Forget strings and the complicated life of a marionette. I mean, even when Pinocchio lost those pesky things and became a "real boy," he was still a compulsive liar. Enter the art's lesser known cousin, Toy Theatre, which uses two-dimensional rod puppets in miniature theatres (kinda like the ones you made when you were little, only way fancier and with lighting and stuff).

Toy Theatre began in England in the early 19th century. Sets, characters and scenery were able to be reproduced, printed and sold so they could be performed in homes (or wherever).

The magic returns this weekend for the Toy Theatre Festival at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, where the art of puppetry will dazzle you with over 80 performances, a student stage, puppets and workshops.

Free activities include:

• An array of family-friendly professional Toy Theatre productions, presented in repertory over the two days in various spaces throughout Walt Disney Concert Hall, including the main auditorium.
• A Student Stage showcasing Toy Theatre productions created by children in their classrooms working with Music Center teaching artists.
• Workshops where families can create their own theatres and puppets to take home

Toy Theatre Festival for Adults:

In conjunction with the Music Center's Toy Theatre Festival for family audiences, REDCAT joins the whirlwind with a special night-time program -- for adults. Expect clever manipulation of objects, brilliant table-top theatrical epics, and a new work by Los Angeles collaborators Paul Zaloom and Lynn Jeffries. For more information on this special toy theatre after dark event, click here.

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WHAT: Toy Theatre Festival
WHEN: Saturday, June 14 and Sunday June 15th, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m
WHERE: Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 Grand Ave, Downtown Los Angeles
COST: Free (Reservations recommended)
INFO: (213) 972-8500
WEBSITE: www.musiccenter.com

Information retrieved from www.musiccenter.com

-Mallory Graves

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