A completely biased insider's guide to the 2024 Chicago International Puppet Festival

Holy Smokes! we’re less than 2 weeks away from the 2024 Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival, marking its sixth(!) year. This festival is an art lover’s dream, overflowing with more inspiration than most human hearts can handle. We’re gonna try and make it to everything we possibly can, but here’s our list of can’t-misses:

Wakka Wakka: The Immortal Jellyfish Girl

Kicking off with Wakka Wakka, is without a doubt one of our favorite companies in the US puppetry scene- they’re presenting a new trilogy of work, but the immortal Jellyfish Girl looks right up our haunted scifi alley. Wakka Wakka excels at tackling big big themes, with intimacy and humor that features squishy, dynamic puppets, that somehow steers completely clear of the muppet aesthetic.

Tarish “Jeghetto” Pipkins: The Hip Hopera of 5P1N0K10

Next, we spotlight Tarish “Jehgetto” Pipkins, the hip-hop puppetry virtuoso. Hands down one of our favorite puppet designers of all time. The show looks to be a blend of stunning design, Afro-futurism, hip-hop and is performed an intergenerational family of puppeteers. We can’t wait. Suitable for ages 10 and up, it's a family-friendly show we enthusiastically recommend.

Belova ~ Iacobelli Theatre Company: Chayka

OMG this is a chance to see the work one of our career HEROS. The name “Natacha Belova” has been evoked so many times in so many of our productions and rehearsals. Their work is a fusion of body puppetry and human performance, and their influence on our own work has been profound.

Nasty, Brutish, and Short: A Puppet Cabaret

*Weekend 1 at Links Hall ***Weekend 2 at the Logan Center

Don't miss the 'Nasty, Brutish, and Short' puppet cabaret that we produce, hosted at two different venues on the north and south sides. This event promises a diverse lineup featuring local, international, and emerging puppetry artists. It is hands down the best way to experience the most styles of puppetry in a single hour!

Alex and Olmsted: MAROONED! A Space Comedy

Finally, 'Marooned,' a space comedy by Alex and Olmstead, is an all-ages performance known for its humor, skilled puppet manipulation, and ingenious design. It's definitely not one to miss.

Volkenburg Puppetry Symposium

For those interested in the behind-the-scenes magic of puppetry, the Vulcan Burden Puppetry Symposium is a must-attend. It offers insights into puppetry mechanics, perfect for the curious mind. Don’t mistake it’s free admission price as “free to skip.” This is a chance for some one-on-one time with some seriously beautiful minds.

Figurentheater Wilde & Vogel: Spleen

'Spleen' remains a mystery to us, yet its intriguing visuals alone make it a promising addition to the festival lineup. This is one performance we're eager to explore.

Chicago's Finest Puppet Creations

This is a great chance to catch some of Chicago’s finest, including Manual Cinema's 'Leonardo,' Theater Y, and Michael Montenegro's 'Little Carl,' along with Dan Kerr-Hobert and Matthew Gawryk's adaptation of 'Invisible Cities.' Each a showcase of the brilliant work that’s being produced in this city of ours.

Final Thoughts

Pro-tip: If a show is sold out, try showing up anyway - you might get lucky. People always bail, and most of these venues can squeeze in a few standing audience members, so buy your tickets for the ones you’re sure you want to be comfortable for, and just show up if you waited a little too long to order your seats.

See you at the puppet show!