THE DRAGON KING will Reign at Center for Puppetry Arts

A vibrant underwater tale based on Chinese folklore, The Dragon King comes to the Center for Puppetry Arts, March 14 - April 2. It hasn't rained in ages, the village is in trouble and the only one with the power to bring back water to the land is The Dragon King. In hopes of finding the Dragon King, a determined grandmother voyages to the bottom of the sea to make a plea for a rainy day. Will she be successful? Families are invited to find out during this lively puppet adventure!

Presented by Tanglewood Marionettes of Ware, Mass., The Dragon King features marionette and rod puppetry full of vibrant colors and intricate puppets.

As part of the Center's Autism Spectrum Disorder initiative, a sensory-friendly performance of The Dragon King will be presented on Sunday, March 19 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.

Regular show times are as follows:
March 14 - April 2
Tuesday - Friday: 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Tickets are $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 Chinese Dragon Marionette and perform with it on our classroom stage. Tickets can be purchased online at www.puppet.org or by calling 404.873.3391.

Photo Credit: Anne Schaefer