Chicago Puppet Fest presents:
A Chicago premiere, Rhynoceron traces the true events surrounding the arrival of a one-horned rhinoceros to Renaissance Europe, sparking an obsession that continued for hundreds of years. Through acts of hunting and collecting, KT Shivak’s life-size, life-like rhino puppet transforms in front of our eyes from a natural inspiring wonder to an object of human greed.
Dates/Times:
Thursday, January 22 at 7 p.m.
Friday, January 23 at 3 p.m.
Friday, January 23 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, January 24 at 11 a.m.
Saturday, January 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, January 25 at 3 p.m.
Location:
Chopin Theatre Mainstage
1543 W. Division St.
Cost:
$43 Regular
$35 Students and Seniors
Ages: TBC
Running Time: 70 mins
ADA Accessible? Yes
KT Shivak and company hail from Chicago where Rhynoceron was created with support from The Chicago International Puppet Theatre Festival. Rhynoceron premiered last May at New York’s Puppetopia 2025, where it gave NewYorkTheater a “whoa moment,” calling it “captivating,” “endlessly inventive,” with “cheeky invention.” Shivak’s realistic rhino puppet was also a star attraction in the recent Chicago Cultural Center exhibit, “Potential Energy: Chicago Puppets Up Close.”
Chopin Theatre has been a pillar of Chicago’s avant-garde arts scene since its founding in 1990. Nestled in the heart of Wicker Park, this beloved venue has a long history of presenting bold, experimental work that pushes the boundaries of conventional theater. Over the years, Chopin Theatre has hosted over 1,400 events, including theater, music, poetry readings, film screenings, and art exhibitions, making it one of the most prolific venues in Chicago’s cultural landscape. The Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival is proud to partner with a venue that shares our commitment to innovation and the exploration of new artistic horizons. This year, the festival will bring daring puppet performances to Chopin, offering audiences a chance to see puppetry in a venue that has hosted some of the city’s most diverse and dynamic art for decades. Be prepared for an unforgettable experience in this intimate, uniquely artistic space!
