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  • Featured

    Plexus Polaire: Dracula: Lucy’s Dream

    Studebaker Theater at the Fine Arts Building 410 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, United States

    Chicago Puppet Fest presents Plexus Polaire.

    $40 – $48

  • 11 Special Workshops with Festival Artists

    Chicago Puppet Studio, Fine Arts Building, Studio 433 410 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, United States

    Chicago Puppet Fest presents workshops with Festival artists.

    $60
  • Featured

    Wakka Wakka: Dead as a Dodo

    Studebaker Theater at the Fine Arts Building 410 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, United States

    Chicago Puppet Fest presents:Wakka Wakka: Dead as a Dodo Get tix Wakka Wakka: Dead as a DodoBack by popular demand, Dead as a Dodo raucously takes us deep within the […]

    $40 – $48
  • Featured

    Opening Night Prelude Reception

    Fine Arts Building, 3rd Floor Balcony in the Studebaker Theater 410 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, United States

    Opening Night Prelude Reception Get tix Opening Night Prelude ReceptionJoin top supporters, festival leadership, staff and artistic directors from this year’s international companies to toast the opening of the 8th […]

    $125 – $250
  • Featured

    Opening Night Post Show Party

    Fine Arts Building, Curtiss Hall, 10th Floor 410 S. Michigan Ave. 10th Floor, Chicago, IL, United States

    Opening Night Post Show Party Get tix Opening Night Post Show PartyCelebrate opening night with the artists who have come to Chicago to share their astonishing and delightful acts for […]

    $75

  • Alva Puppet Theater: The Harlem Doll Palace

    Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, Theater East, UChicago 915 E. 60th St., Chicago

    Chicago Puppet Fest and Reva & David Logan Center for the Arts at the University of Chicago present:Alva Puppet Theatre:The Harlem Doll Palace Get tix Alva Puppet Theatre: The Harlem […]

    $35 – $43

  • Manual Cinema: The 4th Witch

    The Biograph's Začek McVay Theater Mainstage 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, IL, United States

    Chicago Puppet Fest presents:Manual Cinema:The 4th Witch Get tix Manual Cinema: The 4th WitchA new and fantastic tale from Chicago’s Manual Cinema, inspired by elements of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, in which […]

    $40 – $48

  • Laura Heit: The Matchbox Shows

    Constellation 3111 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL

    Chicago Puppet Fest presents:Laura Heit: The Matchbox Shows Get tix Laura Heit: The Matchbox ShowsMiniature raconteur and sequined pyro Laura Heit performs teeny tiny puppet shows inside matchboxes. “The smallest, […]

    $25 – $33

  • KT Shivak: Rhynoceron

    Chopin Theatre Mainstage 1543 W. Division St., Chicago, IL, United States

    Chicago Puppet Fest presents:KT Shivak: Rhynoceron Get tix KT Shivak: RhynoceronA Chicago premiere, Rhynoceron traces the true events surrounding the arrival of a one-horned rhinoceros to Renaissance Europe, sparking an […]

    $35 – $43

  • The Puppet Hub

    Chicago Puppet Studio, Fine Arts Building, Studio 433 410 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, United States

    Chicago Puppet Fest  in partnership with The Spoke & Bird Cafe presents:The Puppet Hub The Puppet HubIn addition to the incredible pageant of international and U.S. puppetry artists, the Puppet […]

    Free

  • Free Neighborhood Tour with Tian Gombau

    Various Locations Chicago, IL, United States

    Chicago Puppet Fest presents:Free Neighborhood Tour with Tian Gombau:Stone by Stone Tian Gombau: Stone by StoneSpanish puppet artist Tian Gombau was walking barefoot on the beach one day when he […]

    Free

  • Free Neighborhood Tour with Alex and Olmsted

    Various Locations Chicago, IL, United States

    Chicago Puppet Fest presents:Free Neighborhood Tour with Alex & Olmsted:Happy Birthday, Mon Ami Alex & Olmsted: Happy Birthday, Mon AmiClass, cultures, and expectations clash when Jacques’ American cousin Sam visits […]

    Free

  • Exhibitions: Two Ways Down by Laura Heit + Giant Puppet Lanterns with Andrew Kim

    Chicago Puppet Studio, Fine Arts Building, Studio 433 410 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, United States

    Chicago Puppet Fest presents: Exhibitions: Two Ways Down and Giant Puppet Lanterns        Exhibitions at The Puppet Hub "Two Ways Down" Exhibition by Laura Heit This showcase of […]

    Free

  • Workshops with Festival Artists

    Fine Arts Building Little Studio, 7th Floor 410 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, United States

