FEATURING THESE AMAZING ARTISTS & PERFORMANCES…
The Best of The 48 Hour Puppet Film Project 2026
Thursday 3:00 PM New Strand Theatre
With Producer/Filmmaker Alex U. Griffin
sponsored in part by Handmade Puppet Dreams
Coop!
Thursday 8:00 PM United Methodist Church
by Mary Swander of Swander Woman Productions
performed by Rip Russell
Coop is historical fiction, an enactment of true stories of Amish, Mennonite, and other conscientious objectors during WWI and WWII. The play is a one-person object theatre performance staged on a table with everyday objects representing the characters in the show. Russell pantomimes the action to a narration filled with music, sound effects and excerpts from old news reels.
The Tale of the Dragon’s Tail
Friday 10:00 AM New Strand Theater
by Art Grueneberger of Puppet Art Theater Co. (Sacramento, CA)
Princess Penny is happy to be home from her world travels, until she discovers there are problems in the kingdom. A dragon has been spotted in the hills above the castle, and her father, the King, has been giving all of the kingdom’s gold to a wizard who claims he can keep the dragon away. Penny suspects something fishy. Will Penny get to the bottom of the mystery? Is there really a dragon? Find out in “Tale of the Dragon’s Tail!”
Shiver Me Paintbrush
Friday 1:15 PM New Strand Theater
by Matthew Hawkins of What If Puppets (Kansas City, MO)
Join First Mate Mâché, a seasick pirate who is an artist at heart, and Captain Colorful, the most piratey of all the pirates. But when Colorful flies away, Mâché must strike off to find the captain, learning how to use artists’ tools and meeting new friends along the way.
Tales of ᏓᎦᏏ Dagsi Turtle & ᏥᏍᏚ Jisdu Wabbit
Friday 7:00 PM New Strand Theater
by Z Puppets Rosenschnoz (Minneapolis, MN)
Dagsi Turtle & his sidekick Jisdu Wabbit race through time and space in a musical adventure into Cherokee Futurism.
Hop aboard the Turtleship and join Dagsi and Jisdu’s quest to help Grandmother Turtle raise the Gadugi (spirit of cooperation) throughout the universe.
Tales, a 2025 Jim Henson Foundation Family Theater Grant Awardee, features catchy original tunes and out-of-this-world puppet characters. The show is created and performed by Cherokee Nation citizen Chris Griffith and Shari Aronson, directed by Julie Boada (Anishinabe).
Earl the Pearl Rules the World
Saturday 10:15 AM Ron-de-Voo Park
by Madison Cripps of Cripps Creations (Northfield, MA)
Earl the Pearl Rules the World is a tale of the relationship between two kingdoms one of land and one of sea. How they interact and ultimately become one. Earl inherits the throne from King Crab who was devoured by the Land Queen. When the pearl-diving fisherman takes Earl and gives him to the Land Queen as a gift in the form of earrings Earl whispers the sea’s truth to her and changes the course of history forever. The show thus far includes many styles of puppetry including table top, rod, and costume/mask with a cranky and a marionette.
How I Learned to Fly!
Saturday 11:00 AM Ron-de-Voo Park
by Karen Konnerth of Calliope Puppets (New Orleans, LA)
Calliope Puppets presents the enchanting tale of a girl who knocks on a tiny door, meets a fairy, and enters into a dazzling adventure. Adapted from Karen Konnerth’s new book, How I Learned to Fly!, paper theater and a magical pop-up book puppet stage bring to life this story written to inspire following your dreams!
The Queen of Hearts
Saturday 12:00 PM Ron-de-Voo Park
by Pam Corcoran of Corcoran Puppets (Stevens Point, WI)
The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts, all of a summer’s day… This time, the queen is making tarts for her dog, Toby. Jolly the Jester is in for a big surprise when he realizes what she has put in these tarts! Performed with needle-felted hand puppets on a traditional puppet stage.
Punch & Judy
Saturday 1:00 PM Ron-de-Voo Park
by Anne Newman of Puppetfolk Productions (Savoy, IL)
This is a funny, fast-paced show, suitable for all ages. Putting my own spin on a traditional P & J show, I’ve built a family-friendly, non-violent story that maintains all the surprises and silliness of the classic storyline. (Mr. Punch has a slapstick, but uses it to vent his fury on the walls and floors of his house, rather than on his wife.) My puppets entertain with humor, not violence, and they always receive a warm welcome and a lot of laughs, everywhere they go.
Cinco de Mouso and The Snow Flake Dragon
Saturday 2:00 PM Ron-de-Voo Park
by Brian Henning of Henning Puppet Productions (Belvue, NE)
Cinco de Mouso follows Mouse, a tiny adventurer who wakes up on the fifth of May to a delicious smell. Following his nose, he heads to a lively Cinco de Mayo festival. Along the way, he must run from the local cat.
The Snow Flake Dragon puppet play is about how the Snow flake Dragon catches a cold but is healed by the local towns folks so he can be a part of the town Winter festival.
A Wild Goose Chase!
Saturday 7:30 PM United Methodist Church
by Matt Sandbank’s Shadow Factory (Durham, NC)
Poetry springs hilariously to life as soon as Matt Sandbank’s shadow puppets hit the screen! A Wild Goose Chase is made up of a series of interactive vignettes and verses that illustrate key poetic devices to elementary school audiences.
Calle Allende
Saturday 8:30 PM United Methodist Church
by Pinned & Sewtured (Northford, CT)
Shackled by restraints of reality, Frida finds herself unable to paint. In a moment of desperation, she re-discovers her life source—the other Frida. Calle Allende is inspired by an entry in Frida Kahlo’s diary “The Two Fridas”. Calle Allende, a puppet theatre production, brings to life Frida’s struggle to reconcile her broken self and dying inspiration. Frida’s pain has clouded her, but in a moment of clarity she soon realizes that without her imagination she will lose her lifeline.
A Selkie Story
Sunday 10:30 AM New Strand Theater
by Buffy Quintero and Jen Shook (Iowa City, IA and Grinnell, IA)
This is a story of a young girl who wishes she could transform into something or someone else. She sits seaside and sees magical selkies who call to her. She heeds their calling and jumps into the water transforming into a selkie. She explores the beautiful underwater world with her new friends. Even though it is fantastical experience, the young girl misses home. So she gives up being in the selkie world and goes back home.
WHAT DOES IT DO?!
Sunday 11:00 AM New Strand Theater
by Daniel Romano of Blaque Berry Puppets (St. Louis, MO)
The boy really wants the Widget the salesman offers–but what does the Widget actually do? The young man gets a chance to see how the objects he desires affect his future…and ours?
PLUS! Our Friday Night Puppet Slam at 8:00 PM in Ron-de-Voo Park
and lots of workshops and special events too! Check out the full schedule HERE