Art, Science and Adventure Come Alive in 'MIGHTY BUG' Special Events at Center for Puppetry Arts

Scorpiana is on the loose and threatening the insect citizens of Bugville! Is our hero Mighty Bug up for the challenge? The Center for Puppetry Arts is celebrating the art, science and adventure in the comic book-style The Adventures of Mighty Bug with special events throughout the run of the show.

The Center will celebrate opening weekend (January 28-29) of The Adventures of Mighty Bugwith a visit from the UGA Entymology Insect Zoo. The Insect Zoo is a hands-on program to educate guests about insects through terrariums and other displays. Visitors can see Mighty Bugon stage, then see some mighty insects up-close.

The fun continues opening weekend when Savannah College of Art and Design's SERVE volunteer organization stops by to bring out the art of Mighty Bug. The artists will fill the Center's sidewalks with a comic book-style, sequential art piece.

As part of the Center's Autism Spectrum Disorder initiative, a sensory-friendly performance of The Adventures of Mighty Bug will be presented on Sunday, February 5 at 1 p.m. Sensory stimuli will also be reduced in Museum Exhibits from 12 p.m. -1 p.m. and in Create-A-Puppet Workshops™ from 1:45 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. This special afternoon will allow guests with Autism Spectrum Disorder to experience programming in a comfortable and safe setting with staff members who have been trained in interactions with patrons with ASD. Along with a quiet zone in the lobby, several performance alterations will be employed, including: theater lights dimmed down (but not out); consistent sound levels and lower volume of show soundtrack; freedom for children to talk during the show and leave their seats, if necessary; and permission to bring quiet, contained snacks and beverages. Create-A-Puppet Workshop™ classrooms will be brighter, quieter and feature less-messy puppet building materials and slightly simplified puppet designs. In the Museum Exhibits, lighting will be adjusted and specialized educational activities (such as touch tables and guided storytelling) will be integrated. Fidget toys and sound-reducing headphones will also be available.

Finally, the Center is proud to support the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta on two special occasions during The Adventures of Mighty Bug. On Saturday, February 12, it's STEM Day for the Girl Scouts! Scouts are invited to see the science-focused show at 1 p.m. and stick around for a Q&A with the puppeteers to discuss the technology involved in puppetry. Then they'll finish the afternoon with a guided tour of the museum and Create-A-Puppet Workshop to cover the engineering and mathematics involved.

On Saturday, March 11, the Center invites local Girl Scouts to celebrate the Girl Scouts' 105thbirthday. The first 50 scouts to arrive will receive a free STEM owl puppet kit.

The day's suggested itinerary is as follows:

2 p.m.: The Adventures of Mighty Bug
3 p.m.: Create-A-Puppet Workshop
4 p.m.: Self-guided Museum Tour
5 p.m.: Discounted dinner at Atlantic Station (The Center will provide Atlantic Station A-Cards upon check-in)
7 p.m.: Screening of Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird at the Center for Puppetry Arts (discounted tickets available)

The Center for Puppetry Arts looks forward to welcoming patrons for these fun events during The Adventures of Mighty Bug! The show is presented in the Mainstage Theater, January 24 - March 12, 2017. Reduced-price previews take place January 24 and 25.

Show times are as follows:

Tuesday - Friday: 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Saturday: 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Tickets $10.25 (Members) and $20.50 (nonmembers) and include admission to the show, the Worlds of Puppetry Museum (with the largest collection of Jim Henson puppets and artifacts in the world as well as a Global Gallery), and entrance to the Create-A-Puppet Workshop™, where guests can make and decorate their own Lightning Bug Rod & String Puppet and perform with it on our classroom stage. Tickets can be purchased online at www.puppet.org or by calling 404.873.3391.