The Museum offers free activity days twice a month
on 1st and 3rd Saturdays from 3-5 pm*
(*occasionally closed to accommodate Matinees in the adjacent theater)
Cost: FREE (donations are welcome)
We feature a Punch and Judy puppet show,
Puppet Exhibit demonstrations, Cultural stories about most puppets
a puppet craft time,
and several informal wide mouth puppet folk tales.
You can also call to schedule puppet tours at other times
We can work with visiting groups for additional puppet making workshops if desired.
We also do offsite workshops and shows for school classes and community groups.
Office Phone: 435-723-0740 58 S 100 W, Brigham City, UT 84302
Come see an eye-catching array of over 150 puppets from around the world (16 different countries) as we celebrate creativity and the ingenuity of people from a variety of world cultures. Also included are puppets that represent our own American favorites from movies and stories. Latest additions are Bross marionettes from Germany and an exciting display of Mexican puppets . . . Viva los titeres!!!
Here is a fun hands on place for "kids" of all ages to learn about world culture and enjoy puppets. We have everything from hand and sock puppets to marionettes. See authentic Indonesian shadow and rod puppets. See hand carved log masks from Africa, and marionettes from Burma and India, our own Sound of Music specials, and much, much more.
The World of Puppetry Museum was opened in 2000 and has continued to grow with new exhibits on the art and history of puppetry. People have been making puppets since we have had written history, notes Susan Neidert, Fine Arts Center director. In a world where most people were not literate, puppets were used to convey religious and public messages as well as to entertain.
Puppets are great story tellers. They tell us about other cultures in other times and places and can also tell us a lot about ourselves: how we feel, our values, what we like. They can entertain us with music and dance and act out popular tales. Hands on exhibits at the World of Puppetry Museum include a barrel full of lovable hand puppets and a large mirror to perform in front of, a few boxes of marionettes where you can pull the strings, and a shadow stage complete with instructions on hand shaped shadows and a couple sets of stories like the three bears or the three little pigs. Or you can try your hand at making your own puppet craft. All craft activities are free, but donations are welcome. Periodic special puppet shows suggest a small admission fee, average $2 per person or $5 per family.
Want to see more on puppets and puppet resources? We are members of Puppeteers of America
A 1930s marionette and a 1940-50 Howdy Doody puppet set are found in the show cases, along with variations on the old Punch and Judy shows popular in England. Both adults and children alike will recognize characters from The Sound of Music and fairy tales.
Special thanks to The (Utah) Office of Museum Services who through funding awarded by the state legislature now offer small grants to museums like ours to further develop exhibits. We also thank the Neidert Family, Carolyn Frank, Alida and Dr. Tom Hannum, The Randy Jones family, Jill Rasmussen, Trevor Wilkerson, Karen Everton, Dona Price, Rosemarie Howard, Kenway Miller, Silverio Acevedo, DeeAnn Nichols and Arlene Heck, and David and Dona Walker for puppet donations.
OPEN
Most 1st & 3rd SATURDAYS,
from 3:00-5:00 PM
Ornate Marionettes from Burma
In China, puppets preceded live theater, so later actors wore elaborate masks to appear as puppets. Shadow puppets may have been among the first example of puppets. The World of Puppetry Museum has a variety of puppets, old and new, domestic and foreign. Different kinds of puppets are made all over the world, and examples of puppets and marionettes from Indonesia, Burma, Africa, India, Czechoslovakia, Nepal and a Chinese silk hand puppet join the familiar Kermit and Lamb Chop in the museum.
T
The World of Puppetry Museum is celebrating Family History month with some new puppet faces, guest performers, and added family friendly activities. We will be featuring 5 or more Northern Utah Puppeteers who have enlightened and inspired us and their communities with their love of puppetry. Meet some of their favorite puppets and get inspired as we share their stories as part of family tree of puppet friends. Below is a list of scheduled events for February.
Beginning February 22 the museum will also be open Wednesday evenings 6 to 7:30 pm for groups to tour the museum, learn more about our featured puppeteers and challenge themselves with additional puppet facts and storytelling activities. Interested groups are encouraged to call to schedule visiting the museum on Wednesday evenings Feb 22 through March 22 by calling Susan at 435-730-2487 or the Fine Arts Center at 435-723-0740.
Additional featured puppeteers include: Carol Earl of Hooper (now retired) who spent many years entertaining 4H youth and other groups with her puppets. (She turned some of her puppet interest into also performing as Rainbow the Clown and included a side kick marionette, Chauncey), Past puppeteers: Dona Price Ellis of Aunt Dona's Puppets -a Punch and Judy Master from Provo with a lot of ties to Brigham City and "Mrs. B "- (Glenn Beeley ) of Pioneer Craft House in SLC who featured weekly puppet shows and brought many nationally famous puppeteers to Utah in the 60's. and 70's.
March Activities on Saturdays
March 25th: 3 - 5 pm
"Dona Price Day"
with special Punch and Judy craft $4
Learn about Chinese Dragons too.
The World of Puppetry Museum is
now open from 3-5 pm on various
Saturdays
as well as Wednesdays later in March
by appointment .
Admission is free with a
recommended $2 donation per person
or $10 /family
