap, appreciate the sense of community that Puppeworks provides, and regularly attend shows with their children and other families in the neighborhood.
The Community Aspect of Puppeworks
Community is at the heart of Puppeworks, with many parents and children attending shows regularly and appreciating the theater’s unique approach to storytelling. The theater’s manager of stage operations, Jamie Moore, notes that Puppeworks is a place where children can experience live entertainment and connect with others in their community. The theater also offers a range of holiday shows and skits, featuring characters like gingerbread people and candy canes, which are designed to delight children and provide a fun and festive atmosphere.
The Importance of Imagination and Community
Nicolas Coppola, the founder and artistic director of Puppeworks, believes that the theater provides an important alternative to screen-based entertainment, which can limit a child’s imagination and sense of community. "The part of theater they’re not getting by being on the phone is the sense of community," he notes. "In our small way, we’re keeping that going." By providing a unique and engaging form of entertainment, Puppeworks is helping to foster a sense of imagination and community in children, and is an important part of the cultural landscape of Brooklyn’s Park Slope neighborhood.
Conclusion
Puppetworks is a unique and special place that has been entertaining children and parents alike for over 30 years. With its blend of traditional and modern storytelling, its talented team of puppeteers, and its commitment to providing a sense of community and imagination for children, Puppeworks is a must-visit destination for families in Brooklyn and beyond. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the theater or just discovering it for the first time, Puppeworks is sure to delight and inspire, and is a testament to the power of live entertainment to bring people together and foster a sense of wonder and imagination.
