The Center for Puppetry Arts has just unveiled its 2019-2020 season, which is comprised of programming for families and adults alike. The 41st season line-up includes a celebration of 50 years of “Sesame Street;” the premiere of a brand-new children’s production; shows by visiting artists from around the world; new events for toddlers and teens; expanded sensory-friendly and STEM programming; more digital offerings and films; refreshed Museum programming and more.

The Family Series opens with a classic reimagined through a contemporary, urban lens, Beauty and the Beast. In this original production by Center for Puppetry Arts’ Artistic Director Jon Ludwig, trash becomes treasure as the characters come to life through the use of “found-object” puppetry and true love prevails by way of a magical rose.

In the original Theater for the Very Young production, over a dozen animal puppets and two farm-hand puppeteers will take the stage to perform Old MacDonald’s Farm. Adapted and directed by Amy Sweeney, this Suzi Bass award-winning show is focused on sound, movement and interaction between the puppets and the Center’s youngest audiences. In the fall, SPACE! takes audiences on a fun, fact-filled exploration of the final frontier in this rock-n-roll intergalactic voyage through the solar system. Then, the celebrated Atlanta tradition Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™ flies back into town for the holiday season.

The New Year will bring a brand-new, original production by Jon Ludwig based on the best-selling children’s book by Janell Cannon, Stellaluna. A baby bat accidentally falls into a nest of bird fledglings where she is graciously accepted as one of the family – as long as she acts like a bird! This beloved story about unlikely friendship and self-discovery will take flight in January 2020. To close the Family Series, the coolest feline on the planet, Pete the Cat, will return to the stage. This blockbuster production is based on the New York Times best-selling book series by Georgia authors Kim and James Dean.

This season’s guest artist lineup includes Animal Amigos, a bi-lingual Spanish/English production by Mesner Puppet Theater of Kansas City, Missouri;, The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Silly Hollow by Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers of Bar Harbor, Maine; The Adventures of the Gingerbread Man, by All Hands Productions of Atlanta; Milo the Magnificent by Alex & Olmsted of Takoma Park, Maryland; and The Big Bad Little Red Pig Show by Lee Bryan, That Puppet Guy of Atlanta.

The New Directions Series for Adults and Teens will bring international artists from Taipei, Taiwan and Perth, Australia with A Chance Encounter by Chen Hsi-Huang Traditional Puppet Troupe and New Owner by The Last Great Hunt. Atlanta’s cult classic The Ghastly Dreadfuls will rise again this Halloween, and the Xperimental Puppetry Theater (XPT) will continue its tradition of presenting bold, original works in adult puppetry from artists from all disciplines in May 2020.

Programming continues to expand in the Worlds of Puppetry Museum as Wiggle Wednesday for Toddlers and Simple Machine STEM Tour debut in June. A new Halloween Masquerade Tour will kick off in October to celebrate the haunting season. Additionally, Puppets and Pints, the Museum’s adults-only, after-hours programming, will continue offering adults the opportunity to enjoy the Museum in a relaxed, child-free environment.

The Worlds of Puppetry Museum’s Jim Henson Collection continues to be an inspiration for many of the Center’s signature events, including a film screening of “Muppet Guys Talking,” The Dark Crystal Ball: A Gathering of Gelflings and a 50th anniversary celebration of “Sesame Street.” The Museum will also host a Henson Cosplay Day and Henson Fantasy Film Weekend, featuring screenings of “Labyrinth” and “The Dark Crystal.” The special exhibit Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: World of Myth and Magic will remain open until the end of 2019 and will be replaced by a new special exhibit, Puppets in Advertising, in spring of 2020.

The rich history of puppetry in film will be on full display again this season. The Center will host a Puppet PJ Party featuring “The Book of Pooh: Stories from the Heart” in April and a special 80s Family Film Festival in August with screenings of “Short Circuit,” “The NeverEnding Story” and “The Muppets Take Manhattan.” Attendees will receive free access to screenings with admission to the Worlds of Puppetry Museum.

The Center is committed to continuing to provide sensory-friendly programming for guests with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and will introduce Sensory-Friendly Sundays in the 2019-2020 season. On these select Sundays throughout the season, the Family Series performance, Create-A-Puppet Workshop™ and the Worlds of Puppetry Museum will all be adjusted all day long to support our guests with ASD. In addition, guests will be welcomed by staff members who have been trained in interactions with patrons with ASD. Attendees will also have access to social stories, fidget toys, sunglasses, noise-reducing headphones and a quiet room.

TICKETING
Ticket prices vary for performances and other programs. Prices are available at puppet.org or by calling 404-873-3391.

MEMBERSHIP

The best way to experience the Center is by becoming a Member. Members receive up to 50% off tickets to performances and enjoy benefits like complimentary museum entry, free films and priority seating. For more information, visit puppetjoin.org or call the membership office at 404-881-5151.

2019-2020 FAMILY SERIES:

Beauty and the Beast: June 11-July 28, 2019
Adapted by Jon Ludwig                                        

Old MacDonald’s Farm: July 30-Sept. 1, 2019
Adapted by Amy Sweeney
Theatre for the Very Young

Animal Amigos: Sept. 4-15, 2019
By Mesner Puppet Theater of Kansas City, MO
Bilingual: English & Spanish

SPACE!: Sept. 17-Oct. 20, 2019
Written by Jon Ludwig

The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Silly Hollow: Oct. 22-Nov. 3, 2019
By the Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers of Bar Harbor, Maine

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™: Nov. 5-Dec. 29, 2019
Based on the classic television special
Adapted by Jon Ludwig

The Adventures of the Gingerbread Man: Dec. 31-Jan.19, 2020
By All Hands Productions of Atlanta

Stellaluna: Jan. 21-Mar. 8, 2020
Based on the best-selling book by Janell Cannon
Adapted by Jon Ludwig

Milo the Magnificent: March 10-15, 2020
By Alex & Olmsted of Takoma Park, Maryland

The Big Bad Little Red Pig Show: March 17-29, 2020
By Lee Bryan, That Puppet Guy of Atlanta

Pete the Cat: March 31-May 24, 2020
Based on the award-winning book series by Kim and James Dean
Adapted by Jon Ludwig and Jason Hines   

2019-20 NEW DIRECTIONS SERIES FOR ADULTS AND TEENS

A Chance Encounter (ages 12+): June 15 and 16, 2019
By Chen Hsi-Huang Traditional Puppet Troupe of Taipei, Taiwan

The Ghastly Dreadfuls (ages 18+): Oct. 9-26, 2019
By Jon Ludwig and Jason Hines

The New Owner (ages 12+): Feb. 8 and 9, 2020
By The Last Great Hunt of Perth, Australia

Xperimental Puppetry Theater (XPT) (ages 18+): May 14-17, 2020
By Various Artists          

2019-20 FILM SERIES

Henson Fantasy Film Weekend

Labyrinth: May 31-June 2, 2019

The Dark Crystal: May 31, 2019   

80s Family Film Festival

Short Circuit: Aug. 2, 2019

The NeverEnding Story: Aug. 3, 2019

The Muppets Take Manhattan: Aug. 4, 2019

The Terminator: Aug. 10, 2019

The Nightmare Before Christmas: Dec. 6 and 7, 2019

Pinocchio: Feb. 23, 2020                                                    

The Book of Pooh: Stories from the Heart: Apr.18 and 19, 2020

2019-20 ADULT MUSEUM PROGRAMMING

Puppets and Pints: Various Dates, beginning June 8, 2019

The Dark Crystal Ball: Gathering of Gelflings: Aug. 29, 2019

2019-20 FAMILY MUSEUM PROGRAMMING

Simple Machine STEM Tour: Saturdays (except during October)

Henson Cosplay Day: Sept. 21, 2019

Halloween Masquerade Tour: Oct. 2019

Sesame Street 50th Celebration: Nov. 2019

World Puppetry Day: March 21, 2020

2019-20 MUSEUM SPECIAL EXHIBITS

Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: World of Myth and Magic: Now-Jan. 2020

Puppets in Advertising: Opens Spring 2020