The magic is in the effort that the puppet makers and the puppeteers put into this place. They put all they have into it and the kids love it. The magic shows up in the kids faces and the delight they get from the weird looking puppets dancing across the stage. The shows are tacky and corny, but only last 40ish minutes and the children's faces light up. Adults get a kick out of the joy it brings to the kids, but if it were just us we wouldn't attend the show ourselves. The theater is a lovely well kept historic building amidst the downtown hustle and bustle. Prices are not cheap for the experience, but once again the kids love it and it'll be a core memory, read more

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So fun! My husband and I brought our two year old here for his birthday weekend to see the Winnie the Pooh performance! I was a bit worried maybe he was a little too young for it but it was actually perfect, kids/babies of all ages there! In a cool building with interesting history. I loved the little museum and shop when you walk in, and then it's a cute little theater with folding chairs, benches, and an area on the floor to sit, though some of the spaces were reserved for a birthday party that was there. The show was fun and engaging, and not too long for the little ones. Nice that it's not overly expensive either, easy to book tickets online and free parking. Would love to take my son again this summer! read more

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Recently took my niece and nephew to see Jack & the Beanstalk and it was wonderful! The single performer (!!!) was so talented and friendly! After the performance, he invited people to take photos with the puppets and to learn how they work. The building also hosts a puppetry museum. Additionally, they also have really great shows for grownups, too. Phoenix is really lucky to have a place like Great Arizona Puppet Theater! read more

Great Arizona Puppet Theater - Rainbow over Great Arizona Puppet Theater's building! - Performing Arts Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

This should also be called a museum. It's full of wonderful puppets & marionettes. The architecture is beautiful & interesting. The staff are a friendly as can be. I tokk my children and they loved going and seeing everything first hand with one lady doing all of the different voices and charming a huge Birthday Party of 5 year olds. It's geared more towards young children, but the experience was well worth it. Their gift shop is full of wonderful gems that are very reasonably priced. Order your tickets on line or head over early. Front row fills up fast. It's all old fashioned and no photos or videos during the show. You can take all of the photos you want before & after. Believe me, there are plenty of ops! read more

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We saw the Pumpkin Jamboree. Sooo much fun. All of the characters and voices were so creative. Nostalgic music and great audience interaction. Kids were able to get some cute puppets in the gift shop too. Definitely recommend giving it a try. read more

Simply gorgeous venue and entertainment for the Littles. It was a church once upon a time and a breathtaking one at that. It is one of the few historic buildings that has not been torn down. The puppet theater is top notch too. I have sponsored many field trips there and them to our schools as well. Cute gift shop inside too. read more

My friend and I took our granddaughters to see "My Pet Dinosaur" and they laughed and clapped during the performance. They are only 5 years old and they thoroughly enjoyed the one hour show. What was even more special is that the director gave a demonstration on how the puppets work after the show and we were allowed to take photos. It was a fun experience and the venue is lovely. There are all kinds of amazing puppets on display in the lobby and gifts for purchase. I highly recommend the Great Arizona Puppet Theater for kids and big kids. read more

We recently saw Goldilocks. The play and theater are awesome. However, they do not enforce any rules and often the shows are ruined because adults cannot move their children out of the way. Incredibly disrespectful audiences and no enforcement of rules. They say "no food" as parents open bags of food and clean off the carpet. They also ask to people to bring their children out of the theater if they cannot be quiet. However no matter how many dirty looks I gave her, there were still speaking the entire show. It is impossible to concentrate and employees at theater don't monitor the show for the other audiences sake. It would be nice if they addressed the disrespectful guests so the rest of us can enjoy the show. read more

I had a lovely time with my daughter at this theater. The story of "Dragons, Ladies, and Tigers" captured the imagination of my daughter and her classmates. What I loved about this field trip is that they participated in a backstage tour, where they got to create their own (paper bag) hand puppets, ask questions to one of the puppeteers, and tour the gift shop where was like a little museum. They learned about the different types of puppets from different parts of the world, how puppets are made, and best of all encouragement to use their imagination. Please check it out sometime and support this rare art of puppet theater production. read more

