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Portland, OR

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EVENTS


The Poop Project comes to PDX!
Feb
22
2:00 PM14:00

The Poop Project comes to PDX!

Dear fans and friends - guess what? We are producing a show without puppetry in it. THE GALL! THE MOXIE!! Why, you ask? The reason is simple. We believe so firmly in the messages that this performer emits out into the world that we think, nay we KNOW, that Portlanders will need to hear it. It’s about POOP, the greatest under-utilized, human-made resource on Earth.

There are THREE EVENTS within TWO DAYS and you can catch them all. Poopemon, if you will.

ASSUME THE THRONE - a live show + Food not Bombs dinner

WHEN: FRIDAY FEB 21, 2020 6pm - 9pm. Dinner @ 6pm / Show @ 7pm

TICKETS: Free! 

WHERE: Kailash Ecovillage @ 4311 SE 37th Ave. Portland OR 97202

FACEBOOK EVENT LINK HERE 

Are you ready to ASSUME THE THRONE? Shawn “The Puru” Shafner is here to share the secret wisdom our bodies already know - The Tao of Poo. Fusing wisdom from permaculture and world religions, this intimate blend of storytelling, ritual and razzle dazzle teaches the ancient alchemy of how all our $h*t can transform into gold.

Potluck contributions and $5-20 donations for the show are appreciated :) More about Kailash Ecovillage at www.kailashecovillage.org/

  

FLUSH - THE DOCUMENTARY SCREENING

WHEN: Saturday February 22, 2020 @ 2pm

TICKETS: $6 in advance / $8 @ the door - LINK HERE

WHERE: Shout House @ 210 SE Madison, Ste. 11, Portland, OR 97214

FACEBOOK EVENT LINK HERE 

Flush: The Documentary is the surprising story of what happens after we “go," and a growing movement to change the way we think about waste. 

Director Karina Mangu-Ward has a hunch that the unprecedented damage from Superstorm Sandy, the drought out West, and the future of our food supply have a lot to do with how we flush. So she gives herself a challenge: follow one flush from beginning to end. Flush is the story of everything that happens next, and the cultural, political, and corporate forces shaping the way we deal with bodily waste in America today. Runs 54 minutes. Followed by a panel conversation featuring The POOP Project's Shawn Shafner, Ole Ersson from Kailash Ecovillage, and other local sanitation experts.

See clips and more information at www.thePOOPproject.org/flush

HOW THE POTTY TRAINED US - a live show

 WHEN: SATURDAY FEB 22, 2020 @ 8pm (Doors @ 7:30pm)

TICKETS: $10 advance / $12 at the door - LINK HERE

WHERE: Shout House @ 210 SE Madison, Ste. 11, Portland, OR 97214

FACEBOOK EVENT LINK HERE

What if the solution to climate change, world peace, and self-love was the one thing no one wanted to talk about? From communal Roman toilets to the Queen who banished the bowel movement, Shawn "The Puru" Shafner unearths the origins of our dis-ease. In this stand-up comedy / TED-style lecture / character-shifting solo play, Shafner exposes how current sanitary practices threaten our health, environment, and 40% of the world still living without safe toilets - and invites us to get our sh*t together before it hits the fan. This event is appropriate for ages 12 and up.

More at: www.thePOOPproject.org/

Fascinating, hilarious and totally timely, How the Potty Trained Us asks us to take the plunge, join a revolution pushing for change from the bottom up, and proudly declare “I’m a pooper!”

Please note: We will sell $5 tickets at the door to Arts for All participants w/ Oregon Trail Cards for available seating at the box office window, which opens at 7:30pm for this 8pm show. This event is ADA accessible, but the host would request advance notice when possible so that we may be prepared with the ramp needed inside the space. Please send us a note!

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Summertime Puppet Slam
Aug
15
to Aug 17

Summertime Puppet Slam

We’re doing it again, Portland! A slam to save us all!

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New venue, new shows and new films! This time we are going to wow you at the delightful Headwaters Theatre in North Portland. It’s intimate, cozy and definitely special.

