Center for Puppetry Arts Announces 2013-14 Performance Season

Center for Puppetry Arts has announced its upcoming 2013-2014 season. To celebrate its milestone 35th anniversary, the Center will continue its tradition of presenting great storytelling through puppetry, including innovative adaptations and dynamic new works by the Center's company, as well as acclaimed artists from across the U.S.

This season's Family Performances get off to a fun-filled start with Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat, originally produced by The National Theatre of Great Britain and directed by the Center's own artistic director Jon Ludwig. Children and adults alike will love watching all of their favorite moments from the classic story come to life. In August, marionettes spin straw into gold in The Brothers Grimm fairy tale Rumpelstiltskin. Of course, the Center for Puppetry Arts promises to bring good cheer in the winter as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer returns to spread the magic of the holiday season.

Then, in the New Year, the Center opens the flood gates on Mother Nature with the original and en"lightning" musical Weather Rocks! From a newsroom in the clouds, five energetic meteorologists sing about the weather with an array of songs filled with cool facts about rain, snow, hurricanes, sunshine, and more.

1001 Nights: A Love Story AbouT Loving Stories brings a thrilling tale of how a princess saves her kingdom through the power of storytelling. Co-produced by Flying Carpet Theatre Co. and the Center for Puppetry Arts, fantastical creations spring to life as the princess spins one cliffhanger after another in this inventive staging of an early hit by Tony Award winner Robert Lopez (Avenue Q, The Book of Mormon). Someone must have let the Genie out of his bottle, because this stellar production will be a dream come true for puppet and music lovers across Atlanta!

The Center's Performances for Adults & Teens prove that puppets aren't just for children. The award-winning Autumn Portraits, by Eric Bass of Sandglass Theater in Putney, VT is a beautiful, must-see performance in which handcrafted puppets act out the "autumn" of their existence. The one-man tour de force Great Expectations by David Simpich Marionettes of Colorado Springs, CO, brings Dickens' literary masterpiece to life with hand-carved marionettes.

Since 1978, the Center for Puppetry Arts has introduced millions of guests to the wonder and art of puppetry - touching lives through enchanting Performances, curriculum-based Workshops and hands-on Museum experiences, as well as Distance Learning and Outreach programs. "Thirty-five years and the party is just getting started!" raves Artistic Director Jon Ludwig. "For those who have never been to the Center and for those who have, this year is going to be monumental. We have lined up a spectacular season, and I invite all of Atlanta to come help us celebrate during this year-long party!"

In addition to its diverse performances, Center for Puppetry Arts offers many other programs, including its hands-on Museum featuring more than 350 puppets from the around the world and the not-to-miss Jim Henson showcase. New exhibits and tours are popping up throughout the year, so patrons should be sure to visit often! The Center's Film Series showcases puppets on the big screen, featuring classic movies, hidden gems, and contemporary productions. As part of its award-winning educational programming, the Center offers extensive learning opportunities for patrons of all ages, including Discovery Days during the fall, Puppet Camp for ages nine though 12 (this July), an Explore Puppetry Series of workshops and webinars accessible to aspiring puppeteers across the country, and other Distance Learning online content that allows puppet lovers across the coountry to experience the fun of the Center at any location.

For more information, visit www.puppet.org.

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