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My three year old daughter loves coming to the puppet theater. The length of the shows are just right. She often has trouble watching an entire movie. The shows are more engaging. There's an intro that prepares you for the performance. You get to see the puppets up close after the show and the theater gives you a craft to complete at home on your way out. For these reasons, I also love the puppet theater as well. read more

We did the drive-in Dinosaur Picnic puppet show this morning and to say that it was amazing would be really underselling it. It is so well organized and with COVID, the cast did an amazing job of creating a space for adults and kids to enjoy the show from the safety of our cars while tuning into a radio station to hear the action. Our son just turned 2 and really loved it. The puppet kit they gave us to make a puppet dinosaur during the show was super cute and fun. The Brontosaurus doing a version of Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive was hysterical and the addition of hand sanitizer to the picnic basket was super cute. I highly recommend attending one of these shows to support the amazing men and women puppeteers but also it's a great way to spend a weekend morning with your kids. Great job everyone involved and thank you for working so hard to entertain the audience in a way that is safe and fun. We can't wait to see the next shows and one day get to visit the inside of the center. read more

My four year old loved it. The story was funny and engaging for both kids and adults. Comfortable spaced out seating. My son enjoyed learning about the puppets and taking pictures with them afterwards. I really appreciate all the effort and creativity that is apparent in the show. We will be back! read more

My kids had their birthday party at the Great Arizona Puppet Theater. I don't think I have any negative things to say. It is pretty straight forward: the birthday room has a craft table so that the kids can make their own puppets. This is not exclusive to parties, there is another craft table outside the birthday room. There is also a wall of homemade puppets displayed which makes you realize how creative and crafty kids are. I made a puppet of my black and white cat and although I wish I had a better picture, I think I did good job capturing his resentful, spite-filled eyes. The kids watch the scheduled puppet show (and birthday kids get a moment on stage and a song) - for us, it was Old McDonald and it was very cute and age appropriate. All the kids were laughing and singing along and aside for a crying baby, I think everyone really enjoyed it. The show was short, perhaps 40 minutes from start to finish, and there are options to sit in a seat, or on the floor. There is also a gift shop where you can purchase your own puppet, which are much more sophisticated than my cat, and books and other typical gift store stuff. For birthday parties, the kids assemble back to the birthday room for food and cake. You have to bring your own but they have a fridge and freezer to keep everything cold. There is also a wagon that you can use to transport your food to and from the car, which was a nice and thoughtful touch. The birthday room is small so it's probably not the best idea for huge birthday parties. read more

Great Arizona Puppet Theater - people of all ages and sorts enjoy puppet shows. - Performing Arts Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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I love LOVE how many different shows and types of puppets are used in each performance at this theater! BOTH the historical building AND the Director Nancy should be listed as AZ Treasures today we saw three Billy goats gruff with our school field trip, and every kid, all ages loved it , not to mention the park right outside for lunch afterwards :) I don't know how anyone could have a bad time while here , it's impossible! read more

http://www.azpuppets.org/ Adult Puppet Slam = My favorite thing to do in Phoenix. "Quirky, edgy puppet shows by Arizona's leading quirky, edgy puppeteers." I've been to the last three Adult Puppet Slams, and they just keep getting better and better. The writing is intelligent, and the puppetry is as creative as puppetry can get. Personally, I'm not a big fan of stand-up comedy, especially of the 'dirty just for the sake of being dirty' variety, and these Adult Puppet Slams are right up my alley. Before my first visit, I expected rude and crude humor (since the shows are 21 and over) and I couldn't have have been more surprised. The shows are 'Late Night with Conan O'Brien' quality, and the theater itself - an old Mormon church - is worthy of a visit just for its architectural wonderfulness. They serve cheap drinks, the shows are full-feature length, and the lobby doubles as the country's premier puppet museum. Two notes: A) The shows are growing in popularity. Buy your tickets in advance. B) The Adult Puppet Slams seem to pop up unexpectedly on the theater's schedule. Visit their website monthly, or else you'll miss the show announcement. read more