DATES:

Thursday August 15th @ 8pm

Friday August 16th @ 8pm

Saturday August 17th @ 2pm and 8pm

Tickets $15 advance / $20 at the door

TICKETS CLICK HERE

Performer Line Up Here:

- Randy Knickers (PDX)
- Featured Performer from Connecticut: Anatar Marmol-Gagne (http://www.pinnedandsewtured.com/)
- Kori Bormann, Steve Troop, Meghann Flaherty (LA)
- Kettlehead Studios (PDX)
- Trivia Puppet Company (Seattle)
- Jacob Trillo & Allie Menzimer (PDX)
- Summer Olsson & Katie McClenahan (PDX)
- Short Films TBD!

Featured Artist Anatar Marmol-Gagne

Featured Artist Anatar Marmol-Gagne

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CANCELLED : POP + PUPPETRY #6
Nov
11
8:00 PM20:00

CANCELLED : POP + PUPPETRY #6

DUE TO FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES / EMERGENCIES, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED. IF YOU BOUGHT TICKETS, THEY WILL BE REFUNDED. PLEASE KEEP AN EAR OUT FOR A NEW DATE IN 2019. THANKS AND SO SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE!

Here we go again! Get ready for another fantastic collaboration of local puppetry artists and incredible musicians! Pop + Puppetry will grace the stages and walls of the Holocene for ONE NIGHT ONLY!  Bands and performers to be announced soon.  Ticketing links also coming soon.  

WHEN: Sunday November 11th - Doors @ 8pm, Music / puppetry starts @ 9pm

WHERE: Holocene - 1001 SE Morrison St. Portland OR 97214

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Puppet Slam :: Spooky Fall Edition
Oct
20
to Oct 21

Puppet Slam :: Spooky Fall Edition

Gavin Cummins piece “Tac and Magician”

Gavin Cummins piece “Tac and Magician”

WHAT: PUPPET SLAM : Spooky Fall Edition

WHEN: Saturday October 20th + Sunday October 21st @ 8pm each night

VENUE: Echo Theater - 1515 SE 37th Ave. Portland, OR 97214

HOW MUCH: $15 at the door / $12 in advance - AVAIL NOW HERE!

FOR WHO: Usually for adults, but the humor is usually fine for young adults.  Profanity + lewd humor make appearances from time to time. This is not a puppet show for littles, so get a sitter!

Beady Little Eyes once again brings short-form puppetry to a whole new level. If you think you know what a puppet show is, you have no idea. These shows will feature 8 short puppet acts by many different artists + a few short puppet films that are nothing like Sesame Street. Think Puppet Cabaret Show meets the Muppet Show but with (regrettably) fewer puns. This year we are featuring two amazing guest artists: Gavin Cummins from the Great Arizona Puppet Theater and Lyon Hill from the Columbia Marionette Theater in South Carolina. Prepare to see shows with a dark edge due to the time of year and the word "spooky" in the show title. Don't worry, you will also laugh your crocs / socks off. These shows are generally rated for an audience 18 + but many of them are okay for teens and mature kids. We make no promises not to curse or have lewd humor here or there. Booze and raffle tickets will make an appearance too. This is your chance to see puppetry from all over the country and its ONE WEEKEND ONLY! 

GUEST ARTISTS: Gavin Cummins from the Great Arizona Puppet Theater in Phoenix! Lyon Hill from the Columbia Marionette Theatre in South Carolina!  

GET TICKETS HERE RIGHT NOW!

Lyon Hill’s piece Siren Song

Lyon Hill’s piece Siren Song

Please join our mailing list for more information about show times, ticketing links and guest artists as information becomes available!

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Under the Same Sky
Sep
21
to Sep 23

Under the Same Sky

Image by Ryan O'Brien - Text design by Ciara Moriarty

Image by Ryan O'Brien - Text design by Ciara Moriarty

Through live original music, storytelling and puppetry, Tracy McFarland and Dan Luce uplift and attune audiences, young and old, to their own personal joy and heart-centered intuition. 
Under the Same Sky features three stories: of the river, of the forest and of the mountain. The characters range from philosophical crows, to guitar-playing trees, to a cloud-surfing Yeti! All are theatrically portrayed through a skillful and innovative combination of rod puppetry, marionette, and shadow puppetry. The show is book-ended with live musical performances which leave people feeling profoundly peaceful and elevated.  

