Shows Featuring Puppetry

Puppetry has been part of theatre and storytelling for centuries, from the ancient shadow puppetry called wayang kulit in Indonesia all the way to the giant titular animal used in the 2024 Broadway production of the musical Water for Elephants. While puppetry is a wonderfully expressive medium usually associated with children’s theatre, it has also brought humor or breathtaking awe to more adult tales like the violently slapstick 15th-century Punch and Judy shows to a sock puppet that takes a life of its own in Broadway’s 2015 play Hand to God. Below, discover a range of shows for a variety of audiences – and performers! – that feature great opportunities for puppetry.

For Any Audience

Amélie: Teen Edition by Craig Lucas, Daniel Messé & Nathan Tysen (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Comedy / 5w, 7m, 1 girl or puppet + ensemble)
Opportunities for puppetry: Young Amélie Poulain can be portrayed by a puppet, becoming a creative interpretation of the imaginative lead; or Fluffy Poulain, a goldfish who is also young Amélie’s best friend.
Synopsis: In this whimsical musical adaptation of the romantic comedy film, designed specifically for high school performers, an extraordinary young woman improvises small but surprising acts of kindness. Be inspired by this dreamer who finds her voice, discovers the power of connection, and sees possibility around every corner.

Carnival! by Helen Deutsch, Bob Merrill and Michael Stewart (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Drama / 2w, 4m + ensemble)
Opportunities for puppetry: The main characters in this show are puppeteers, so there is a wealth of opportunities for puppets to appear, from a small redheaded puppet named Carrot Top to characters like Horrible Henry, Marguerite and Reynardo the Fox.
Synopsis: Based on the 1953 film Lili, this Bob Merrill/Michael Stewart gem opens with a character named Jacquot singing “Love Makes the World Go ’Round” while playing the concertina. The delicate romance between a naïve girl and an embittered puppeteer plays out against the backdrop of the “Grand Imperial Cirque de Paris.”

Head Over Heels (High School Edition) by The Go-Go’s, Sir Philip Sidney, Jeff Whitty and James Magruder (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Comedy / 4w, 3m, 1 any gender + ensemble)
Opportunities for puppetry: Pythio, the Oracle at Delphi, is often accompanied by snake hand puppets to represent their namesake, the python, and the number “Mad About You” can use either humans dressed as sheep or sheep puppets to accompany young shepherd Musidorus in his romantic longing.
Synopsis: A hilarious, exuberant celebration of love, this bold musical comedy follows the escapades of a royal family on an outrageous journey to save their beloved kingdom from extinction – only to discover the key to their realm’s survival lies within each of their own hearts. This version has been adapted specially for high school performers!

Hiroshima: crucible of light by Robert Lawson (US)
(Full-Length Play, Drama / 6w, 6m)
Opportunities for puppetry: This show incorporates elements of Japanese Bunraku puppet theater throughout, especially in the role of Bunraku Performer.
Synopsis: Fictional and historical figures cross paths in this fragmented tale of the birth of the atomic bomb, its first test in Los Alamos, and the subsequent bombing of Hiroshima. Incorporating elements of Bunraku, history, mythology, literature and parody, this drama weaves together a story of fear and dark humor, creating a fractured, multimedia look at one of the most dangerous tightropes humankind has ever walked.

Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Broadway Version) by Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II & Douglas Carter Beane (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Comedy / 5w, 4m + ensemble)
Opportunities for puppetry: Cinderella is known for befriending woodland animals that eventually transform into helpers who assist in getting her to the ball. When they first appear, Fox and Raccoon and even a few mice appear as puppets!
Synopsis: This contemporary take on the classic tale features new characters, a hilarious libretto, surprising twists, and an unforgettable score from Rodgers & Hammerstein, including “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It’s Possible” and “Ten Minutes Ago.”