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I enjoyed everything about my evening here. It was the Adult Puppet Slam - and have nothing but great things to say about the level of talent and artistry it takes to successfully pull off a naughty puppet show. This was my first one, but it seems as if they have a core of artists - but welcome other puppeteers to showcase their talent. Scott Gesser performed a few songs, and his musical humor is always welcome regardless of the venue. This particular audience had a couple of hecklers, and it's always nice to see how different artists handle that. Aside from the show itself, the venue is spectacular. If you go, find an employee (look for Franc) and ask for a quick tour either before the show or during intermission. The history is amazing and the architecture and woodwork are beautiful. They offer adult beverages too - which is especially nice whenever you're bombarded with dick jokes. For those that are feeling froggy, you can actually make your own sock puppet which I thought was a nice touch. My only negative, is that the chairs are extremely uncomfortable. If your booty is sensitive to this kind of thing, maybe bring a stadium seat or blanket. Other than that, it's a great time & well worth the price of admission! read more

Great Arizona Puppet Theater - lovely sunset last night at the puppet theater... such a cool building! - Performing Arts Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Really cute museum! And great puppet show for the kids, I am sure. The adult puppet slam wasn't as great as we had hoped it would be, but still a nice evening out. This Was a Mormon church so there is a lot of history here, worth checking out! read more

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Always a good time. I had no idea what this place would be like the first time I visited. Awesome place. Funny as hell. If you want to have a good time. Come see this s puppet show! However. The lady I just ran into that works here, she is a complete bitch..... read more

Completely underwhelmed by the whole experience. We saw Goldilocks and the Three Bears today. $17 for a 45 minute experience (15 mins of songs only good for the preschool set and rules - 30 minute show) was a bit pricey. The seating was extremely uncomfortable. There were no backgrounds or impressive props. Done on a black curtain backdrop and only 3 bowls, 3 chairs and 3 headboards. Only 5 puppets used and it was obviously all done by a single person. My child could have done this at home. All in all there is no GREAT at The Great Arizona Puppet Theater in my opinion. read more

Great Arizona Puppet Theater - Puppets in display - Performing Arts Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Yeah--good! You should go here. Nice puppets. Good quality and whatnot. No termites in them or whatever. They talk--wow! Saw Cinderella. Good. Daughter v happy. Lots of kid excitement. Good place to spend money. Barely hated the other parents there, but definitely hated them a little. read more

We went today for the first time (both parents, 5 yr old, 7 yr old) and we had a terrific time! It goes to show not to pay too much attention to the reviews, as a good number of them are lukewarm or negative, so we were skeptical going in. But the place is great; it has a little store/museum and then a pretty sizeable theatre. More importantly, the talent was awesome, both in terms of skill and friendliness, and the story was very cleverly crafted and thoroughly entertaining. We got to see The Three Billy Goats Gruff, and when it was done, our kids were right away asking when we could come to the next one. One of them is an extrovert and the other one an introvert, and they were both participating all along and totally into it. I thought the length of the play was perfect. Including intro and housekeeping notes, it was about 50-55 mins. My only suggestion for improvement would be the sound. It can easily be better quality. read more

Attended Old MacDonald, the content of which was perfect for my 3yo, and my 5yo seemed to be just barely still young enough to enjoy it as well. The puppeteer did a great job engaging the kids with a few of the characters (the pig, the duck really made the kids howl). A few things really made it a bit underwhelming - one is that adults pay $10 each to see what is obviously of interest only to kids. I was assuming it would be $7-10 for kids and either free or a couple bucks for adults. Priced the way it is, we are more likely to send just one parent next time. One other issue was temperature - we were looking for a way to beat the heat but it was quite warm in there. Our 2 month old was sweating and unhappy the whole time. They made mention of one of the AC units being broken, and had two fans way back at the entrance to the theater, but only one was on. I was happy to get out of there for an air conditioned car. Last issue was one of attention span. I get that rules must be reviewed for a smoother show; I want that done for my kids' sake as well. However, I think it needs to be more concise at a show like Old MacDonald geared toward 2-5 year olds. My kids aren't going to be taking cell phone pictures or removing unruly babies; maybe the parent-centric rules could be reviewed at the time of ticket purchase or by the hand-stamp checker on the way in, so the kid-focused rules could be reviewed quickly at the start of the show. Also, there are spells in the show between the funny antics that get a bit dialogue-heavy, and almost all the kids in the audience started losing focus. As a plus, she was able to pull them back in toward the end. The puppeteer came out afterward to show the kids how the puppets worked and was very good with the kids. Overall a pretty good experience but a bit tough to do routinely when it costs $34 for my 2 kids to be entertained for 40 minutes in a hot auditorium. read more

