Puppetry Arts Institute

My 6 year old son had his «friends» birthday party here today. I was skeptical at first, but for only $ 7 a child I was willing to try. Each child gets to make a puppet and take it home. They pick a plastic/​rubber head, paint it and pick an outfit. The staff then assembles them. These are the «hand up the glove» style puppets, but the kids LOVED IT! 8 six year old boys, two six year old girls and one eight year old girl (bday boy’s big sis) were quiet, involved and very complimentary to each other about their puppets for an hour. If you are around kids at all, that is amazing. You bring your own refreshments and they provide a party/​gathering room and then there is the work room. They had old button down shirts for the kids to wear to keep paint off their clothing. Their operation is fine tuned. Now, on to the staff. I can’ tasty enough about Bill, Diane and Anitra were amazing. They we’re vary patient and engaged with the kids. They were very knowledgable and kept the kids entertained and laughing. The history of puppetry is amazing and a little known gem that KC was home to one of the biggest puppet factories in the country in the 1930s-​1950s. When they closed down, all their leftover stock went into storage and sat until the 1980s when this organization found it and began the process to open this studio. The heads the kids get to paint are from that storage lot and over 50 years old, it is awe inspiring that the kids are still enamored with it. Please take some time and stop in and meet the staff and listen to their story and look at the puppets.

This is a gem. I’ve taken my granddaughter there and she loved it. It’s small… so there are no bad seats and small children can sit on the floor up front if they like. Shows are scheduled once a month that you can reserve seating for. They also have puppet making classes, a gift shop and a little museum. Children and «kids at heart» will enjoy the artistry and play of a bygone era. It’s probably deserving of a 5 star… I gave it a 4 in case you come expecting the scale of the Paul Mesner Puppets, then you’ll be disappointed. On the other hand, if you come for a chance to really be up close and personal with the production, you’ll be in the right place and it’s a 5 star all the way. Almost my favorite part was when it was time to leave and you could hear all the kids excitedly replaying the scenes that they loved. To view their web page go to: