Cardboard Characters Take The Stage at Flushing Town Hall in CARDBOARD EXPLOSION!

On Sunday, July 28, Cardboard Explosion! will unfold on Flushing Town Hall's stage in a one-of-a-kind puppetry experience using nothing but cardboard and the creativity of puppeteer Brad Shur.

During the 50-minute performance, Cardboard Explosion! tells four original stories using nothing but cardboard and the power of imagination. In this family-friendly show, master puppeteer Shur transforms simple cardboard shapes into elaborate puppet characters and brings them to life on stage.

Each presentation engages the audience in a different way, so everyone can choose their own adventure, build their own heroes, and outsmart dragons in this highly-interactive performance. The shows at 12:15 PM and 3:15 PM are recommended for children five years old and older.

Preceding each performance is a workshop where children eight years old and older can create their own moving-mouth puppet. After learning to cut and fold a single sheet of paper into a working puppet form, participants can add features to individualize each puppet.

Cardboard Explosion! is an immersive arts education experience that teaches children about reusing materials-everything in the show is made from repurposed cardboard. The goal is to inspire children to create their own puppets at home using what they learned through the show and workshop.

Shur, founder and lead puppeteer of Paper Heart Puppets, has served as the Resident Artist at Puppet Showplace Theater in Massachusetts from 2009 through 2017, and created puppets for clients ranging from Dolly Parton to American Idol. He and is now based in the Hudson Valley, where he creates engaging performances for audiences of all ages.

Shur's work has been featured at many festivals, including The Puppeteers of America National Festival, The International Puppet Fringe NYC, and the International Theatre Festival for Young Audiences in Iasi, Romania.

Take a sneak peek at the awe-inspiring Cardboard Explosion!. Tickets to the workshop are $8, $5 for children, and free for members and teens with tickets to the show (RSVPs are required; supplies are included). Tickets to each performance are $14, $10 for members, $8 for children, $6 for member children, and free for teens.

Flushing Town Hall is accessible by car, bus, train and foot-located a short distance from the 7 train-at 137-35 Northern Blvd. in Flushing, Queens. Access for wheelchair users and individuals with limited mobility is available.

Once again, Flushing Town Hall is opening its doors to teenagers-for free. Under the "Teen Access Program," all 13- to 19-year-old teens (whether a member or not) will be welcomed to attend any performance for free. The program is designed to appeal to students and help foster a greater love for arts and culture.

Tickets can be purchased at www.flushingtownhall.org or by calling (718) 463-7700 x222.

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