Jenkintown
Family
Kids (5–8)

Greater Philadelphia Area Puppetry Guild’s National Day of Puppetry Celebration

Name: Greater Philadelphia Area Puppetry Guild’s National Day of Puppetry Celebration
Start: 2025-04-26T09:30:00-04:00
End: 2025-04-26T21:30:00-04:00
Location: Abington Art Center

: April 26, 9:30 am – 9:30 pm.

: $15 - $50

Greater Philadelphia Area Puppetry Guild is holding a National Day of Puppetry Celebration at the Abington Art Center on Saturday, April 26^th in Jenkintown, PA.

There is a Day Festival from 9:30 am to 5 pm and a Social & Puppet Slam from 6-8:30 pm. A Joy-Filled Day of Puppets, Performances, Workshops & Wonder Awaits Families and Puppet Fans of All Ages

PRESS: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Chad Parsons

Email: greaterphillyareapuppets@gmail.com

Phone: (718) 213-7363

Event Info:

https://www.greaterphillypuppetryguild.org/event-details/gpapgs-national-day-of-puppetry-celebration

Tickets are required for entry. This all-day event includes a vibrant lineup of puppet shows, hands-on workshops, puppet-building, a puppet film festival, and more. From morning until night, the art center will be alive with puppets in every corner — onstage, on film, in motion, and even on parade.

A Day of Wonder, Whimsy, and New Friends“This celebration captures the joy, creativity, and inclusive spirit of puppetry,” says Chad Parsons / GPAPG board member & festival director],“ It brings together diverse artists and audiences to share in something truly magical.”

Whether you want to watch a hilarious show, build a puppet, learn from master puppeteers, or just play, this event has something for everyone. Bring your recyclables for the puppet-making workshops, enjoy delicious bites from local vendors, and don’t miss the unforgettable Puppet Parade!

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EVENT SNAPSHOT:

Vendor’s Row (9:30 AM – 4:30 PM): Puppets, art, and handmade delights
Opening Ceremony (10:00 AM)
Live Shows All Day! Including:

○Puppet Club Zoo (10:15 AM)

○Makin’ BreakFAST (10:45 AM)

○The Magic Pot with Digger & David (12:10 PM)

○Some Bunny to Love (1:30 PM)

○Billy Goats Gruff’kin (2:30 PM)

○ The UNTOLD Story of the 3 Little Pigs (3:00 PM)

○OVERSOULED (3:15 PM – Ages 16+)

Film Festival of Puppet Shorts (12:30 PM – 1:30 PM)
Hands-On Workshops:

○ By A String with Gabriel Hazuda (11:00 AM – Ticketed)

○ Recycled Rod Puppets (1:00 PM – 2:30 PM)

○ Stop Motion Puppetry Animation (2:30 PM – 4:00 PM)

Food Vendors: FlatBelly Veg & Jillan Bakes (11:30 AM – 6:00 PM)
Puppet Parade (4:20 PM)
Closing Ceremony (4:30 PM)
Evening Events:

○ Pre-Slam Social (6:00 PM)

○Just * Do It – Adult Puppet Slam (7:00 PM – Ticketed)

EVENT DETAILS

WHAT: National Day of Puppetry Celebration

WHEN: Saturday, April 26, 2025 | 9:30 AM – 8:30 PM

WHERE: Abington Art Center – 515 Meetinghouse Rd, Jenkintown, PA

COST: Tickets Required (Varied Prices)

INFO: greaterphillypuppetryguild.org

Follow @GPAPG and @AbingtonArtCenter

for event updates and behind-the-scenes peeks.

Celebrate Creativity. Celebrate Community. Celebrate Puppetry!

THE SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY

About the Host Organization – Greater Philadelphia Area Puppetry Guild (GPAPG)

The Greater Philadelphia Area Puppetry Guild (GPAPG) is a vibrant community of puppeteers,

educators, artists, and enthusiasts dedicated to advancing the art of puppetry across the region.

As a proud chartered guild of the Puppeteers of America, GPAPG offers programming that

includes performances, workshops, professional development, and outreach opportunities. The

guild welcomes puppeteers of all levels and styles—from hobbyists to seasoned

professionals—and strives to foster creativity, connection, and collaboration. Through festivals

like the National Day of Puppetry and ongoing community engagement, GPAPG promotes

puppetry as a meaningful and magical form of storytelling for audiences of all ages.

https://www.greaterphillypuppetryguild.org/

About the Venue – Abington Art Center

Located in Jenkintown, PA, Abington Art Center is a dynamic cultural hub dedicated to bringing art and community together. Housed within the historic Alverthorpe Manor, the center sits on a scenic 27-acre campus featuring galleries, outdoor sculpture gardens, classrooms, and performance spaces. AAC offers year-round exhibitions, educational programs, and events that engage audiences

of all ages in the visual and performing arts. As a community-focused venue,

Abington Art Center is the perfect home for the National Day of Puppetry, providing both inspiration and space for creativity to flourish.

https://abingtonartcenter.org/

Fun Facts About Puppetry

Puppetry is one of the oldest forms of performance, dating back over 3,000

years to

ancient Egypt and China!

There are many different types of puppets, including marionettes (string puppets), hand

puppets, shadow puppets, rod puppets, and more!

Puppetry is not just for kids—many cultures use puppetry for storytelling, political satire, education, and ceremony.
The word “puppet” likely comes from the Latin word pupa, meaning doll or little girl.
Puppeteers often train in acting, movement, design, and even engineering!

Performer & Show Descriptions – National Day of Puppetry 2025

OVERSOULED (Recommended for ages 16+)

An adult puppet show that explores one person’s journey through depression and inner turmoil. Follow Anthony as he’s confronted by various “talking heads”

representing his inner world. This emotionally honest and visually striking piece combines wooden rod puppets, audio diary entries, and physical performance. A rare theatrical experience not to be missed. (Under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.)

