Puppet Showplace Theater is a nonprofit puppet theater in Brookline, Massachusetts. The organization was founded in June 1974 by Mary Churchill.

Venue: Puppet Showplace
Town: Brookline, US

Puppet Showplace Theater is a nonprofit puppet theater in Brookline, Massachusetts. The organization was founded in June 1974 by Mary Churchill. Since 1981, it has been located at 32 Station Street. The theater presents performances by local and traveling professional puppet companies. Puppet Showplace Theater houses one performance space, a proscenium with a "comfortable capacity" of 80 adults. Each year, it presents over 300 performances at its home in Brookline. The theater also presents touring productions performed in schools, libraries, and cultural centers throughout the Northeastern United States. Puppet Showplace Theater was founded in June 1974 in Brookline, Massachusetts by Mary Churchill. As a teacher in the Boston school system, she had used puppets to teach students who had trouble learning to read. Later, Churchill began creating her own puppet shows. She named her company The Cranberry Puppets. After leaving teaching, Churchill found a vacant storefront at 30 Station Street in the historic Building at 30-34 Station Street. It was located in her neighborhood of Brookline Village across from the Brookline Village (MBTA station). Churchill acquired the property and began to offer her own shows on weekends. Soon, other puppeteers from Greater Boston began performing there as well. Performers included Eleanor Boylan, Elizabeth Clark, and Caleb Fullam and Company. In 1976, at a Russian puppet festival, Churchill met hand puppet artist Paul Vincent Davis. He became the theater's first artist in residence. Davis held the position for 33 years. He also served as the theater's artistic director. Davis and Churchill became lifelong companions and partners. By 1978, Showplace served as the information center for the Puppeteers of America and Union Internationale de la Marionette. Performers included Susan Linn, Ruth Brand as Henrietta the Clown, and George Latshaw. In 1980, storefront properties became available at 32-33 Station Street. Churchill acquired the pr