Chicago Puppet Fest presents:
Jump in the ring for this puppet wrestling entertainment spectacular! Puppetry meets pro wrestling, meets rock show; high art meets low art meets Samuel Beckett! A frenetic frenzy slash aburdist love letter combines Bunraku-style table-top puppetry, cart puppetry, live-feed projection (instant replay) & object performance, as well as the wrestling tropes of matches, monologues, and music & video.
Dates/Times:
Thursday, January 23 at 5 pm
Friday, January 24 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, January 25 at 1 pm* + 8 pm
*This show will be followed by a short break after which the artist(s) will be present for a talkback.
Location: The Chopin Theatre mainstage, 1543 W. Division St.
Cost: $43/$35 students & seniors
Ages: All Ages
Running Time: 70 mins
ADA Accessible? Yes
Josh Rice Projects combines puppetry with humor and social commentary, creating shows inspired by both traditional puppetry and pop culture. Known for their eclectic style, they use puppetry to explore contemporary narratives with an engaging twist. At the festival, Kayfabe draws from professional wrestling, offering a playful yet insightful look at performance and identity.
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!
