Review: Seattle’s Northwest Puppet Center

June 18, 2013 admin Featured, Pacific Northwest 2

Northwest Puppet Center in Seattle’s Maple Leaf neighborhood has been one of our Seattle favorites since we first reviewed them seven years ago.

Today, as part of our 2013 Northwest Tour, we give our take on this can’t-miss attraction.

From their website:

slappy-jack-nwpuppet-review “Chris and Stephen Carter founded the Northwest Puppet Center in 1986. In 1993 they purchased and renovated a charming church in the Maple Leaf neighborhood of Seattle. The center presents a family season of puppetry by the Carters and selected guest artists with over 250 performances each year. The Northwest Puppet Center provides a valuable resource and fascinating entertainment for children and families.”

We’ve done countless reviews of their shows over the years for various parenting and travel publications, including these: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to list a few.

So here’s our first-ever video review, appropriately starring our newest kid-friendly correspondent. Check them out online at www.NWPuppet.org and scroll down for some images of the place and their most recent production.

The below images were captured following a presentation of “The Secret Life of Bugs” presented by Spyglass Theater. Here’s a description of the show:

“Step through a magnifying glass into the miniature world of insects. With mesmerizing blacklight puppetry, witness the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly. Along the way, spiders, dung beetles and dragonflies engage in daily activities such as orb weaving, nesting, and hunting. An exotic soundtrack provides the thread connecting different species in the web of life. This entertaining and educational performance has been developed with assistance from expert entomologist Erin Sullivan of Woodland Park Zoo.”

This particular show didn't allow even non-flash photography, but after the show the artists always come out and show how the magic is made.
This particular show didn’t allow even non-flash photography, but after the show the artists always come out and show how the magic is made.
Here get to see the actual body of the blacklight dragonfly for what it is. Pretty fascinating.
Here get to see the actual body of the blacklight dragonfly for what it is. Pretty fascinating.
An explanation is given for how some puppets are able to eat other puppets by hiding them in the hand.
An explanation is given for how some puppets are able to eat other puppets by hiding them in the hand.
You can see more of the set here, and how everything comes together quite nicely.
You can see more of the set here, and how everything comes together quite nicely.
The playground has many features and structures for climbing, swinging and even sliding.
The playground has many features and structures for climbing, swinging and even sliding.
Here you can see the monkey bars and covered picnic tables. Pay no mind to the blurry people, we didn't bring any release waivers. For some reason people are always blurry when we do that!
Here you can see the monkey bars and covered picnic tables. Pay no mind to the blurry people, we didn’t bring any release waivers. For some reason people are always blurry when we do that!

2 Comments on Review: Seattle’s Northwest Puppet Center

  1. I go to Seattle maybe 3-4 times a year. If I’m there when they’re showing, I’ll definitely go. What can I say, since I was five, I’m a sucker for puppets, especially those masterfully presented.

  2. What great pictures. And having a puppet do the review of a puppet theater? Clever all around. Nice stuff guys.

Comments are closed.

Copyright 2010-2016