This is a 45 minute show with no intermission.  The Saturday night performance will be immediately followed by a live music set with musicians Tyler Stuart, Dan Luce, Tracy McFarland and Aaron Coffeen. 

Friday Sept 21 @ 7pm

Saturday Sept 22 @ 2pm & 7pm (with a special live music set after the 7pm show!)

Sunday Sept 23 @ 2pm & 7pm

Headwaters Theatre - 55 NE Farragut St Portland OR 97211

Recommended for adults and kids ages 3 and up.
Tickets $20 Adults / $10 Kids 12 and under - Facebook Invite HERE

TICKETING LINK HERE

Dan Luce is a master puppeteer, multi-instrumentalist musician and interdisciplinary artist based in Portland, Oregon. Throughout 20+ years in puppetry, he has studied and performed internationally under the late German marionette master, Albrecht Roser and American marionette master, Phillip Huber (Oz the Great and Powerful, Being John Malkovich). He is an alumnus of the National Puppetry Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center in Connecticut. Since 2005, Dan has worked as a puppet designer and artisan for the world-renowned Michael Curry Design, where he collaborates with clients including Disney, Cirque du Soleil, Universal Studios and Blue Man Group. Dan continues to produce original works of puppetry and music from his home studio, often in collaboration with his wife, Tracy McFarland, and a close circle of artists, musicians and puppeteers.

Tracy McFarland is a teacher and storyteller with a deep love for humanity and for the Earth. Over the last year she rediscovered her love of singing and began writing songs inspired by Nature. Tracy integrates her creative gifts with her studies of shamanic energy medicine and sound healing. It is her intention to bring light, joy, and a sense of playfulness through her words and music.

For more information, please check out their website : www.sacredplayplace.com

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Caws & Effect by Mind of a Snail
Jul
6
to Jul 8

Caws & Effect by Mind of a Snail

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CAWS & EFFECT by Canadian Shadow Puppet Troupe, Mind of a Snail, will come to Portland for ONE weekend only July 6 - 8 @ the Headwaters Theatre!  


Mind of a Snail is a shadow puppetry duo currently based out of Vancouver B.C. Since 2003, Chloé Ziner and Jessica Gabriel have been developing a multilayered style of visual storytelling using overhead projectors as their main light source. They have created work for organizations such as Vancouver Art Gallery, Telus World of Science, Persephone Theatre (Saskatoon) and many more. They have also performed at theatre & arts festivals including Summerworks (Toronto), Winterlab (Victoria), rEvolver (Vancouver) & Fringe theatre festivals all across Canada. They were nominated for a SATAward for Outstanding Projection Design in Persephone Theatre’s “Matchstick” and have won Best of Fest Fringe awards for “Caws & Effect” in Winnipeg, Vancouver, London (ON), Saskatoon, Toronto & Edmonton.

This show is suitable for adults and kids ages 7 and up.
The show runs for 55 min.
All tickets are $20. 

Links for tickets in BOLD below:
Friday @ 8pm - July 6th
Saturday @ 8pm - July 7th
Sunday @ 2pm - July 8th


There is also an awesome WORKSHOP on SATURDAY July 7th from 3pm - 5pm with the artists!  Suitable for adults and kids ages 7 and up.

Large-scale shadow puppet theatre from a birds eye view. Crows are re-dreaming the world. Is the future all it's cracked up to be? This modern fable is told using handmade layered projections, puppetry, masks, and an original musical score. Mind of a Snail's large scale shadow puppetry is quirky, colorful and beautiful, like early animation performed live before your eyes.

The critics are RAVEN!