    Chicago Puppet Fest presents:Workshops with Festival Artists Workshops with Festival ArtistsRegister for hands-on workshops led by visiting festival artists. Each of these workshops is a 3 hour, free standing event. […]

    TBC

  • Nasty, Brutish & Short: Wknd 1

    Constellation 3111 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL

    Chicago Puppet Fest presents:Rough House Puppet Arts:Nasty, Brutish & Short: Wknd 1 Get tix Rough House Puppet Arts: Nasty, Brutish & ShortHit the Puppet Fest’s fan-favorite late night shows, where […]

    $15 – $20

  • Volkenburg Puppetry Symposium Session 1 – The Labor of Gratitude

    Fine Arts Building Little Studio, 7th Floor 410 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, United States

    Moderator:
    Paulette Richards

    Panelists:
    Sarah Fornace and Julia Miller (The 4th Witch)
    Ashe Winkfield and Alva Rodgers (Harlem Doll Palace)
    Ezéquiel Garcia-Romeu (Little Theater at the End of the World)

    Free

  • Book Talks with Alissa Mello, Mark Down, Dr. Dassia Posner & Claudia Orenstein

    Fine Arts Building Little Studio, 7th Floor 410 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, United States

    Chicago Puppet Fest presents:Book Talks with: Alissa Mello, Mark Down, Dr. Dassia Posner & Claudia Orenstein Book Talks Series:This year’s free Book Talks series presents three moderated discussions with leading […]

    Free

  • Blind Summit: The Sex Lives of Puppets

    The Biograph's Začek McVay Theater Mainstage 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, IL, United States

    Chicago Puppet Fest presents:Blind Summit Theatre:The Sex Lives of Puppets  Get tix Blind Summit: The Sex Lives of Puppets “a refreshingly positive message about sharing intimacy, shedding inhibitions and finding your […]

    $40 – $48
  • Featured

    The Roald Dahl Story Company: The Enormous Crocodile

    Studebaker Theater at the Fine Arts Building 410 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, United States

    The Roald Dahl Story Company & Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival present:The Roald Dahl Story Company: Roald Dahl's The Enormous Crocodile Get tix for Jan 29 - Feb 1 Get tix […]

    $32 – $48

  • Katkatha Puppet Arts Trust: About Ram

    Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago 1306 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, United States

    Chicago Puppet Fest & Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago present:Katkatha Puppet Arts Trust: About Ram Get tix Katkatha Puppet Arts Trust: About RamAbout Ram is an experimental theatrical piece […]

    $15 – $35

  • Sofie Krog Theatre: The House

    Steppenwolf’s Merle Reskin Space 1624 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL

    Chicago Puppet presents:Sofie Krog Theatre: The House Get tix Sofie Krog Theatre: The HouseThe House is a puppet comedy thriller for teens and adults that tells the story of the […]

    $35 – $43
  • Featured

    Tom Lee/Untitled Theater Co. No. 61 & Yara Arts Group: The Left Hand of Darkness

    Northwestern University’s Wirtz Center Chicago Abbott Hall 710 N. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL

    Chicago Puppet Fest presents:Untitled Theater Company No. 61 & Yara Arts Group: The Left Hand of Darkness Get tix Untitled Theater Company No. 61 & Yara Arts Group: The Left […]

    $35 – $43

  • Nasty, Brutish & Short: Wknd 2

    Constellation 3111 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL

    Chicago Puppet Fest presents:Rough House Puppet Arts:Nasty, Brutish & Short: Wknd 2 Get tix Rough House Puppet Arts: Nasty, Brutish & ShortHit the Puppet Fest’s fan-favorite late night shows, where […]

    $15 – $20

  • Volkenburg Puppetry Symposium Session 4 – The Art of Asking

    Fine Arts Building Little Studio, 7th Floor 410 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, United States

    Moderator:
    Paulette Richards

    Panelists:
    Anurupa Roy (About Ram)
    Geumhyung Jeong (Oil Pressure Vibrator)
    Tom Lee and Edward Einhorn (The Left Hand of Darkness)

    Free
  • Featured

    Closing Cabaret

    The Rhapsody Theater 1328 W. Morse Ave., Chicago, IL, United States

    Closing Cabaret withEmcee Joshua Holden & Mr. Nicholas  Get tix Closing CabaretFestival favorite Joshua Holden and his right-hand man, the charmingly misanthropic Mr. Nicholas, co-emcee this final must-see evening of […]

    Various Levels

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About the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival

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 22,000 over 12 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.

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Contact

Administrative Office:
312-753-3234
info@chicagopuppetfest.org

Mailing Address:
Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival
410 S Michigan Ave, Studio 310
Chicago, IL 60605

© 2014 – 2025 Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. All rights reserved. Site by Silver Egg Studios.

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