Detroit Puppet Company

08/31/2025

Final FLASH FUNDRAISER Callout!
Just 5 hours left, please give if you can.

This year has been a challenging one for us and other nonprofits across Detroit. The funding landscape for the arts has shifted, making it harder to sustain our work. And yet, this year has also been one of our most impactful.

Over the past 12 months, we’ve:

>Presented dozens of free shows and workshops for schools, venues and cultural organizations across southeast Michigan for over 5,000 viewers

>Installed new signage across our Carpenter Avenue greenspace, welcoming neighbors into a creative gathering place

>Provided more than 6,000 hours of free puppet camp to 150 families this summer

We are in the final week of our fiscal year (ends this Monday) and we need your help to finish strong. Right now, we are facing a $3,300 deficit, and we are reaching out to our community to ask for support in closing the gap.

If you’ve ever attended a show, participated in a workshop or simply enjoyed our greenspace, we’re asking for your donations today to help keep this work going.

You can support in two ways:

Donate directly—every contribution, especially no-strings dollars, helps.

Purchase some super fun merch via donation—just make a donation at the levels below and input your address and in the Note field write in 'Merch.'

Shop our Detroit Puppet Company merch:
Swag bag with everything below = $225
Canvas Tote = $75
Hoodie (printed locally at Ocelot) = $60
Mini shadow stage puppet kit with LED light, one of our most popular workshops! = $40
Insulated Water Bottle = $30
Sock Puppet = $25
Finger Puppet = $10

Your gift ensures that, even as the funding landscape changes, Detroit Puppet Company can continue to bring joy, creativity, and connection to our community.

We appreciate you!!

Donate and buy merch via

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=BQB55NXD7Z9Y2

08/29/2025

Dear DPC friends and neighbors,

This year has been a challenging one for us and other nonprofits across Detroit. The funding landscape for the arts has shifted, making it harder to sustain our work. And yet, this year has also been one of our most impactful.

Over the past 12 months, we’ve:

>Presented dozens of free shows and workshops for schools, venues and cultural organizations across southeast Michigan for over 5,000 viewers

>Installed new signage across our Carpenter Avenue greenspace, welcoming neighbors into a creative gathering place

>Provided more than 6,000 hours of free puppet camp to 150 families this summer

We are in the final week of our fiscal year (ends this Monday) and we need your help to finish strong. Right now, we are facing a $3,300 deficit, and we are reaching out to our community to ask for support in closing the gap.

If you’ve ever attended a show, participated in a workshop or simply enjoyed our greenspace, we’re asking for your donations today to help keep this work going.

You can support in two ways:

Donate directly—every contribution, especially no-strings dollars, helps.

Purchase some super fun merch via donation—just make a donation at the levels below and input your address and in the Note field write in 'Merch.'

Shop our Detroit Puppet Company merch:
Swag bag with everything below = $225
Canvas Tote = $75
Hoodie (printed locally at Ocelot) = $60
Mini shadow stage puppet kit with LED light, one of our most popular workshops! = $40
Insulated Water Bottle = $30
Sock Puppet = $25
Finger Puppet = $10

Your gift ensures that, even as the funding landscape changes, Detroit Puppet Company can continue to bring joy, creativity, and connection to our community.

We appreciate you!!

Donate and buy merch via

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=BQB55NXD7Z9Y2

08/19/2025

FRIDAY Friday Friday!

On August 22 at 8:45pm we conclude our summer Puppet Film Series with with Isaiah Saxon's 'Legend of Ochi' (2025), an American fantasy adventure film written and directed by Isaiah Saxon in his feature film debut. The film was released by A24 and stars Helena Zengel, Finn Wolfhard, Emily Watson, and Willem Dafoe.

The film follows a farm girl named Yuri who is taught to not go outside after dark and to fear the reclusive creatures known as the Ochi. But when she discovers a lost and injured baby Ochi, she sets off on a journey to return it to its family.

This film is rated PG.
RSVPs recommended. Tickets link in bio. No one turned away for lack of funds.


https://2025-puppet-film-series.eventbrite.com

08/12/2025

This Friday August 15 at 8:45pm we continue our outdoor Puppet Film Series with with Jan Švankmajer's 'Alice' (1988), a surrealist dark fantasy film of a familiar character. Its original Czech title is Něco z Alenky, which means "Something from Alice". It is a loose adaptation of Lewis Carroll's first Alice book, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865), about a girl who chases a white rabbit into a bizarre fantasy land.

Alice is played by Kristýna Kohoutová. The film combines live-action with stop-motion animation, and is distinguished by its dark production design.

Reservations are recommended! Link 🐰 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-puppet-film-series-tickets-1496300678609

Bring your own chair or blanket and explore the wonderful world of

08/07/2025

Puppet horror screens tomorrow! 8:45pm at 2221 Carpenter Ave, Detroit. Tickets via https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-puppet-film-series-tickets-1496300678609

'Abruptio' is a 2023 American adult puppet horror film written, edited, and directed by Evan Marlowe. Produced by Kerry Marlowe, the film stars James Marsters, Hana Mae Lee, Christopher McDonald, , Rich Fulcher, Darren Darnborough, Sohm Kapila, Kerry Finlayson, Robert Englund, and Sid Haig.

