Puppetworks

Magical.
Kids set down on the padded floor in front of the theater. Parents sit on the side and behind children.
Storytelling is old school … using narrative dialogue, this puppet show is patience-​inducing for all, and is a great introduction to theater, in general.
Theater gets dark (some children were spooked by this — plan your time here accordingly. If you must bring really little ones, please control their crying when it goes dark).
Great explainer by marionette staff/​talent before actual show begins — very helpful, as there are no surprises regarding when the theater goes dark, etc.,
Kids can ask questions after the show and touch a selected marionette held by the staffer.
I only wish the parents (!) would be quiet once the show began. There is a special place in purgatory for grown-​up theatergoers who talk about work during live shows. This is a phenomenon happening all too often in NYC live theater these days.

Love this place but NEVER COMING BACK. The woman who collects the money is the rudest witch. Not only did she scream out that my students are special Ed on the street but she was extremely rude when collecting the money. She informed me that we didn’t have enough money. When I went to explain to her the amount of kids I had she yelled at me to shh! Yea ok lady I’ve been coming here for years and never paid for myself or paras. She then said we would have to sit outside and only the kids could stay. She must be an idiot because if she knows my kids are special Ed then she knows I cannot leave them unattended. This place is a shithole. Don’t waste your money and go see a puppet show in a nicer venue.

I visited Puppetworks recently for a children’s birthday party and even though I had 20+ years on most of the viewers, I think I enjoyed it just as much if not more! The venue was booked as a private event for a «screening» of Beauty and the Beast. Foam mats are laid out on the floor for children to get an up-​close and personal view of the show in addition to some small benches and of course adult friendly bleachers and benches along the walls. One of two puppet masters gave us a warm introduction, pointing out all the many marionettes surrounding the top of the entire room, and explaining, in a child friendly way, the way puppetiring works. After his introduction, the show proceeded, roughly 20 minutes, with applause and photos with the stars following the production.
The story itself was true to the classic Grimm’s Fairytale, which captivated the audience in a new and exciting way. The production was wonderful, it’s not often you get to appreciate the art of a puppet mastering, but it is truly an extraordinary art form and one that young and old alike can appreciate. From the intricate details of the puppet itself to the voices of the puppet master and movements of multiple puppets at one time, it was a performance I would be happy to sit through again.

Came here today with my husband and four year old son. It was all of our first time experiencing a marionette show. It was so fun and entertaining. Their rendition of sleeping beauty was different but fun. I loved it. My son laughed out loud the entire time and loved it. He didn’t want it to end and neither did I. My husband even enjoyed it. My son made friends and the kids sat up front. Great for little kids 3 years old and up. Small quaint and fun. The puppeteers showed the children one puppet at the end and was kind in answering the countless questions the children had. We will be back in a few months for jack and the bean stalk.

We’ve lived within spitting distance for years and I finally went for the first time, my 3.5 yr old in tow (he was a veteran, having gone twice before, with my wife).
What a fantastic experience. The show itself is really fascinating, both as a piece of theater but also technically for how marionettes work. My son was totally mesmerized and kept excitedly whispering to me what was happening and the subtext. So gorgeous to watch him watching it. (Especially after hearing from my wife about his first visit where he asked to pause part of it and watch it again, like it was a YouTube video)
Which brings me to what is really special about this place. They intro the whole experience with essentially a little primer on live theater– explaining about how you’re sharing the story and space with everyone and so there are rules, like no talking, and what a scene change is and when to applaud etc. It struck me as the perfect training ground for little ones to the theatrical experience– age appropriate themes and show lengths and an etiquette lesson that will stay with them as they graduate to full length theater pieces. That’s priceless.

Love love love this place!!! Took my daughter here to see Cinderella but I think I had a better time then she did! The puppeteers were so professional and really made everything come to life. I also liked how kid friendly they were, even letting the kids get up close and personal with the puppets after the show. Kids were engaged every second! Looking forward to more shows!

Brought my kids here for a show of Pinocchio. My 2yr old was a bit freaked out at first with the dolls but was mesmerized once the show started. Very nice relaxing activity for wife and i, will definitely be back again.

What a gem. We had a wonderful time seeing Cinderella this weekend. The skill of the puppeteers was not to be believed! Having seen some other hum-​drum shows with actors that clearly wanted to be elsewhere, it was truly a breath of fresh air to come here and attend a show with energy, commitment and overall, fun!
My 4 year old son and his 5 year old friend were completely jazzed about the show, as was I. When the show ended, one puppeteer asked a 9 year old if she had a good time and she said «no, I’m too old for this.» How very sad. I’m many times 9 and felt like a kid again enjoying their special artistry. If you have a child who can’t enjoy the wonder of such things, they may not enjoy it, but we had a great time and look forward to returning soon.

