Ballard Institute Launches Summertime Saturday Puppet Show Series Today

The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry at the University of Connecticut will once more present its popular Summertime Saturday Puppet Shows for family audiences on six Saturdays, June 20-August 1, 2015. Each show will be performed twice, at 1 and 3 p.m. All performances will take place at the Ballard Institute Theater located at 1 Royce Circle, Storrs CT.

The schedule of Summertime Saturday Puppet Shows includes the following:

June 20 - A Journey Around the World by Ants in Your Pants: Anthony the Ant discovers puppet stories and traditions of the globe. Ana Craciun and Kalob Martinez, MFA students in the UConn Puppet Arts Program, present an entertaining and informative performance for globetrotters of all ages.

June 27 - The Krista and Anders Variety Show by Krista Weltner and Anders Nerheim: Live music, marionettes, hand puppets, toy theater, and much, much more! Featured pieces include The House That Jack Built, Mr. Sandman, and A Coming of Fang Tale.

July 11 - The Nature of Nature by Anna Fitzgerald and Gavin Cummins: Join current and future UConn Puppet Arts alumni Anna Fitzgerald and Gavin Cummins as they take you on adventures in and about the natural world around us. Some stories are true and some stories are not; bring your imagination and discover which is which.

July 18 - Hotel Molière by Sarah Nolen: Hotel Molière is a cockroach hotel murder mystery told in the style of a ridiculous noir shadow show. Detective Agent Gray of Chicago follows the leads to learn what led to the untimely murder of a leading lady roach, Roachel.

July 25 - Aladdin by Stevens Puppets: From the pages of The Arabian Nights comes the timeless story of Aladdin! This Chinese folktale comes alive with the help of Martin Stevens' hand-crafted marionettes. Join us for a rare visit to the East Coast by this famed Indiana-based marionette company.

August 1 - Superheroes, Villains, and Spaceships, Oh My! by Anatar Marmol-Gagne: A fantastical tale of superheroes, villains, wizards, monsters, and space.

Admission is $5 for children, $7 for adults. Tickets will be sold in advance through the Connecticut Repertory Theatre Box Office, located in the lobby of the Nafe Katter Theatre at 820 Bolton Rd, Storrs CT 06269. Tickets may be purchased in person at the box office, by calling (860) 486-2113, or online through the CRT website. A $3.00 surcharge will be added to any purchases made online or over the phone. The CRT Box Office is open Monday through Friday, 12-5 p.m. Tickets may also be purchased at the Ballard Institute on the day of performance. There will be a limited number of seats. For more information, call (860) 486-8580 or visit bimp.uconn.edu.

Pictured: Ants in Your Pants company members Ana Craciun and Kalob Martinez in performance. Photo by John Bell.

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