We've attended two Adult Puppet Slams. The first one was hilarious. The second one as all right, though not as fun as the first. I do enjoy the variety each show offers, with musical and varied puppet features in each show. It's a pretty intimate setting with a small-medium-ish size audience. It seems like a lot of people know each other, which adds to the intimacy of the experience. The cost for the adult show is quite reasonable, especially if you pay in advance. I can't speak for the children's shows as I've never been. The venue, as well as it's interesting history, is beautiful. And if you have interest in drinking alcohol in what is essentially a Mormon church (cultural hall, specifically, for those more acquainted with the faith), then this is your chance! I'd definitely recommend attending at least one show. AND, if you time it right, you can stroll the Japanese Friendship garden (free on first Friday) and get dinner (I recommend El Norteño) before the show -- it makes for a nice evening walk. read more

It's hard to be a Debby Downer because after all, it's a puppet show for kids. Having said that there's something about the shows that falls flat, almost like they are adults without kids who are trying to relate to kids. For example, the first 20 minutes of all the shows is all about the "rules" which involves keeping your kids in check. I get it, but they're kids, they're going to blurt things out and jump up and down. Ive seen 3 shows now amd the best one is the 3 little pigs which includes some audience participation. Up until then it's been kids watching a show and encouraged to be quiet. Refreshingly, the wolf puppeteer seems to be more experienced, he engages the kids and annunciates so you can hear him clearly unlike the squeaky Puppet Director that uses the same voice for every character. Maybe it's me but her range is totally annoying and actually distracts, especially when she's constantly humming while other characters are talking, Room for improvement: Better writing. It currently reminds me of bad improv. Some scenes are totally awkward leaving the kids and parents totally quiet when the curtains close. I'd like to say better audio but the equipment I'm sitting near is actually pretty good but most people (aside from the wolf) seem muffled or distant and as mentioned lady's voice is hard on the ears. Continue working with the kids and not fighting them. The more audience participation the better. The kids were loving it when the wolf asked them which way the pig went. Maybe some pre recorded background announcements with different voices? There's like 6 to 8 individual characters in a show, all sharing 2 voices. I appreciate their efforts and would love to see it be way more kid friendly and entertaining so I wouldn't have to burn in hell for bashing a children's puppet show done on a shoestring budget If you are thinking of going, give it a shot, maybe I'm wrong. . read more

FANTASTIC! FYI This review only concerns the Puppet Slam for adults Skip spending more money for a Harkins ticket and come see the hilariously entertaining and offbeat puppet show! $8 dollars if you reserve them in advance! Acts are all great... some raunchy and dirty... some a bit more indie with a social commentary vibe. Overall, all really intricate and you can see the work and dedication put into the puppets and staging. Beautiful. Best part of all.... the puppet theatre is inside an old MORMON CHURCH... so please drink a beer (or five) and watch frisky puppets telling vulgar jokes. That being said, the facility is gorgeous... lovely exterior and huge wooden castle-like doors opening into the theatre room. I love that a place like this exists and is a great way to spend a spontaneous Friday night! read more

I took my 6 year old daughter here when it was 115 outside and we had nothing to do. Boy, do I regret not coming here sooner. It is reasonably priced, the staff is friendly, the show was fantastic, and there was pre-show crafts where we were able to make our own puppets. The puppeteer was using marionettes for this show (Rapunzel,) and it was neat to see her show the kids how each one of them worked. She even explained her stage set up and was very interactive with the kids. After the show, she put the marionettes down to the kids level so they could get a better look and answered all the questions the kids asked. The architecture here is amazing. I have read that this historic building was a church and I am not surprised. It really is a special place. I will be taking a group of 2 year old kids tomorrow. I think they will enjoy it just as much as my 6 year old did. read more