The Adventures of Pinocchio by Neil Bartram and Brian Hill (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Comedy / 5w, 5m)
Opportunities for puppetry: In additional to the traditional puppet boy Pinocchio, who can be portrayed by an actor or a puppet, theatres can add any number of marionettes to fill out this puppet palooza!
Synopsis: The traditional Italian story of a wooden puppet yearning to be a real boy springs to life with inventive and awe-inspiring puppetry. Carved out of wood by the lonely toymaker Geppetto, Pinocchio searches for adventure, only to discover that all he really needs is an unselfish heart and the love of his father. Based on Carlo Collodi’s classic tale, this family musical illuminates the bond between parents and children in a magical performance that is sure to enchant audiences of all ages!

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, Rob Rokicki and Joe Tracz (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Dramatic Comedy / 7 any gender + ensemble)
Opportunities for puppetry: Monsters of myth and legend – from the three-headed dog Cerberus to the Minotaur to the mother-of-all-monsters Echidna and her chimera  – might be best brought to theatrical life through use of puppets!
Synopsis: This dynamic musical adaptation of Rick Riordan’s bestselling book is a guaranteed audience pleaser. When teenager Percy Jackson discovers he’s a demigod, he and his friends embark on an epic journey to find Zeus’ missing lightning bolt and prevent a war among the gods. The kinetic and hilarious tuner, which opened on Broadway in 2019, features a thrilling, energetic pop-rock score.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by Shaun Davey, C.S. Lewis and Adrian Mitchell (UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Drama / 30 any gender)
Opportunities for puppetry: Using puppets for roles like Aslan, a lion and the King of Narnia, along with other fantastic creatures in the story, can highlight the wonder and magic of C.S. Lewis’ mythical kingdom.
Synopsis: Commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, this musical adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ classic children’s story is the tale of four children evacuated from London during the Blitz. Whilst exploring, Lucy stumbles across the wardrobe – a gateway to another world – and the adventure begins. The land of Narnia is under the spell of the wicked White Witch and very quickly the four find themselves caught up in a deadly struggle between good and evil. Please note we do not license this title in North America.

The Old Man and The Old Moon by PigPen Theatre Co. (US/UK) – also available for 26 actors in a Large Cast Edition (US)
(Full-Length Musical, Dramatic Comedy / 7 any gender + ensemble)
Opportunities for puppetry: Much of the travel in this show can be dramatized through use of shadow puppetry, as can a few characters like Mabelu’s precious dog, Lucy.
Synopsis: A fantastic, grandiose and moving musical adventure about an old man who must abandon his duties of filling up the moon with light to cross the seas in search of his missing wife. What follows is an imaginative sea-faring epic, encompassing apocalyptic storms, civil wars, leviathans of the deep, cantankerous ghosts and the fiercest obstacle of all: change.

The SpongeBob Musical by Kyle Jarrow, Tina Landau and various artists (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Comedy / 16 any gender + ensemble)
Opportunity for puppetry: Gary, SpongeBob’s pet snail who meows and acts like a cat, should be a puppet voiced by the actor who plays Larry.
Synopsis: Who lives in a pineapple under the sea and became the hottest star on Broadway? Why, it’s SpongeBob SquarePants! And now he’s ready to ride the wave to your theatre to entertain and delight audiences in this brilliant, bright, hilarious musical.

The White Snake by Mary Zimmerman (US/UK)
(Full-Length Play, Dramatic Comedy / 6w, 5m + ensemble)
Opportunities for puppetry: Both the White Snake (Bai Suzhen) and the Green Snake (Greenie) can and should be brought to theatrical life by their actor in certain scenes with puppets to represent when the women are in the form of the snake spirit.
Synopsis: Mary Zimmerman reimagines this ancient Chinese legend, in which a snake spirit transforms herself into a beautiful woman in order to experience the human world, with a brilliant mix of ingenious stagecraft, song, humor and compassion.

Treasure Island by Bryony Lavery and Robert Louis Stevenson (US/UK)
(Full-Length Play, Dramatic Comedy / 7w, 16m)
Opportunity for puppetry: Long John Silver’s companion, the parrot Captain Flint, is a swashbuckling opportunity for a bird puppet, be it a hand puppet or otherwise.
Synopsis: Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale of murder, money and mutiny is dramatized in this thrilling adaptation first seen at the National Theatre in London, this time featuring a female protagonist and more roles for women.