The story follows Les Hackel who is down on his luck and wakes to find an explosive device has been implanted in his neck. Come see what happens next 💥

08/05/2025

We had a wonderful start to the Puppet Film Series last week with . Up next is the critically acclaimed film 'Abruptio.'

'Abruptio' is a 2023 American adult puppet horror film written, edited, and directed by Evan Marlowe. Produced by Kerry Marlowe, the film stars James Marsters, Hana Mae Lee, Christopher McDonald, Jordan Peele, Rich Fulcher, Darren Darnborough, Sohm Kapila, Kerry Finlayson, Robert Englund, and Sid Haig.

The story follows Les Hackel who is down on his luck and wakes to find an explosive device has been implanted in his neck. Come find out what happens next 👺

This film is rated R and is 1 hour and 34 minutes.
Reservations strongly recommended.

Tickets via link in bio
 

08/05/2025

We had a wonderful start to the Puppet Film Series last week. Up next is the critically acclaimed film 'Abruptio.'

'Abruptio' is a 2023 American adult puppet horror film written, edited, and directed by Evan Marlowe. Produced by Kerry Marlowe, the film stars James Marsters, Hana Mae Lee, Christopher McDonald, Jordan Peele, Rich Fulcher, Darren Darnborough, Sohm Kapila, Kerry Finlayson, Robert Englund, and Sid Haig.

The story follows Les Hackel who is down on his luck and wakes to find an explosive device has been implanted in his neck. Come find out what happens next 👺

Screens this Friday at 8:45pm. This film is rated R and is 1 hour and 34 minutes. Reservations strongly recommended.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-puppet-film-series-tickets-1496300678609?aff=oddtdtcreator

07/31/2025

'Memoir of a Snail' screens tomorrow night! Tickets available by $15 recommended donation and on a Pay-What-You-Can scale, none turned away for lack of funds.

https://2025-puppet-film-series.eventbrite.com

We can’t wait to get back to ’s beautiful amphitheater tomorrow as we kick off our annual Puppet Film Series with a screening of MEMOIR OF A SNAIL.

Link in bio for tix!

07/28/2025

This Friday! On August 1 at 8:45pm we kick off our much anticipated Puppet Film Series with with Adam Elliot’s ‘Memoir of a Snail’ (2024), an Australian adult stop-motion animated tragic comedy film written, produced, and directed by Adam Elliot. It stars the voices of Sarah Snook, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Eric Bana, Magda Szubanski, Dominique Pinon, Tony Armstrong, Paul Capsis, Nick Cave, and Jacki Weaver. The film's plot, which is loosely inspired by Elliot's own life, follows the trials and tribulations in the life of lonely misfit Grace Pudel, from childhood to adulthood.

The story is a bittersweet memoir of a melancholic woman- a hoarder of snails, romance novels, and guinea pigs.

Reservations are recommended 🔗 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-puppet-film-series-tickets-1496300678609

07/17/2025

Film screenings are back! We're excited to announce the 2025 PUPPET FILM SERIES, co-curated with . The series is a collection of puppet films with a range of historic and contemporary perspectives on the state of the medium today.

         

Starting in two weeks at our outdoor amphitheater-- and you're invited! Come see all of them-- running the first four Fridays in August. Make sure to reserve your spot, space is limited. By suggested donation 🎥 RSVP

Official lineup:

August 1 - 'Memoir of a Snail'
(2024, 1 hour and 34 minutes, R)

August 8 - 'Abruptio'
(2023, 1 hour and 34 minutes, R)

August 15 - 'Alice'
(1988, 1 hour and 26 minutes, UR)

August 22 - 'Legend of Ochi'
(2025, 1 hour and 35 minutes, PG)

More info on our website www.detroitpuppetcompany.com

07/17/2025

Film screenings are back! We're excited to announce the 2025 PUPPET FILM SERIES, co-curated with Cinema Lamont. The series is a collection of puppet films with a range of historic and contemporary perspectives on the state of the medium today.

Starting in two weeks at our outdoor amphitheater-- and you're invited! Come see all of them-- running the first four Fridays in August. Make sure to reserve your spot, space is limited. By suggested donation 🎥 https://2025-puppet-film-series.eventbrite.com

Official lineup:
August 1 - 'Memoir of a Snail'(2024, 1 hour and 34 minutes, R)
August 8 - 'Abruptio' (2023, 1 hour and 34 minutes, R)
August 15 - 'Alice' (1988, 1 hour and 26 minutes, UR)
August 22 - 'Legend of Ochi' (2025, 1 hour and 35 minutes, PG)

More info: www.detroitpuppetcompany.com

06/24/2025

You're INVITED to see the final presentation of works created at our first summer puppet camp this year. And after, join us as we talk about the work and process of resident artist Amber Dohrenwend from Marquette, followed by a brief artist talk.

This Friday, June 27 at 3:00pm, at the Greater Missionary Baptist Church, 2533 Carpenter Ave. Photos are of campers from day one of camp assembling their masks. Last photo is of .

Learn more about Amber's work by visiting: https://www.amberdohrenwend.com/