I took my 4-​yearl old daughter to see Aladdin this weekend, and both of us had a great time.
My first impression was that place looked a little dingy, but the show was absolutely fantastic! I’m looking forward to seeing more of their shows soon!

Great show! In a new media world of 3D Cinema, home theatre, Xbox, etc., the experience of children coming together for live performance cannot be missed. Our 2.5 year old loved Pinocchio. My only suggestion is either a newer AC unit, or a few degrees cooler on the setting, esp. with summer arriving…

Puppetworks has the best puppet shows for kids and their parents. My son has loved every show we’ve seen there, and I feel good knowing that there is an alternative to all of the horrible, marketing-​driven, exploitative children’s «entertainment» out there. The price is affordable for even struggling parents (so little in the city is), and I know boy and I will speak about the show for weeks to come. The puppeteers are truly gifted and I would gladly make the schlep from Harlem to see any of their shows (and we haven’t missed one yet). The Magic Flute got him interested in Opera, and I’m taking him again this Saturday to see it a second time.

We have been coming to PuppetWorks since 2003, this was part of our Park Slope day-​a show, lunch, and visit to the Prospect Park Zoo. And then, we stopped for a while as two of our older kids have grown out of it, however, the nature had its course, and we are back with our 3 year old. He really enjoyed the Magic Flute show, even though he probably did not understand half of the words. My older kids also enjoyed the memory of their childhood. The only thing is, it could be a bit intimidating to walk into the room for the first time when it’s dark and the puppets are hanging on the wall like victims of the Spanish inquisition-​both my older son and my younger cried the first time I brought them. Eventually, they have gotten used to it.

Not just for kids!
I went to see a show at Puppetworks with my girlfriend a little while back, and was pretty much smiling the whole day. Jamie is a great puppeteer and enchants the kids that crowd the front row. And then there’s something existentially wonderful about seeing children thrash about in peals of laughter over the goofy hijinks of mannequins.
We saw Hansel and Gretel, and it struck just the right balance of silly, wondrous and scary. The puppets were beautiful and the music (largely from the Englebert Humperdink opera) was an excellent score. If you’ve never seen a puppet opera, don’t miss this chance!

My daughter loves coming here. It’s a special place for birthday parties or even just to come for their performances. Highly recommend!

Daunting array of marionettes and albeit from the outside it looks not well maintain it’s beyond the point, especially when the curtain draws! This is a truly amazing asset for families in the area and the lessons children receive in regards to the classics cannot be matched anywhere around. If only every kid had such an option…

I had some badass birthday parties back in like ’91 here. The puppets are really wonderfully used and carved.
I also remember being told, when I was like 4, by one of the guys who runs the place that there was a ghost in the basement. Subsequently, like two years later, I came across a book on haunted places in Brooklyn and Puppet Works was totally in there… I want to believe.

I love you Puppet Works. Many a fond memory. This place was the shiznit back when I was a kid. I think I went to no less then 10 birthday parties here every year between the ages of 3 – 9 and it was the best thing next to Chuck-​E-​Cheese birthdays! Awesome use of beautiful, believable marionette puppets and actors. I remember they would do Jack and the beanstalk, and the «giant» was an actor who looked huuuuge next to the puppet. Man, that would blow my mind back in the day. I am looking forward to having kids some day just so I have an excuse to go to Puppet Works again.

I took my kid here for the first time today. What an awesome place! They do classic fairy tales and don’t dumb them down. The décor, the sets and the puppets are all obviously hand made. It has a kinda «Mister Rogers» retro vibe. There are so many overpriced kid’s play spaces that are almost too beautiful with designs that are so modern and fabricated… they almost feel cold. It seems like they were created for yuppy parents rather than their kids. Puppet Works stands out as a place that holds substance over style. My kid had a great time, and we can’t wait to go back.

I’ve been here twice with my daughter and we’ve had a good time both times. Great show to watch with kids in a world of electronics. It’s entertaining and fun. The puppeteers are very skilled. My only complaint is the floor seating in the front. My butt hurts afterwards!

Five well deserved stars! The Puppetworks is a great experience for both children and parents. The shows are entertaining, authentic and each of artistic director Nick Coppola’s puppets is a work of art.
They change the program regularly (about every 6 weeks) so check their website for the schedule, there is probably some show coming up you want to see even if you don’t have a kid. Make sure you call for a reservation so you aren’t disappointed. Puppetworks shows are often sold out particularly on rainy days and winter weekends.