Water for Elephants (High School Edition) by Sara Gruen, Rick Elice and PigPen Theatre Co. (US)
(Full-Length Musical, Dramatic Comedy / 2w, 5m, 1 any gender + ensemble)
Opportunities for puppetry: The titular elephant, lovingly known as Rosie, is a great opportunity to theatricalize the circus through puppets, as well as Queenie (a Labrador Retriever), Rex (a lion), Silver Star (a horse) and Agnes (an orangutan), among others animals.
Synopsis: A high school edition of the dazzling, heart-filled musical based on the bestselling novel by Sara Gruen. Loner Jacob escapes his past by jumping aboard a train, joining a traveling circus and caring for their animals. When he develops an unspoken attraction to star performer Marlena – who happens to be married to the imperious ringmaster, August – the struggle to save the circus becomes personal.

Wilde Tales by Jeremy Bloom (US)
(Full-Length Play, Comedy / 8 any gender + ensemble)
Opportunities for puppetry: This family-friendly show brings Oscar Wilde’s short stories to visual life with puppets! Each tale contains two or more characters to portray by a puppeteered object.
Synopsis: Come through the garden gate to a world where swallows, statues and fireworks speak with all the wit of Oscar Wilde. Five stories of love and loss from Wilde’s collection of stories for young people, The Happy Prince and Other Tales, are woven together with Wilde’s later verse and clever puppetry in this innovative theatrical vision.

2025 Jordan High School Production of Water For Elephants (High School Edition) (Joy Knight)

For Young Performers

Paint! by Robin Seidman and Spencer Stephens (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Comedy / 4w, 3m)
Opportunities for puppetry: A singing Fish and a dancing Cow are best staged using puppetry in this work for young performers.
Synopsis: This colorful, comedic tale, complete with a singing Fish puppet and a dancing Cow, paints the story of young artist Marc Chagall’s pursuit of being true to both his art and his family, adapted the Hassidim philosophy that the vase of the world that God filled was shattered into innumerable objects, and that each of these contains a portion of divine love, where reality and legend combine.

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella: Youth Edition by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Comedy / 6w, 4m + ensemble)
Opportunities for puppetry: Cinderella is known for befriending woodland animals that eventually transform into helpers who assist in getting her to the ball. The four mice who easily turn to horses could be portrayed by cute kids or by puppetry!
Synopsis: A one-hour adaptation of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s timeless tale, specially designed for young performers. In this specially created Youth Edition, all the beloved songs and familiar characters are present and accounted for. However, the entire script has been condensed to better suit young attention spans, and the plot has been slightly altered to highlight some important lessons for contemporary audiences.

She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition by Qui Nguyen (US/UK)
(Full-Length Play, Dramatic Comedy / 6w, 3m)
Opportunities for puppetry: Since the show is based on the game Dungeons & Dragons, there is a multitude of opportunity to represent the mythical creatures and monsters in this play with puppets. Possible puppets include a five-headed dragon named Tiamat, a deer and even a Gelatinous Cube.
Synopsis: A new edition created specially for high school performing groups of the comedic romp into the world of fantasy role-playing games! In this high-octane dramatic comedy laden with homicidal fairies, nasty ogres and 90s pop culture, acclaimed playwright Qui Nguyen offers a heart-pounding homage to the geek and warrior within us all.

The Mystery of the Missing Letter by Don Zolidis (US/UK)
(Short Play, Comedy / 18 any gender youth)
Opportunities for puppetry: This mystery takes place backstage of a children’s television show, Meemoo’s Universe, which features all kinds of Fluppets – aka puppets!
Synopsis: The letter Z has gone missing and the cast of the adorable Fluppet show, Meemoo’s Universe, are all suspects. Can hard-boiled detective Jack McCracken determine if it was Reginald the Grump, Zuzu the Little Witch or even the sugar-addicted Sweets Beast who’s responsible? From acclaimed playwright Don Zolidis comes a hilarious one-act murder mystery parody that takes us to one of most terrifying and suspense-filled places on Earth: backstage at a children’s television show.