Makin’ BreakFAST

An interactive clown and puppetry show featuring live music, food-based puppets, and all the chaos of putting together a balanced meal. A hilarious, hands-on experience for audiences of all ages. Both will be Performed by Anthony Sellitto-Budney (They/Them) Anthony is a graduate of the UConn

Puppet Arts BFA Program and founder of BreakFAST Puppets. They are a puppeteer, clown, and performance artist featured in the NOLA Giant Puppet Fest, Asheville Fringe Fest, and were the 2023 Emerging Artist at the Eugene O’Neill Puppetry Conference.

The UNTOLD Story of the 3 Little Pigs

Based roughly on the book by A. Wolf, this retelling shifts the perspective to the “not-so-bad” Big Bad Wolf. According to him, it was all just a sneeze and a cup of sugar gone wrong! Puppeteer “Mom Mom Nonna” gives a behind-the- scenes look at stage and puppet design before the show and wraps things up with a dance-along song and backstage peek for kids. Performed by Diane Guzzardo (Mom-Mom Nonna) Diane is a puppeteer and retired visiting nurse

who has created puppet shows adapted from favorite family books. She has performed at daycares, libraries, schools, and senior facilities, and believes puppetry inspires imagination and joy. “The sky, like your dreams, has no limit.”

The Magic Pot

In a peaceful countryside, a wise woman with a magic self-cooking pot hires a bumbling helper named Silly Digger. Chaos brews when he starts the pot without knowing how to stop it! A funny and musical tale about responsibility and magic.

Performed by David Brown Hutchman & Digger David has been entertaining young audiences for over 45 years through acting, writing, directing, and designing children’s theater. A former Director of Performance at Please Touch Museum, David brings storytelling and interactive joy to audiences across the region.

Some Bunny to Love

A whimsical, heartwarming puppet show that celebrates love, acceptance, and being true to yourself. In Bunny Land, Bo and Wesley fall in love—despite Stanley the Stink Bug’s attempts toenforce outdated rules. This show inspires audiences

of all ages to ask: What will you choose? Created by Chad Parsons Chad is a theatre artist, director, and educator specializing in puppetry, immersive storytelling, and Theatre for Young Audiences. He is the Director of this year’s

National Day of Puppetry and holds an MFA in Theatre for Young Audiences. His work blends magic, story, and interactivity.

Billy Goats Gruff’kin

A classic fairytale with a twist, brought to life with traditional marionettes and an originalsoundtrack by Laughing Tree. Performed on a full proscenium stage, it’

a magical, musical journey across the bridge. Presented by Michael Lamason Michael is the co-founder and Executive Director of Black Cherry Puppet Theater. With over four decades in the field, he is a leader in puppetry education and

performance. He also serves as Treasurer for the National Capital Puppetry Guild.

Land of Primary Colors (Crankie Performance)

A beautiful new story told through a handmade crankie (scrolling visual theater). In a land where everything is red, blue, or yellow, a boy disrupts the balance while color pots. Can he fix things before the sun rises? Poetic and unexpected.

Created and Performed by Dr. Schroeder Cherry Dr. Cherry is a Baltimore-based artist and puppeteer known for his original puppet shows that span history, heritage, and culture. He has performed in museums and cultural centers nationwide and is featured in the 2024 PBS episode on PLAY by Craft in America.

Puppet Club Zoo

Welcome to the Wildest Zoo around! Keeper Del introduces audiences to Sandy Crane, Tony the Ant, and other animal friends in this delightfully unpredictable show. It’s all educational… if the animals decide to cooperate!

WORKSHOPS

Recycled Rod Puppet Workshop

Bring your imagination and a sense of play to this eco-friendly workshop where children and families transform recyclable materials into rod puppets! Participants will explore character building and puppet movement with the guidance of BreakFAST Puppets. Perfect for all ages, this workshop encourages creativity and sustainability with every puppet made.

By A String: Puppet Workshop with Gabriel Hazuda (Ticketed Event)

Explore the art and intricacies of marionette puppetry in this intimate, hands-on workshop led by seasoned puppeteer Gabriel Hazuda. Participants will gain insight into string puppet mechanics, movement, and performance as they try their hand at operating real marionettes. Recommended for ages 12 and up.

Stop Motion Puppetry Animation Workshop

Step behind the curtain of cinematic magic in this hands-on Stop Motion Puppetry Workshop, where kids and adults alike will discover how animated puppets come to life—frame by frame! Led by experienced animators Nate Dreschel and Noah Cohen, this workshop introduces the tools and techniques behind stop motion animation and gives participants the chance to

animate their own puppet in real time.

National Day of Puppetry – Saturday, April 26, 2025

Abington Art Center | Jenkintown, PA | 9:30 AM – 8:30 PM

Fun & Family-Friendly – Ticketed Event

greaterphillypuppetryguild.org/event-details/gpapgs-national-day-of-puppetry-celebration

HASHTAGS

#NationalDayOfPuppetry

#GPAPG

#PhillyPuppetry

#PuppetPower

#FamilyFunPhilly

#PuppetsInThePark

#AbingtonArtCenter

SAMPLE CAPTIONS for Instagram / Facebook

Puppets are taking over Jenkintown!

Join us for the National Day of Puppetry on Saturday, April 26th at the Abington Art Center – a full day of puppet shows, hands-on workshops, puppet films, and more! (9:30 AM–8:30 PM) Family-friendly #NationalDayOfPuppetry #GPAPG #PhillyPuppetry

#PuppetPower