With great anticipation, my 7-year-old and I made our way downtown to the Center for Puppetry Arts with tall tales on our minds. Realizing I had not done my parental duty of educating him about tall tales, I tried to tell him about Paul Bunyan, John Henry - and even sang him what little I could remember of the song...you know the one...about John Henry and his hammer and how he helped build railroads with his hammer? (Actually, I just looked it up and was surprised to find it was written by Woody Guthrie and the lyrics can be seen HERE)
Sorry for the detour into Americana musical history, but if you, like us, get stuck in traffic heading downtown, maybe you can teach your children the song (as I couldn't remember the words!). Coming from Marietta on I-75 and MISSING the exit at 17th street like the distracted mama I evidently am, I joined the massive crowds exiting at North Avenue - for the Dogwood Festival. This little mistake almost made us late for the show.I recommend using the 17th street bridge! There is a fair amount of construction happening there and it is very easy to miss, so please keep that in mind and give yourself enough time to travel.
We made our 2:00pm show just in time! The curtain was closed and the set was absolutely adorable with the "Dr. Bigelow's Wild West Puppet Show" written on the curtain. When it opened, I was delighted that this was no ordinary puppet show - there was a pianist and narrator and other characters, along with a few puppets, who are all characters in their western show as they try to sell you "Tall Tale Tonic." The narrator was a true Old West Medicine Man showman with his rhyming antics to sell his tonic! We enjoyed their versions of the classic tall tales - and how the Tall Tale Tonic helped Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill and John Henry come to their tall-tale greatness. This was the most adult-friendly and entertaining puppet show I've ever attended with my children, though it was my first at Center for Puppetry Arts.
Upon conclusion of the show, the audience was invited to head upstairs to make a puppet (CLICK HERE to see the Babe The Blue Ox Hand Puppet), which we did! Although an engineering degree may have been useful to me in the creation of said puppet, we did manage to duplicate the sample. Once we created our masterpieces, we found the museum was still open and it was something not to miss - just beware that the first room is a bit scary for smaller children - actually a few of the displays were a little creepy, but then I have boys...enough said. My son happily announced (before he threw a minor fit in the gift shop) that he would like to have his birthday party at CPA, and that I should become a member, and that we should come back for The Ugly Duckling show. We just might.
PAUL BUNYAN AND THE TALL TALE MEDICINE SHOW
Sorry for the detour into Americana musical history, but if you, like us, get stuck in traffic heading downtown, maybe you can teach your children the song (as I couldn't remember the words!). Coming from Marietta on I-75 and MISSING the exit at 17th street like the distracted mama I evidently am, I joined the massive crowds exiting at North Avenue - for the Dogwood Festival. This little mistake almost made us late for the show.I recommend using the 17th street bridge! There is a fair amount of construction happening there and it is very easy to miss, so please keep that in mind and give yourself enough time to travel.
We made our 2:00pm show just in time! The curtain was closed and the set was absolutely adorable with the "Dr. Bigelow's Wild West Puppet Show" written on the curtain. When it opened, I was delighted that this was no ordinary puppet show - there was a pianist and narrator and other characters, along with a few puppets, who are all characters in their western show as they try to sell you "Tall Tale Tonic." The narrator was a true Old West Medicine Man showman with his rhyming antics to sell his tonic! We enjoyed their versions of the classic tall tales - and how the Tall Tale Tonic helped Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill and John Henry come to their tall-tale greatness. This was the most adult-friendly and entertaining puppet show I've ever attended with my children, though it was my first at Center for Puppetry Arts.
Upon conclusion of the show, the audience was invited to head upstairs to make a puppet (CLICK HERE to see the Babe The Blue Ox Hand Puppet), which we did! Although an engineering degree may have been useful to me in the creation of said puppet, we did manage to duplicate the sample. Once we created our masterpieces, we found the museum was still open and it was something not to miss - just beware that the first room is a bit scary for smaller children - actually a few of the displays were a little creepy, but then I have boys...enough said. My son happily announced (before he threw a minor fit in the gift shop) that he would like to have his birthday party at CPA, and that I should become a member, and that we should come back for The Ugly Duckling show. We just might.
PAUL BUNYAN AND THE TALL TALE MEDICINE SHOW
Adapted and directed by Jon Ludwig
Based on the original script by Jon Ludwig and Eddie Levi Lee
2014-15 Family Series
Through May 24, 2015
Mainstage Theater
Recommended for ages 4 & up
Showtimes
•Tues-Fri: 10am & 11:30am
•Sat: 12pm & 2pm
•Sun: 1pm & 3pm
Puppetry Style:
Hand, Rod, Shadow
Create-A-Puppet Workshop:
Make your own Babe the Blue Ox Hand Puppet!
For more information to purchase tickets online, CLICK HERE.
* Disclosure: our reviewer received complimentary tickets to this show in exchange for a review. All opinions, however, are her own.
For more information to purchase tickets online, CLICK HERE.
DISCOUNT OFFER
CLICK HERE to save up to to 50% on tickets/ select performances of this show!* Disclosure: our reviewer received complimentary tickets to this show in exchange for a review. All opinions, however, are her own.