Such a cute place. Truly a hidden gem! Old school puppet theater at its best! An old restored Mormon church renovated and turned into a fabulous theater. The building has such great character and the theater is SPACIOUS! The shows are reasonably priced but you are supporting a great local business and a business that is rare these days! Took my kids to see the 3 little pigs and it was FABULOUS! Great fun, songs, interaction. Kids are allowed to sit on the floor up front. After the show the actors/puppeteers come out and show you the puppets and how they work etc! Such a fun experience that's different from the normal things you'd do in the area!!!! 5 stars!! read more

For the adult puppet slam: We were excited to go.....and we wanted this to be a riotous and fun night.....but.....Just. Not. Good. Seriously bush league, a hodge-podge of barely talented people claiming artistry or humor. Only mildly entertaining for a few (very) brief moments. That was pretty much the consensus amongst the four of us. read more

Kinda a window of the past.The puppeteers are pretty intense ,I am sure there is alot of work involved, went with the family ,had a few laughs. read more

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I have gone to the adult puppet slam a few times and it is always a good time! Sure some of the acts can be hit or miss but overall they put on a really good show. If you want a fun and random night out, I would highly recommend it! read more

We attended a birthday party here and it was a lot of fun!! The kids loved it! Our daughter is only 14 months so she was engaged for about 15 minutes of it and then lost interest. My only advice is you probably don't want to bring a child that can't sit down for the whole show. They have rules like "no eating/drinking", "no walking around in front of the stage","no crying/talking" so if your little one is rambunctious or difficult and you have multiple kids, you will have to tag team it and leave the theatre with the one that isn't cooperating!! You can always come back though. The show itself was simple but fun. I loved the puppets. You're not going to get any grand sets or special effects but if you bring a good imagination, you won't be disappointed! read more

Such a fun place for kids! They have a lobby with all sorts of puppets for kids to look at (and some for sale as well). After the show they had a "make and take" your own puppet craft as well. They occasionally run groupons that make it cheaper to visit. They also have evening "puppet slam" comedy shows for the 21 and over crowd. read more

Took 3 grand kids. 7, 7, and 8 Saturday afternoon. Great little area of Phoenix. Show we saw used Marionettes, with 4 characters, and 1 woman controlling them.Don't expect Broadway quality; you're not paying Broadway prices. Just enjoy the show, and the building. Looking round, all the kids from about 3 to young teens, all seemed to enjoy it. Bench seating is not great, but the shows' only about 45 minutes. We got each of the kids a marionette animal. By the time we got home they'd mastered them, and put on a show for us. That's what it's about, not electronic entertainment, but being a creative kid. They want to go back next month! Only problem, I now have to build a stage for them. read more

It's hard to know where to start with this review. They will charge you for a child's ticket even if your baby is a newborn, or a few months old. When taking my four year old to see a show I don't expect to pay for my newborn who will be sleeping in the ergo. I've been to a few shows here and always found them overpriced. Some are cute, interactive and fun. Some are less creative and boring. Either way, my daughter seemed to like them and spending a few bucks more than it was worth was fine bc she enjoyed it. Today, however, was just awful and money stealing. We attended the Cinderella ball at the theater today and paid 15-20 per ticket. The show started late, they didn't do the fun interactive songs with the kids, and the puppet show was very boring, very drawn out and it was clear most everyone was bored bc all the kids were talking and restless. Then we were told to leave the theater to go get snacks and such. Well, the snack were not included in the ticket price! Why not just give each kid a juice box and a bag of goldfish. It's 20$ a ticket for a 40 min puppet show! There was facepainting and wand making too, but these people had no idea what they were doing! Lastly, the ball was a wreck. Cinderella came and of course all the kids wanted to see her but there was no line or thought put into making it a one on one enjoyable experience for the kids. Cinderella was telling kids no she couldn't take a pic with them and hurt many feelings. Complete lack of order to the entire show. I was utterly disappointed and felt like I had been had by them for my 45$ I spent on tickets. My kid left feeling sad she didn't get to meet Cinderella and actually was told no to,left without a snack and a ballon bc they didn't think to have enough for everyone. read more