★★★★★ “a gorgeous and wondrous work of art” -CBC

★★★★★ “a fantastical, unique experience” -Torontoist

★★★★★ “it’s stunning and hilarious to witness the wizardry these two artists spin with such simple elements” -Vue Weekly

★★★★★ “Calling it shadow puppetry doesn’t do this incredible show justice” -Edmonton Sun

★★★★ 1/2 “a whimsical live-action storybook that’s mesmerizing” -Winnipeg Free Press

★★★★ 1/2 “Sweeping, impressionistic, and visually stunning” -Edmonton Journal

ALL TICKETS FOUND HERE

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Pop + Puppetry @ Holocene (5th edition)
Nov
30
8:00 PM20:00

Pop + Puppetry @ Holocene (5th edition)

The 5th annual Pop + Puppetry event at Holocene will combine the efforts of 3 bands paired with 3 groups of puppeteers who've made a very special performance.  ONE NIGHT ONLY.  Band line up and puppeteer names announced soon...

Doors @ 8pm / Show @ 9pm

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Ticket link and info coming soon.

Lola Buzzkill along with puppeteers Bill Holznagel, Paul Velasquez and Anya Bogorad

Lola Buzzkill along with puppeteers Bill Holznagel, Paul Velasquez and Anya Bogorad

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Oct
22
7:00 PM19:00

Puppet Bingo Night

Come and check out a super fun and silly night of Bingo with your favorites, Randy and Katie.  Costumes encouraged. Amazing prizes will astound and delight. Cash prize at the end of the night!

Floyd's Coffee - 118 NW Couch St

Doors @ 6:30pm and games start @ 7pm 

Free entry + $1 per bingo card.

 

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Fall Puppet Slam
Oct
14
to Oct 15

Fall Puppet Slam

Our next puppet slam is ON, folks! We are hosting three very special guests, Bonnie Duncan (Boston) and Beau Brown (Atlanta) and Zeb West (San Francisco)! Buy tickets ahead as these events like to sell out. Yay puppets!

Reccomended Ages 14 and up for adult content/ language.

Tickets: $12 in advance / $15 @ the door

Doors: 7:30pm - Show starts promptly @ 8pm

TICKET LINK

OCTOBER 14 and 15th, 2017 @ 8pm

Echo Theater - 1515 SE 37th Ave. Portland OR 97214

 

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Puppet Slam : Spring 2017
Apr
8
to Apr 9

Puppet Slam : Spring 2017

The next puppet slam is sure to knock your winter socks off. This slam will showcase incredible local puppet acts as well as featured artist, Jessica Simon from the one and only NYC.

This slam is rated PG-13 for possible language and content - bring ages 12 and up at your own risk. Booze for the 21+ contingent too. 

WHEN: Saturday April 8 & Sunday April 9, 2016 (two shows only!) @ 8pm

WHERE: Echo Theater - 1515 SE 37th Ave in Portland, OR

WHY: People love Puppets

TICKETS: $12 in advance / $15 @ the door.  

SATURDAY TICKET LINK

SUNDAY TICKET LINK

Please note that both shows start at 8pm!

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Puppets + Dessert Dinner Theater
Mar
30
7:30 PM19:30

Puppets + Dessert Dinner Theater

Morgan St Theater will continue its second season of dessert theater with our first-ever, puppetry themed pop-up.  “Puppetry 101” is in collaboration with local puppeteers, and each story will showcase a different style of puppetry. The dessert menu will reimagine each work in ice cream form with seasonal flavors. Our talented puppeteers include Joe Bryan and his avant-garde creations, Puppet Slam veterans Katie McClenahan and Janelle Weidlich, plus the PDX Puppet Collective’s director Cherie Panek. Tickets include a three course dessert tasting menu, live entertainment and gratuity.

Morgan St. Theater is a pop-up dessert club specializing in ice cream and its infinite possibilities. Monthly menus are inspired by a creative theme and seasonal flavors and served up with stories. Jared Goodman, Morgan St. Theater’s creator, is a self-taught ice cream aficionado who makes all the desserts from scratch, sourcing from local farmers whenever possible.

