A whole lot of puppets: One season, 665 shows

The 2012-13 season at the Center for Puppetry Arts continues this month with The Little Pirate Mermaid, a Family Series show from the nimble mind of Artistic Director Jon Ludwig, who won a UNIMA Citation of Excellence in 2010. The season also features productions from eight U.S. cities and one from Perth, Australia.  

Between its two series — the Family Series and the adult-themed New Directions Series — the center will produce 665 performances this season, an average of almost 13 performances per week. Here’s a closer look at the offerings. Unless otherwise noted, the show is a Center for Puppetry Arts production.

FAMILY SERIES

Family show tickets include a Create-a-Puppet Workshop and entrance to the museum. $16.50 non-members; $9.25 members; under age 2 free. The ticketing office is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.Tickets HERE or at 404.873.3391.

• The Little Pirate Mermaid. Hans Christian Andersen’s tale of a mermaid princess turned pirate is told with marionettes. Through July 15. 10 a.m. and noon Tuesday-Friday; 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday; and 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday. No shows July 3. Closed July 4. Mainstage Theater.
• The Dinosaur Show. Two paleontologists venture off to recover bones in a desert canyon and discover how dinosaurs ruled the Earth. With hand, rod, shadow and body puppets. July 17-29. 10 a.m. and noon Tuesday-Friday; 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday; and 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday. Mainstage Theater.
• The Tortoise, the Hare and other Aesop’s Fables. This Theater for the Very Young show, adapted and directed by Michael Haverty, is an interactive take on classic fables and poems. With rod and body puppets. Aug. 2-Sept. 9. 10 and 11:30 a.m. Thursday-Friday; 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday; and 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday. Downstairs Theater.
• The Three Little Pigs & More. Rod, hand and hand-and-rod puppets bring these classic folk tales to life. Sept. 12-23. 10 and 11:30 a.m. Wednesday-Friday; 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday; and 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday. Downstairs Theater.
• Sleeping Beauty. Prince Stefan sets out to rescue Princess Aurora in this adaptation of the classic tale with marionettes, set to Tchaikovsky’s ballet music. Sept. 26-Oct. 7. 10 and 11:30 a.m. Wednesday-Friday; noon and 2 p.m. Saturday; and 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday. Mainstage Theater.
• Peter and the Wolf & the Prince Frog. Two classic tales from Frisch Marionettes of Cincinnati. Oct.10-21. 10 and 11:30 a.m. Wednesday-Friday; noon and 2 p.m. Saturday; and 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday. Mainstage Theater.
• The Headless Horseman of Silly Hollow. A comic rendition of Washington Irving’s famous The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers of Bar Harbor, Maine. Oct. 24-Nov. 4. 10 and 11:30 a.m. Wednesday-Friday; 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday; and 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday. Downstairs Theater.
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.  A holiday show based on the classic TV special, and adapted and directed by Jon Ludwig. Nov. 8-Jan. 6. Performances vary, check website for times, days and dates. Mainstage Theater.
• Brother Coyote and Sister Fox. This bilingual Mexican folktale by Thistle Theatre of Seattle features Brother Coyote, who’s looking to catch and eat one of Doña Conchitas’ chickens. Jan. 8-27. 10 and 11:30 a.m. Tuesday-Friday; 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday; and 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday. Downstairs Theater.
• The Adventures of Mighty Bug. An educational adventure of superhero Mighty Bug as he defends Bugville against evil Scorpiana. With body, shadow and rod puppets. Written and directed by Jon Ludwig. Jan. 31-March 17. 10 and 11:30 a.m. Tuesday-Friday; noon and 2 p.m. Saturday; and 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday. Mainstage Theater.
• Galapagos George, the Little Tortoise That Could. Watch George, a giant tortoise from the Galapagos Islands, grow in this eco-fable. By Barefoot Puppet Theatre of Richmond, Va. With rod, shadow and hand puppets. March 19-April 7. 10 and 11:30 a.m. Tuesday-Friday; 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday; and 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday. Closed March 31. Downstairs Theater.
• Brer Rabbit & Friends. Brer Rabbit and friends gather to sing an early morning ditty, but competition gets the better of them when they battle for bragging rights. Adapted by Jon Ludwig; directed by Spencer G. Stephens. With hand-and-rod, rod, body and shadow puppets. April 11-May 26. 10 and 11:30 a.m. Tuesday-Friday; noon and 2 p.m. Saturday; and 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday. Mainstage Theater.

NEW DIRECTIONS SERIES (for adults and teens)

All tickets include the museum. Non-members $25; $15 for members. XPT 2013 performances are $12 non-members and $7 members. The ticketing office is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Tickets HERE or at 404.873.3391.

• 2012 National Puppet Slam. Age 18 and older only. Experience the beauty, ingenuity and hilarity of short-form puppet theater in this showcase of puppet slams from across the country. Aug. 3-4. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Mainstage Theater.
• The Ghastly Dreadfuls. Usher in the Halloween season with a cemetery trip in the woods for eerie stories, spooky songs and devilish dances. By Jon Ludwig & Jason von Hinezmeyer. Recommended for age 16 and older. Oct. 11-27. 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday. Downstairs Theater.
• Tales of Edgar Allan Poe. Gothic designs, haunting music, and shadowy figures breathe life into Poe’s tapestry of terror. Adapted by Bobby Box and Jon Ludwig; directed by Michael Haverty. Recommended for age 12 and older. Feb.12-Mar. 3. 11 a.m. Tuesday-Friday; 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; and 5 p.m. Sunday. Downstairs Theater.
• The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer. Scientist Alvin Sputnik follows his wife’s soul down to the underworld in this technology- and multimedia-fused love story. Weeping Spoon Productions of Perth, Australia. Recommended for age 12 and older. April 26-28. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; and 5 p.m. Sunday. Downstairs Theater.
• Xperimental Puppetry Theater (XPT). Age 18 and older only. Artists of all disciplines join forces to create bold, original experiments in puppetry. May 16-19. 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; and 5 p.m. Sunday. Downstairs Theater.