The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition by Kyle Jarrow, Tina Landau and various artists (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Comedy / 16 any gender youth + ensemble)
Opportunity for puppetry: Gary, SpongeBob’s pet snail who meows and acts like a cat, should be a puppet. It’s a great creative opportunity to figure out how he moves, whether it be putting him on wheels or some kind of flexible structure to his body.
Synopsis: A one-hour edition of the hit musical, specially tailored for young actors! Plunge into this stunning all-singing, all-dancing, dynamic stage show. When the citizens of Bikini Bottom discover that a volcano will soon erupt and destroy their humble home, SpongeBob and his friends must come together to save the fate of their undersea world. With lives hanging in the balance and all hope lost, a most unexpected hero rises up. The power of optimism really can save the world!

2019 Broadway Production of The Lightning Thief (Jeremy Daniel)

For Young Audiences

Aesop Live! (One Act) by Tracy Wells (US) – also available in a Full-Length Version (US/UK)
(Short Play, Comedy / 8 any gender adult, 32 any gender youth)
Opportunities for puppetry: The characters in Aesop’s fables range from animals to Gods and more. In this show, they can be performed by actors wearing costumes, hats or props, or they may be brought to live creatively using puppetry!
Synopsis: Aesop’s wonderfully colorful fables burst onto the stage! Two narrators threaten to retell all seven hundred and twenty-five ancient Greek tales in just one show, morals included. But never fear! The cleverly told and entertaining stories they present are packed with fan-favorite characters like the sneaky Wolf, the clever Crow, the sly Fox, and of course, the Tortoise and the Hare. A brisk, action-packed show, Aesop Live! is the most fun you can have while learning the dos and don’ts of ethical living.

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl and David Wood (US/UK)
(Full-Length Play, Comedy / 2w, 4m)
Opportunities for puppetry: Orphan James’s found family – a group of insects including Miss Spider, Old-Green-Grasshopper, Centipede, Ladybird and Earthworm – as well as the Rhinoceros who killed his parents may, in some scenes, be best brought to life by puppets to reflect the scale size of human-to-insect.
Synopsis: In this delightful stage adaptation, Roald Dahl’s classic tale is faithfully told by James himself, beginning at the end of the story when James and his friends are living in the giant peach stone in Central Park, New York. A tour guide brings a party of tourists (the audience) to see this major attraction, and James and his friends tell the story of how they came to live in New York. The epic journey across the Atlantic is acted out with live action, puppetry and storytelling in David Wood’s masterful adaptation.

For more Roald Dahl adaptations featuring puppetry, see also David Wood’s adaptations of George’s Marvelous Medicine (US/UK) and The Witches (US/UK).

Stellaluna and Other Tales by Alyn Cardarelli and Steve Goers (US)
(Short Musical, Dramatic Comedy / 4w, 2m)
Opportunities for puppetry: This charming musical features an abundance of animals that can be puppets, from various snakes (Verdi, Adder, Mama Snake, Umbles, Ribbons, Dozer, Golden Snake One and Two, etc.) to the titular bat, Stellaluna!
Synopsis: Stellaluna the bat, Verdi the snake, and Pinduli the hyena all seek refreshment at a watering hole one hot day, only to find themselves the subjects of a bullying lion’s ridicule. But by sharing stories about building self-confidence, these three misfit animals find wisdom, peace and friendship. Based on the popular books by Janell Cannon, this delightful musical is a treat for both children and adults.

The Big Twist: A Musical OzVenture by Billy Recce and Brandon Zelman (US/UK)
(Short Musical, Dramatic Comedy / 4w, 7 any gender + ensemble)
Opportunities for puppetry: A magical talking Spellbook with a mysterious past named Paige should be portrayed as a puppet, and the Mouse Queen, the wise leader of the Kingdom of Mice for whom her size is no obstacle, offers another great opportunity for puppetry.
Synopsis: Tillie, crowned the Wicked Witch of the South East, was so excited for her coronation party – until no one showed up! So she teams up with Paige, a book of spells, and together they vow to flip Oz on its head. In this show for children, audiences learn that despite our differences, the only way to succeed is finding value in one another and celebrating the messiest parts of ourselves.

The Lightning Thief: Theatre for Young Audiences Edition by Rick Riordan, Rob Rokicki and Joe Tracz (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Dramatic Comedy / 7 any gender adult)
Opportunities for puppetry: Monsters of myth and legend – from the three-headed dog Cerberus to the Minotaur to the mother-of-all-monsters Echidna and her chimera  – might be best brought to theatrical life through use of puppets!
Synopsis: A 70-minute, one-act adaptation of the Broadway hit! When teenager Percy Jackson discovers he’s a demigod, he and his friends embark on an epic journey to find Zeus’ missing lightning bolt and prevent a war among the gods. This adventurous show based on the bestselling novels features an electrifying pop-rock score that audiences will love.

The SpongeBob Musical: Theatre for Young Audiences Edition by Kyle Jarrow, Tina Landau and various artists (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Comedy / 9 any gender + ensemble)
Opportunity for puppetry: Gary, SpongeBob’s pet snail who meows and acts like a cat, should be a puppet. It’s a great creative opportunity to figure out how he moves, whether it be putting him on wheels or using some kind of flexible structure on his body.
Synopsis: Who lives in a pineapple under the sea and became the hottest star on Broadway? Why, it’s SpongeBob SquarePants! And now he’s ready to ride the wave to your theatre to entertain and delight audiences in this brilliant, bright, hilarious musical. This is a 75-minute TYA Edition of the Broadway hit, designed for a smaller cast of adult actors performing for young audiences.

For Adults (PG-13 and up)

2018 Broadway Production of Head Over Heels (Joan Marcus)

afterlife: a ghost story by Steve Yockey (US)
(Full-Length Play, Drama / 3w, 3m)
Opportunity for puppetry: One of the characters who helps Danielle, Connor and their son work out their grief is Black Bird, a large, articulate bird with feathers whose warm and gentle demeanor who uses playfulness as a means to an end, offering an ideal opportunity for a puppet designer to shake their creative tail feathers.
Synopsis: A ghost story in the most literal sense, afterlife follows married couple Connor and Danielle as they prepare their beachfront home for an impending storm. But when the storm rolls in faster than expected, it may be too late for the them to escape the haunting world of unsent letters, unexpected snow, unfinished sand castles, unrelenting birds and unforgettable loss that threatens to swallow the pair forever.

For another play by Steve Yockey featuring puppetry, see The Fisherman’s Wife (US/UK).

Amélie by Craig Lucas, Daniel Messé & Nathan Tysen (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Comedy / 5w, 7m, 1 girl or puppet + ensemble)
Opportunities for puppetry: Young Amélie Poulain can be portrayed by a puppet, becoming a creative interpretation of the imaginative lead; or Fluffy Poulain, a goldfish who is also young Amélie’s best friend.
Synopsis: This quirky, charming Broadway musical tells the story of Amélie, an extraordinary young woman who lives quietly in the world but loudly in her mind. Be inspired by this dreamer who finds her voice, discovers the power of connection, and sees possibility around every corner.

Bat Boy: The Musical by Keythe Farley, Brian Flemming and Laurence O’Keefe (US)
(Full-Length Musical, Dark Comedy / 4w, 6m + ensemble)
Opportunities for puppetry: The titular Bat Boy needs to eat and often finds dinner in the various animals his veterinarian host, Dr. Parker, brings home. These – as well as the town’s Cow – offer multiple spaces where functional puppets can shine. The song “Children, Children,” sung by a host of woodland creatures, offers another great opportunity for puppets to take the stage.
Synopsis: This smart, hilarious and tuneful off-Broadway hit is an uproarious, high-energy parable about prejudice, community, love… and blood-sucking bats. Based on a story in The Weekly World News, this musical comedy/horror show is about a half-boy/half-bat creature who is discovered in a cave near Hope Falls, West Virginia. The town veterinarian Dr. Parker, takes him in, where he is eventually accepted as a member of the family and taught to act like a “normal” boy by the veterinarian’s wife, Meredith, and teenage daughter, Shelley. Bat Boy is happy with his new life and may even be in love, but he carries a dark secret, and chaos comes when the narrow-minded people of Hope Falls turn on him.