Cherie Panek and co. will perform "Senior Moment" - photo by Shawn Patrick Higgins

Cherie Panek and co. will perform "Senior Moment" - photo by Shawn Patrick Higgins

Here is the menu currently and it looks dang delicious:

Awakening: Grapefruit sorbet, blood orange and Bee Local smoked honey soda, chili infused salt

Monkeys on the Moon: Cinnamon ice cream, caramelized banana, oat cake, creme fraiche, maple

The Kite: Chestnut ice cream, rosemary tuille, chocolate & hazelnut cumble, coffee gastrique, clouds

When: Thursday March 30, 2017 - Doors open at 7:30pm. Dessert from 8:00 – 9:30 pm
Where: The Clay Pigeon Winery (inside Cyril’s,) 815 SE Oak St, Portland, OR 97214

Tickets: Dessert + Entertainment + Gratuity = $39

TICKET LINK

 

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Pop + Puppetry @ Holocene
Jan
19
to Jan 20

Pop + Puppetry @ Holocene

Holocene and Beady Little Eyes present POP + PUPPETRY #4, an interdisciplinary extravaganza for the eyes and ears! 3 puppeteers of diverse styles (giant puppets, tiny puppets and shadow puppets, for example) will be paired with 3 inventive Portland-based pop groups. Each puppeteer will present an original puppet show created especially for this event and synced to the band’s music. The results should be dazzling, and help to elevate the experience of both artistic mediums when combined. We’ll also be screening puppet films between acts, directed and crafted by local artists.

Thursday January 19th. 8pm Doors.  $8 in adv / $10 at the door. TICKETS HERE.

LINE UP:

Vexations with puppeteers Kelly Campbell and Faerin Millington

Reptalians with puppeteers Katie Shook, Summer Olsson, and Katie McClenahan

Minden with puppeteers Samala Coffey, Anya Bogorad, and Erin Chmela

Check out the Facebook invite for more details! 

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SCARY PUPPET FILM NIGHT
Dec
3
6:00 PM18:00

SCARY PUPPET FILM NIGHT

ONE NIGHT ONLY - NEW SCREENING TIME JUST ADDED!

We are going to celebrate the darker side of puppetry in the jolly month of December.  Join us for an evening of scary puppet films by Jesse Blanchard, a trailer by Chris Walas and a Portland-premiere of New Mexico's scariest puppet filmmaker, Devon Hawkes Ludlow and his piece "The Love That Would Not Die", a zombie film spectacular.

Venue: The Steep and Thorny Way to Heaven - this is a private club. Advance tickets or RSVP required via Facebook event.

When: Saturday December 3rd @ 6pm AND 8pm

Doors open @ 5:30pm for the 6pm screening - Doors open @ 7:30pm for the 8pm screening.  Q & A to follow both screenings with the filmmakers along with puppets and creatures from each filmmaker!

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Pop + Puppetry #3
Jul
20
8:00 PM20:00

Pop + Puppetry #3

21+, $8 adv // $10 day of
TICKETS HERE!

Live bands in collaboration with puppeteers: 

Lola Buzzkill with Anya Bogorad / Bill Holznagel / Paul Velasquez
Thanks with Katie Shook / Summer Olsson
Rio Grands with Anna Cosper / Kelly Campbell

For the third year running, Holocene and local puppetry collective Beady Little Eyes will present POP + PUPPETRY, an interdisciplinary extravaganza for the eyes and ears! 3 puppeteers of diverse styles (giant puppets, tiny puppets and shadow puppets, for example) will be paired with 3 inventive Portland-based pop groups. Each puppeteer will present an original puppet show created especially for this event and synced to the band's music. The results should be dazzling, and help to elevate the experience of both artistic mediums when combined. We'll also be screening puppet films between acts, directed and crafted by local artists

FACEBOOK INVITE

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PUPPET SLAM :: ECHO THEATER
Nov
20
to Nov 21

PUPPET SLAM :: ECHO THEATER

SLAM TIME!!  Join us for 2 nights in a new venue for the slam, the wonderfully playful Echo Theater.  Gavin Cummins and Sarah Nolen are this slam's featured artists, coming in from the wild woods of Connecticut.

WHEN: Friday November 20th and Saturday November 21st @ 8pm

WHERE: Echo Theater - 1515 SE 37th Ave. Portland OR 97214

TICKETS: $10 in advance, $12 at the door

FRIDAY TIX HERE + SATURDAY TIX HERE

FACEBOOK INVITE HERE

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PUPPET BINGO NIGHT
Oct
25
7:00 PM19:00

PUPPET BINGO NIGHT

Beady Little Eyes and Randy Knickers want you to start gambling! Join us for a fun and silly evening with Katie and Randy hosting a pre-Halloween evening of Bingo at local bike hub, Velo Cult. Costumes ENCOURAGED, but not required.  Velo Cult is open all day, show up early and get your bike tuned up while you play! Bingo starts promptly at 7pm!

Velo Cult - 1969 NE 42nd Ave. - Portland, OR 97213

Doors @ 6:30pm - Games begin @ 7pm

$1 per card, FREE entry.

 

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Pop + Puppetry II
Apr
2
to Apr 3

Pop + Puppetry II

$10 day of show / $8 in advance
Ages 21+
Holocene and local puppetry collective Beady Little Eyes will present POP + PUPPETRY, an interdisciplinary extravaganza for the eyes and ears! 3 groups of puppeteers with diverse styles (just a portion of what will be included: blacklight puppetry, humanettes, and architectural fashion incorporated with puppetry) will be paired with 3 inventive Portland-based pop artists. Aaron Chapman of Nurses will perform new Nurses material as a solo set, Chelsea Uniqorn of Unicorn Domination will do a theremin-heavy set, and Yeah Great Fine will bring the party! Each puppeteer will present an original puppet show created especially for this event and synced to their partner artist’s entire set. The results should be dazzling, and help to elevate the experience of both artistic mediums when combined. We’ll also be screening puppet films between acts, and offering a DIY shadow puppet station! 

VENUE: Holocene - 1001 SE Morrison Street - Portland, OR

TICKETS HERE

FACEBOOK INVITE

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Puppet Slam 2015
Feb
14
8:00 PM20:00

Puppet Slam 2015

Beady Little Eyes and Tears of Joy Theatre presents a very Cupid-y, Valentine's Day weekend edition of PUPPET SHOWS!

This puppet slam will feature artists from the West Coast as well as a special guest artists, Joshua and Nicholas of The Joshua Show, all the way from NYC!

Due to strong language and the possibility of other lewd things that only felted beings can get away with on stage, the recommended age is 14 and up.

Tickets are $10 in advance / $12 at the door.

VENUE: Imago Theatre - 17 SE 8th Street - Portland, OR

The show will take place two evenings, Friday Feb 13 and Saturday Feb 14 @ 8pm. The shows will be different due to mixing of acts and off-the-cuff comments. Attending both shows is highly recommended if you want to experience full-on puppetness.

Bring a first date to the Saturday night show and get $2 off your ticket(s).

CLICK HERE to buy tickets.

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Puppet Slam 2015
Feb
13
8:00 PM20:00

Puppet Slam 2015

Beady Little Eyes and Tears of Joy Theatre presents a very Cupid-y, Valentine's Day weekend edition of PUPPET SHOWS!

This puppet slam will feature artists from the West Coast as well as a special guest artists, Joshua and Nicholas of The Joshua Show, all the way from NYC!

Due to strong language and the possibility of other lewd things that only felted beings can get away with on stage, the recommended age is 14 and up.

Tickets are $10 in advance / $12 at the door.

VENUE: Imago Theatre - 17 SE 8th Street - Portland OR

The show will take place two evenings, Friday Feb 13 and Saturday Feb 14 @ 8pm. The shows will be different due to mixing of acts and off-the-cuff comments. Attending both shows is highly recommended if you want to experience full-on puppetness.

Bring a first date to the Saturday night show and get $2 off your ticket(s).

CLICK HERE to buy tickets.

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