Chicago Puppet Fest presents:
It has been 15 years since Chicago audiences last saw critically-acclaimed, The Cabinet. This story of the murderous Dr. Caligari and his somnambulist slave Cesare is set in an off-kilter world of puppetry and intricate machinery. Evoking the 1919 German Expressionist silent film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, and created by Frank Maugeri, it was Redmoon Theater’s longest running show, now reinvented for the larger stage. Cabinet of Curiosity revives it with another distinctive “cabinet of curiosities” in which puppeteers manipulate the characters and objects, just as Caligari controlled Cesare’s plight.
Dates/Times:
Thursday, January 16 at 7 pm
Friday, January 17 at 9 pm
Saturday, January 18 at 9 pm
Sunday, January 19 at 3 pm
Location: The Biograph’s Začek McVay Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave.
Cost: $43/$35 students & seniors
Ages: 14 and up
Running Time: 60 mins
ADA Accessible? Yes
Cabinet of Curiosity, based in Chicago, creates immersive, site-specific theater that bridges puppetry with interactive storytelling. Known for their detailed puppet design and experimental approach, they craft performances that draw audiences into magical worlds where imagination and reality blend. At this year’s festival, The Cabinet offers an exploration of mystery and community connection through captivating visual narratives.
The Richard Christiansen Theater, housed within the historic Biograph Theater, is a cherished part of Chicago’s vibrant theater landscape. It was originally built in 1914 as a movie house, specifically for showing motion pictures. This venue provides an intimate yet comfortable environment for both audience and performers, making it the perfect backdrop for the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival. Also housed in the Biograph, the Začek McVay Theater honors the legacy of Dennis Začekand Marcelle McVay, two pivotal figures in Chicago theater. Dennis Začek served as the artistic director of Victory Gardens Theater for over 30 years, and under his leadership, the theater became a nationally recognized hub for new and diverse works. Together, these theaters create a rich environment for artistic exploration, making them perfect venues for the festival’s most engaging and cutting-edge puppet performances. Festival-goers will have the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in up-close and personal experiences of the most innovative puppet shows.
Join our email list now and be the first to know about shows, workshops, and special offers. Want to receive our gorgeous festival brochure by mail? Please register for a new account and provide your mailing address!
The Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival advances the art of puppetry by presenting sophisticated programs vital to the cultural life of Chicago. Engaging and inspiring the largest and most diverse audiences for puppetry possible, the Festival is the biggest event dedicated to puppetry in North America and traditionally offers more than 100 activities annually including performances, workshops, artist instensives, free neighborhood events and symposia to audiences up to 14,000 over 11 days each January. The organization is also home to other key initiatives, including the Chicago Puppet Studio and Chicago Puppet Lab, that nurture the development of puppeteers and deepen the field locally, nationally and internationally with the ultimate goal of promoting peace, equality, mutual understanding, and justice locally and globally.
© 2014 – 2025 Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. All rights reserved. Site by Silver Egg Studios.