Hand to God by Robert Askins (US)*
(Full-Length Play, Dark Comedy / 2w, 3m)
Opportunity for puppetry: Meek Jason’s sock puppet, Tyrone, takes on a shocking and dangerously irreverent personality all of his own in this show. As such, the role of Jason should be a puppeteer capable of handling the dual responsibilities for acting the part of Jason as well as operating the puppet himself.
Synopsis: After the death of his father, meek Jason finds an outlet for his anxiety at the Christian Puppet Ministry. A brutally funny and shocking comedy, Hand to God explores the startlingly fragile nature of faith, morality, and the ties that bind us.

*NOTE: This show features intense adult themes and strong language and best suited for adult audiences only.

Head Over Heels by The Go-Go’s, Sir Philip Sidney, Jeff Whitty and James Magruder (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Comedy / 4w, 3m, 1 any gender + ensemble)
Opportunities for puppetry: Pythio, the Oracle at Delphi, is often accompanied by snake hand puppets to represent their namesake, the python, and the number “Mad About You” can use either humans dressed as sheep or sheep puppets to accompany young shepherd Musidorus in his romantic longing.
Synopsis: This laugh-out-loud love story is set to the music of the iconic 1980s all-female rock band The Go-Go’s, including the hit songs, “We Got the Beat,” “Our Lips Are Sealed,” “Vacation,” Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven is a Place on Earth” and “Mad About You.” A hilarious, exuberant celebration of love, this bold musical comedy follows the escapades of a royal family on an outrageous journey to save their beloved kingdom from extinction – only to discover the key to their realm’s survival lies within each of their own hearts.

Holly Down in Heaven by Kara Lee Corthron (US/UK)
(Full-Length Play, Dark Comedy / 2w, 2m)
Opportunities for puppetry: The talking dolls Holly encounters are a chance for some unsettling puppetry, particularly in the role of the lap dummy, Dr. McNuthin.
Synopsis: Holly collects dolls; Holly is a born-again Christian; Holly is a fifteen-year-old brainy, outspoken, spoiled, tyrannical brat. She’s also pregnant. A dark comedy about navigating the treacherous terrain from childhood to adulthood.

In the Green by Grace McLean (US)
(Full-Length Musical, Drama / 5w)
Opportunities for puppetry: There are quite a few opportunities for artistic puppet representations of both characters and concepts in this medieval-inspired piece! Notably, the character of Hildegard – after a traumatic moment – splinters into three pieces represented by puppets and voiced by the actors: Eye, Mouth and Hand. The three actors playing Eye, Mouth and Hand should handle puppet/objects that signify these attributes and should operate as a single, albeit abstracted, person. Additionally, the characters of Young Hildegard and Richardis should share a puppet, ideally in a bunraku style, able to be operated by one person.
Synopsis: A pop opera exploring the origin story of one of Medieval history’s most powerful and creative women: composer, mystic, scientist and saint Hildegard von Bingen. This is a musical unlike any you’ve seen, an astonishing, sonically sophisticated saga of two exceptional women broken by the world and their journey of healing that changed history.

Jasper in Deadland by Hunter Foster and Ryan Scott Oliver (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Dark Comedy / 4w, 5m)
Opportunity for puppetry: Greek elements and supernatural creatures like the three-headed dog Cerberus offer a wonderful opportunity for colorful and dynamic puppetry.
Synopsis: This fresh, compelling pop-rock musical inspired by the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice follows 16-year-old Jasper Jarvis as he travels through the afterlife on a mission to save his best friend, Agnes, from Deadland. This electrifying show featured a thrilling pop-rock score from Ryan Scott Oliver and compelling book by Hunter Foster.

Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery by Ken Ludwig (US/UK)
(Full-Length Play, Comedy / 1w, 4m)
Opportunity for puppetry: The titular hound in this whodunit is mysterious, menacing and unforgettable – all qualities that may best be captured through puppetry.
Synopsis: Get your deerstalker cap on – the play’s afoot! From mastermind of mayhem Ken Ludwig comes a fast-paced comedy about everyone’s favorite detective solving his most notorious case – The Hounds of Baskerville. Watch as our intrepid investigators try to escape a dizzying web of clues, silly accents, disguises and deceit as five actors deftly portray more than forty characters. Does a wild hellhound prowl the moors of Devonshire? Join the fun and see how far from elementary the truth can be.

Theatres can even re-use the dog puppet for another Sherlock Holmes mystery at another date in Ken Ludwig’s Moriarty (US/UK).

Proserpina and the Devil by Thornton Wilder (US/UK)
(10 Minute Play, Comedy / 3 any gender)
Opportunities for puppetry: Wilder has great fun here playing with the history of marionette plays, dating at least from early Greek and Roman theatre through morality plays to operas, all performed by marionettes, especially in 19th-century Europe. The marionettes featured in this show include Proserpina, Goddess of the Underworld; Demeter, Goddess of the harvest and mother to Proserpina; Hermes, herald of the Gods; and the Devil who kidnapped Proserpina and made him his wife.
Synopsis: A puppet show, Venice, 1640 A. D. This piece of madcap play-within-a-play farce stars a Manager, two Manipulators (the term for people who manipulate marionettes), four lively marionettes, and a host of allusions to characters and places from the Bible, Greek and Roman mythology, and medieval and nineteenth century European theatre. Is it any wonder that, as the Second Manipulator complains, “A person can’t tell which is his right hand and which is his left in this place?’

Poor Yella Rednecks by Qui Nguyen (US/UK)
(Full-Length Play, Dramatic Comedy / 2w, 4m)
Opportunity for puppetry: In the original productions of Poor Yella Rednecks, a tender, child-sized puppet, lovingly called Little Man, represented the playwright’s younger self, enhancing the themes of identity, memory and vulnerability with a grounded, emotional creativity. The depiction of Little Man is meant to bring humanity to the character, especially in scenes like the one where his grandma Huong secretly teaches him martial arts to fend off school bullies. Often, the actor playing the character of the Playwright serves as the puppeteer for Little Man.
Synopsis: In this funny, sexy and brash sequel to Vietgone, a young Vietnamese family attempts to put down roots in Arkansas, a place as different from home as it gets. With its comic book and action movie influences, this play melds a deeply personal story with the playwright’s trademark: killer humor.

Rights of Passage by Ed Decker and Robert Leone (US/UK)
(Full-Length Play, Drama / 2w, 6m)
Opportunity for puppetry: Since the stories in this piece are often told through puppetry, there are various styles in this play: shadow puppets (Nini, Putu, Atin and Ardhanari Swari) as well as more generic puppets you can choose the style for (Wayan, Sela, She, He and Klaus). The original production design articulated the child characters in Act One as puppets three to five feet in height and were manipulated by one or more ensemble members. The style of puppet, or even the choice to use them at all, is optional.
Synopsis: Mixing puppetry, mask and dance with modern devices such as digital media, this drama explores the struggle of Wayan, a young, gay Hindu man in Indonesia. Beyond Wayan’s journey, the play expands to tell true stories of LGBTQ struggles and triumphs from around the world.

