In Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood, children's entertainment comes with strings

"Every weekend, at 12:30 or 2:30 p.m., children gather on foam mats and colored blocks to watch wooden renditions of The Tortoise and the Hare, Pinocchio and Aladdin for exactly 45 minutes the length of one side of a cassette tape. "This isn't a screen! It's for reals happenin' back there!" Alyssa Parkhurst, a 24-year-old puppeteer, says before each show. For most of the theater's patrons, this is their first experience with live entertainment."

"Puppetworks has served Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood for over 30 years. Many of its current regulars are the grandchildren of early patrons of the theater. Its founder and artistic director, 90-year-old Nicolas Coppola, has been a professional puppeteer since 1954. For just $11 a seat ($12 for adults), puppets of all types marionette, swing, hand and rod take turns transporting patrons back to the '80s, when most of Puppetworks' puppets were made and the audio tracks were taped."

"Century-old stories are brought back to life. Some even with a modern twist. Since Coppola started the theater, changes have been made to the theater's repertoire of shows to better meet the cultural moment. The biggest change was the characterization of princesses in the '60s and '70s, Coppola says: "Now, we're a little more enlightened." Streaming has also influenced the theater's selection of shows. Puppetworks recently brought back Rumpelstiltskin after the tale was repopularized following Dreamworks' release of the Shrek film franchise. Most of the parents in attendance find out about the theater through word of mouth or school visits, where Puppetworks' team puts on shows throughout the week."

Puppetworks hosts weekend puppet shows for children using marionette, swing, hand and rod puppets, each performance lasting 45 minutes. The theater has served Park Slope, Brooklyn for over 30 years, with many current patrons being grandchildren of earlier attendees. Founder Nicolas Coppola, a professional puppeteer since 1954, maintains a repertoire that blends century-old tales with occasional modern twists. Ticket prices remain affordable at $11 for children and $12 for adults. Programming changes have modernized character portrayals and responded to popular culture and streaming trends. Outreach includes school visits and word-of-mouth promotion, appealing to parents who prefer live, screen-free experiences for their children.

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