New Festive Exhibit at Atlanta’s Center for Puppetry Arts

Have you ever caught a show at The Center for Puppetry Arts? We talk about them quite a bit in our Atlanta content because, well, they’re just an outstanding venue.

Whether you have young kids at home or not the CPA has so much to offer for all ages. And it not just the shows. They’ve got the top rated puppetry museum in the world right on site.

There’s a new exhibit at the museum just in time for the holidays.

The Center for Puppetry Arts is unveiling Festive Features a new exhibit that celebrates the power of art to unite us across cultural and political divides during the holiday season.

Festive Features will be on display from November 12th to December 29th. A highlight of the exhibit is puppets from Jane Henson, renowned puppeteer and wife of Jim Henson.

Here’s a rundown of what you can expect at the Festive Features exhibit.

A Rare Display of Christian Artistry: Jane Henson’s Nativity Story

Jane Henson’s Nativity Story, a masterful crèche, brings the birth of Jesus Christ to life through puppetry. Created by the co-founder of The Jim Henson Company and wife of The Muppets creator, Jim Henson, Jane Henson’s Nativity Story adds emotion to the traditional display, making it engaging for all ages.

A Closer Look: The Famous Chelm Players

Another highlight of the holiday exhibition is The Famous Chelm Players, created by renowned puppeteer Robert Rogers. These characters, inspired by Eastern European Jewish folklore, depict the Wise Men of Chelm, a town known in Jewish stories as the “village of fools.” The puppets bring to life the lighthearted and well-meaning, yet comically misguided, characters who share wisdom and are used to tell stories about holidays and everyday lessons. They have been a beloved part of many Jewish traditions.

A Global Holiday Experience

In addition to these special exhibits, The Center maintains a rich collection of global puppetry in its permanent collection, some include:

• Puppets of Hindu deities, crafted by Indian artist Anupama Hoskere, depict stories from Hindu epics like the Ramayana, showcasing the intricate traditions of Indian puppetry

• Muslim folk characters from various regions illustrate how puppetry has been used to convey religious stories and community traditions from the Middle East to Southeast Asia.

• Asian puppets, including shadow puppets from Indonesia and China, show how they are used in religious ceremonies and folk storytelling.

Rudolph Returns for Holiday Fun

No visit to Atlanta’s Center for Puppetry Arts during the holidays would be complete without Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™. Running from November 13 to December 29, 2024, this family-friendly adaptation of the 1964 Rankin/Bass television special features fully staged puppetry performances that capture the timeless story of Rudolph, Santa, Yukon Cornelius, and the Abominable Snowman.

Visit The Center for Puppetry Arts for tickets and more info.