She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen (US/UK)
(Full-Length Play, Dramatic Comedy / 6w, 3m)
Opportunities for puppetry: Since the show is based on the game Dungeons & Dragons, there is a multitude of opportunity to represent the mythical creatures and monsters in this play with puppets. Possible puppets include a five-headed dragon named Tiamat, a deer and even a Gelatinous Cube.
Synopsis: A comedic romp into the world of fantasy role-playing games! In this high-octane dramatic comedy laden with homicidal fairies, nasty ogres and 90s pop culture, acclaimed playwright Qui Nguyen offers a heart-pounding homage to the geek and warrior within us all.

The Grinning Man by Carl Grose, Tom Morris, Tim Phillips and Marc Teitler (US/UK)
(Full-Length Musical, Dark Comedy / 5w, 7m)
Opportunity for puppetry: With an old puppeteer as a central character in the show (Ursus) and a plot point of a puppet-show-within-the-show, there are numerous chances to use puppets to bring this adventure to life. The three major puppets of the show include the pet wolf Mojo and smaller puppet versions of the main character Grinpayne and his love interest Dea, the latter two often puppeteered by the performers playing those parts as humans in other scenes. Other actors double as the puppets inside of the puppet show. The original production utilized doubling to cover all of the puppeteering, but if you’ve got a larger company, you may wish to allocate the puppets more widely.
Synopsis: A fairy-tale love story streaked with dark humor, lashings of Gothic horror and swashbuckling adventure. With the help of an old puppeteer, his pet wolf and a blind girl, Grinpayne’s tale is told. Desperate to know the terrible secrets of his mysterious past, Grinpayne leaves his true love behind and embarks on a journey into an even crueler world – the aristocracy.

The Long Christmas Ride Home by Paula Vogel (US)
(Full-Length Play, Drama / 3w, 3m)
Opportunities for puppetry: While the characters of the mother, father and children in adulthood are played by human performers, the children in their youth are portrayed by puppeteers and voiced by narrators! In Vogel’s initial production, she based the puppets on what she claims as “one Westerner’s misunderstanding of bunraku” but notes other styles of puppets are acceptable, so long as they do not become too cute or coy. There can be operate by one to three actors each, giving flexibility to the number of actors participating in the puppetry.
Synopsis: Past, present, and future collide on a snowy Christmas Eve for a troubled family of five. Humorous and heart-wrenching, this beautifully written play by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of How I Learned to Drive proves that magic can be found in the simplest breaths of life in this lovely and hauntingly original family drama.

The Oldest Boy: A Play in Three Ceremonies by Sarah Ruhl (US/UK)
(Full-Length Play, Drama / 1w, 4m)
Opportunity for puppetry: The Oldest Boy himself speaks for and operates the puppet, Boy, who is at first two, then three years old. Two, then three, years old. The puppet has a wonderful face, bright eyes and big red cheeks. In the first production, they used a bunraku puppet with the head puppeteer voicing the puppet and the two other puppeteers dancing in the chorus to maximize the expressiveness of the child. One could also imagine using a rod puppet or a marionette puppet.
Synopsis: This play is a richly emotional journey filled with music, dance, puppetry, ritual and laughter – Sarah Ruhl at her imaginative best. A meditation on attachment and unconditional love, the play asks us to believe in a world in which sometimes the youngest children are also the oldest and wisest teachers.

Wolf Play by Hansol Jung (US/UK)
(Full-Length Play, Drama / 1w, 2m, 1 any gender, 1gnc)
Opportunity for puppetry: The actor playing Wolf operates an accompanying puppet, representing the child that is a mix of the familiar with the terribly unexpected. The Rolling World Premiere productions utilized a range of expressiveness in their puppets, from some resembling the minimalism of a test dummy all the way to a fully-detailed and articulated young boy operated by rod puppetry. You can represent the adopted child however you may like, so long as the actor/character is of East Asian descent.
Synopsis: A Korean boy is ushered into a new house and un-adopted by his adopted American father and thrust into the care of American boxer and their wife. What ensues is a messy, funny, disturbing theatrical experience grappling with a wolf, a puppet and the very prickly problem of “What is a family, and what do we need from families today? Is it very different from what humans have needed from families before?”

For more great opportunities for puppetry, visit Concord Theatricals in the US or the UK.