Great Arizona Puppet Theater

Touring Shows

Bring puppets to your school, child care, party or event! With 50+ award-winning shows in our repertoire we have a wide variety of programming available to tour directly to you. Shows are designed for various size group programs. Some are suitable for a single grade level or an intimate classroom presentation. Others are good for larger assemblies and/or events.

We regularly search for supplemental funding to help offer certain shows FREE FOR SCHOOLS! Check with us to see what programs are available for the year.

Download our FULL Touring Show Brochure here!, call (602) 262-2050, to book a touring puppet show!

Small Assembly Shows

Audience Size: Up to 80 individuals.

Goldilocks

Preschool —3rd grade or family groups. GOOD FOR VERY YOUNG GROUPS and one of our most popular shows. Classic tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears with lots of action and humor. Told with hand puppets and rod puppets. Apx 30 minute show. Can set up on stage or floor.

The Little Red Hen

Preschool —3rd grade or family groups, GOOD FOR VERY YOUNG GROUPS. Lots of sing-along in this classic story about the hen who needs help. In our version her little chick is always willing to help. Rod puppets. Apx 30 minute show. Can set up on stage or floor.

The Three Wishes

Recommended K —4th grade or family groups, not good for preschool. Based on a European folktale about the dangers of careless wishing. The old man ends up with a sausage stuck to the end of his nose and only one wish left. Music, hand puppets and folk costumes. Apx 30 minute show. Can set up on stage or floor.

The Monkey and the Pirate

Very popular, good for all ages. An original story about a monkey, his beloved banana tree, and a banana-seeking pirate. Simple plot line with lots of silly slapstick comedy. Hand puppets. Apx 35 minute show. Can set up on stage or floor.

Old MacDonald

Recommended preschool — 2nd grade. GOOD FOR VERY YOUNG GROUPS. Lots of sing-along of that famous song. Old MacDonald has some pretty mixed up animals on his farm and that results in fun and hilarity. Hand puppet and rod puppets. Apx 30 minute show. Can set up on stage or floor.

Jack and the Beanstalk

Recommended age 4—grade 3. The old story told with hand puppets, rod puppets and a masked puppeteer as the Giant. Apx 45 minute show. Can set up on stage or floor.

Two Bad Mice

Recommended age 4 —3rd grade. Based on a Beatrix Potter story about two mice who mess up a little girl’s dollhouse, then repent and clean it up. The stage is a beautiful dollhouse, and the puppeteer doubles as the “little girl” in the story. Very cute. Apx 30 minute show. Can set up on stage or floor.

My Prehistoric Birthday Present

Recommended age 4—4th grade and Family groups. Cute story about a little boy who gets a dinosaur egg for his birthday. Hand puppets and rod puppets. Apx 35 minute show. Can set up on stage or floor.

Medium Assembly Shows

Audience Size: Up to 150 individuals.

The Three Billy Goats Gruff

Preschool —3rd grade or family groups. Lots of audience interaction in this crowd-pleasing favorite about the goats who must get by the ornery troll to cross the bridge. One performer acts as storyteller/musician, while the other operates the puppets. Rod puppets and hand puppet. Apx 50 minute show. Prefer to set up on elevated stage, at least 15’ x 15’.

Cinderella

Ages 4—3rd grade or family groups. Everyone’s favorite fairy tale told with elegant hand puppets and two little mice rod puppets. One of our most popular shows, CINDERELLA was awarded the UNIMA-USA Citation for Excellence in the Art of Puppetry. Apx 40 minute show. Needs space at least 10’ x 10’ to set up. Sets up on floor or elevated stage.

The Jack Rabbit and the Desert Tortoise

Preschool —3rd grade or family groups. Based on Aesop’s Tortoise and the Hare fable, this interactive show is set in Arizona. The puppeteer also acts as storyteller/narrator and is visible throughout the performances. Told with tabletop rod puppets. Available for outdoor shows as well with additional $100 outdoor fee assessed. Apx 30 minute show. Prefer to set up on elevated stage, at least 8’8’.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit

Preschool —3rd grade or family groups. Classic tale told entirely to original music with no dialogue, making it especially good for groups of English Language Learners, hearing impaired, or are very young. The story is told through movement, much like a story is told in a ballet. Performed with hand puppets and rod puppets. Apx 30 minute show. Needs space at least 12’ x 12’ to set up. Sets up on floor or elevated stage.

Rapunzel

Recommended K—up or family groups, not good for preschool. The show comes out of an antique trunk, with all sets, props and puppets coming out of it as the story unfolds. Told with delicate marionettes controlled by a visible puppeteer/storyteller. Apx 40 minute show. Needs space at least 12’ x 12’ to set up. Sets up on floor or elevated stage.

Dragons, Ladies, & Tigers

Recommended K-up or family groups, not good for preschools. Three Chinese folktales told with shadow puppets. An optional introduction can be included that demonstrates shadow puppets from around the world and different types of puppets used in China. Apx 40 minute show. Needs space at least 12 ‘x12’to set up. Sets up on floor or elevated stage.

Rumpelstiltskin

Recommended K—up or Family Groups, not recommended for preschool. The miller’s daughter must turn straw into gold or her father will go in the dungeon forever! A strange little man appears to do it for her, but she must agree to pay a terrible price. Very popular, funny show. Rod marionettes with a visible puppeteer/storyteller. Apx 40 minute show. Needs space at least 12’ x 12’ to set up. Prefer elevated stage.