Ugh...where to begin...this was such a waste of time. My friends and I attended a Friday night adult puppet show, just curious to see what it would be like. I am glad it was only $8. I felt like apologizing to everyone afterward because the entire show was so disappointing. The jokes were not witty, the skits were disorganized and one of them just sad, no one laughed the entire time. For example, one of the skits was about a gay pirate. What is funny about this? How is this an adult theme? Just because he is gay it is an adult theme? Another skit involved a jilted Cinderella-type character who was angry that her Prince Charming left her for a man. Again, it's adult-themed because he's gay? Ok... just not funny. Another low-point in the show was the improv skit, where they asked the audience for a topic and just went with it. The only word I can think of to express what happened is "cringe-worthy." So, what did I expect from an adult puppet show? Well, FUNNY jokes that I have not heard before, and weren't funny just because they're gross. I expected intelligent humor, maybe innuendo and some wit. I don't mind cursing or sexual humor at all, just wanted it to not be so...lame. read more

Great place for families! Puppet making before (or after) the show and original, live theater for a great price. You can also see the puppet museum. They also have guest artists who come in from time to time, if you missed the amazing puppeteer from India who came in you missed an amazing show/experience. Some reviewers are concerned about the rules at the puppet theater, kids have to learn the rules to be good audience members so everyone can enjoy the show! Bring the whole family, have a good time, if the weather's nice you can hang out in the park across the street afterwards. Puppet fans - it doesn't get much better than this. read more

A fun little way to beat the heat in the middle of the summer. I'm not a fan of puppets but the show we saw (Jack and the Beanstalk) was cute. read more

This review is for the Children's Puppet Show only. We went to the Canyon Condor'sPuppet Show with a group of mommies and kiddies. First of all, I love the fact that they've restored a historical church building. I was in awe of the massive wooden arcs that are pocket doors that open up to the puppet theatre. The ceiling is also made out of wood that had intricate details of what seems to be wood inserts and/or ornate paintings. The main puppeteer lead the children for some interactive song as part of an introduction. Great idea since the show is about an hour long! The story is about Baby Boo Condor's learning all about his Condor ancestors that live in the Grand Canyon and how they are still an endangered species to this day. The puppeteers really know how to captivate their young audience. Lots of laughter and oohs and ahhs is a sign of a good time. They also offer a backstage pass that takes you to behind the scenes (stage) and make your own puppet! That is a must for little kiddos! So worth the extra $2. The gift shop is also a museum of marionnettes and puppets from around the world aside from the puppets you can buy for yourself. It's a hit! We will definitely be back for more shows! read more

So one hand, it's a great thing for kids, and I'm totally happy that it exists for kids and in its own building! On the other hand, I think it's aimed at the 7-8 year old crowd, and doesn't really work for younger kids. The prices are a little high ($10 for adults, $7 for kids), but I'm okay with that because it's live entertainment that requires performances from actual people and because, like I said, they have their own building. The lobby area has an exhibit of old puppets and seems kind of like a history of storytelling/puppetry, but I didn't get much time to look around because I had the youngsters (2.5 years and 10 months old) with me. The show we saw (Hansel & Gretel) was cute, and even though my 2.5 year old couldn't follow everything, she got the gist of it. Unfortunately, there was a super long 'rules' spiel before the show started. The interactive song was cute, but kids already have short attention spans, and considering we had to get there a little early to get seats, and then wait through 20 minutes of 'please be quiet during the show,' my daughter was already struggling before the show even started. I might still take my girls to see a puppet show, but it'll be more like once a year instead of once a month when I'm visiting Phoenix. read more

If live theater or old puppets aren't something that interests you but I've found every show has had something to offer and I love what a unique experience this is. We saw Rapunzel last week and it was so cute and fun and I LOVE the old trunks they used to put on the show. We have seen so many other shows in the past and I look forward to future visits this summer and further out read more