The Big Bug Circus

Recommended age 4—4th grade and Family groups. The puppeteer is ringmaster for a Circus starring colorfully costumed Bugs! Marionettes do amazing tricks related to the real life abilities of insects. Apx 30 minute show with optional post-show focusing on marionettes or insects. Needs space at least 12’ x 12’ to set up. Sets up on floor or elevated stage.

The Princess, the Unicorn and the Smelly Foot Troll

Recommended age 4 —3rd grade and family groups. Original story about a princess who decides not to invite the smelly foot troll to her birthday party. Rod marionettes. Apx 40 minute show. Needs space at least 10’ x 10’ to set up. Sets up on floor or elevated stage. AVAILABLE FOR TOURING BEGINNING FEBRUARY 2012.

Blindfolded

Recommended K—up, NOT RECEMMONDED FOR PRESCHOOL. Developed with the support of the Craniofacial Foundation of Arizona to increase acceptance of children with craniofacial deformities. Post-show discussion centers on respect for others, discouraging teasing and bullying. Tabletop puppets and projected shadow puppets. Apx 40 minute show. Elevated stage and darkened auditorium required.

Large Assembly Shows

Audience Size: Up to 500 individuals.

Canyon Condor

Recommended K-up. Boo is a baby condor who hatches in the Grand Canyon. When his father goes missing, we learn of the dangers facing condors today and what people can do to help. Based on the true story of the reintroduction of highly endangered giant condors into the Grand Canyon. Presented with shadow puppets and almost life-size rod puppets. Created with the help of the Grand Canyon Interpretive Department, the Peregrine Fund and the Arizona Game and Fish Condor Reintroduction Program, with support from the Puppeteers of America. 45 minute show & post-show discussion. Darkened auditorium required.

Oh, Coyote!

Recommended K-grade 5. Three stories about trickster coyote from Arizona Indian tribes—Mohave, Navajo and Hopi. Large rod puppets and shadow puppets. Apx 40 minute show. Needs 11’ ceiling and at least 15’ x 15’ space for set up. Sets up on floor, not elevated stage. Darkened auditorium required.

Trouble at Haunted Mountain

Recommended K- grade 6. Very popular, good for older audiences, not good for preschool groups. Original story set in old time Arizona about a prospector, his donkey and a haunted gold mine. Funny, not spooky. Includes a black-light sequence in haunted mine. Good for Halloween and fun at other times of the year, too. Large rod puppets. Apx 45 minute show. Needs 11’ ceiling and at least 10’ x 10’ space for set up. Sets up on floor, not elevated stage. Darkened auditorium required.

The Three Little Pigs

Good for preschool—grade 3 or family groups. Funny musical based on the classic tale. Told with large rod puppets. The little pigs learn to plan their projects out in advance and “Do it right the first time!” Apx 45 minute show. Needs 11’ ceiling and at least 10’ x 10’ space for set up. Sets up on floor, not elevated stage.

Little Red Riding Hood

Good for preschool—grade 3. Based on the classic folktale, includes music and the song, “Stay on the path and do not talk to strangers.” The wolf is funny, not scary. Told with large rod puppets. Apx 35 minute show. Needs 11’ ceiling and at least 10’ x 10’ space for set up. Sets up on floor, not elevated stage.

Three Little Kittens: the Mewsical

Good for preschool—grade 3. Fun musical based on the famous nursery rhyme. The kittens are large rod puppets and the mother is a costumed character. Available for outdoor shows with an additional $100 outdoor fee. Apx 35 minute show. An elevated stage is preferred, needs at least a 20’ x 20’ space.

The Elves and the Shoemaker

Good for preschool—grade 3 or family groups. The old folktale told as a Christmas story. In our version, Santa sends two elves to help a poor shoemaker and his wife. Told with large rod puppets. Apx 40 minute show. Needs 11’ ceiling and at least 10’ x 10’ space for set up. Sets up on floor, not elevated stage.

The Legend of the Christmas Leprechaun

Good for all ages and family groups. An original Christmas story about a magic-challenged leprechaun who goes to the North Pole to work for Santa Claus and makes friends with a reindeer. Told with large rod puppets. Apx 40 minute show. Needs 11’ ceiling and at least 10’ x 10’ space for set up. Sets up on floor, not elevated stage.

Christmas at Lost Canyon

K-4th grade and families. There’s never been a Christmas party in Lost Canyon and Sally Johnson is determined there will be one this year. Everyone in the neighborhood brings something and Sally learns about holiday celebrations in different cultures. Cute, fun and touching musical show. Large rod puppets. Apx 40 minute show. Needs 11’ ceiling and at least 10’ x 10’ space for set up. Sets up on floor, not elevated stage.

Jack Rabbit and the Easter Bunny

K—2nd grade and family groups. The Easter Bunny has missed Sally Johnson every single year. Lost Canyon, Arizona is just too far away. So, the Easter Bunny recruits his cousin, Jack Rabbit, to help. But look out! Billy Joe Ray Bob Bobcat wants that Easter basket for himself! Told with large rod puppets. Cute musical puppet show set in old time Arizona and Easterland! Apx 35 minute show. Needs 11’ ceiling and at least 10’ x 10’ space for set up. Sets up on floor, not elevated stage.