For the 2014 season of marionette plays, Simpich Showcase Theatre has chosen from its repertoire stories that unfold with much more than first meets the eye and ear. From a mysterious fortune bestowed upon a lowly English blacksmith to unexplained assistance from a flying Russian wolf; from a deserted garden locked away behind an ivy-covered wall to unexplored caverns below the New Mexico desert; from a great prince trapped behind the dreadful countenance of a monster to the transforming powers of a young girl’s adventures high in the Swiss Alps, each story is waiting to be explored and unexpected riches unearthed.
The Firebird
Now Playing Through – May 18, 2014
Nothing is as it appears to be for young Prince Ivan as he ventures forth on a quest to capture the illusive and deadly Firebird. He is aided in his harrowing journey by a flying wolf, a hospitable owl and innkeeper mouse; riddles and tests are inexplicably solved; and an adventure unfolds that carries the wayward hero to the farthest reaches of fairy tale Russia.
Performances:
7:00pm Fridays;
2:30pm Wednesdays, Saturdays & Sundays
(No Show: Sunday, April 20, Wednesday May 7)
Recommended For Adults and School Aged Children
Summer of Hidden Treasures Featuring
The Secret Garden &
Portraits: A Puppeteer’s True Story
June 3 – September 6, 2014
Presented in Repertoire
Two productions that particularly exemplify mystifying secrets, uncharted regions, and untapped treasures will be presented on the Simpich stage throughout the summer. Rotating every week, The Secret Garden and Portraits: A Puppeteer’s True Story together present an unforgettable depiction of treasures gleaned from the most unlikely of places.
The Secret Garden
June 3 – 7,
17 – 21,
July 1 – 5, 15 – 19, 29 – August 2,
August 12 – 16, 26 - 30
This Simpich production features a full cast of hand-carved marionettes and carries its audience from hot, humid India to the windy moors of Northern England as sour young Mary Lennox is forced to live on the estate of her reclusive uncle, Archibald Craven. Secrets abound within the corridors and throughout the grounds of Misselthwaite Manor in this classic tale of grace and renewal.
Performances:
7:00pm Fridays; 2:30pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Saturdays
(No Shows: Friday, July 4, Tuesday, August 26)
Recommended For Adults and School Aged Children
Portraits: A Puppeteer’s True Story
June 11 – 14, 25 – 28, July 9 – 12, 23 – 26,
August 6 – 9, 20 – 23,
September 1 (Labor Day Matinee), 3, 5, 6
This presentation is a vivid and unique exploration of a “secret garden” of a different kind: Marionette artist David Simpich–along with string puppets of King David, Abraham Lincoln, the Elephant Man, Helen Keller, Pinocchio, and others–explore stories and events in history and David’s own life that have personally shaped and impacted him. This journey is launched in a childhood garden with a marionette representation of David’s own great grandmother and culminates with cave explorer Jim White in the historic expedition of Carlsbad Caverns.
Performances:
7:00pm Fridays; 2:30pm Wednesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays
(No Shows: Thursdays, August 21 & September 4)
Recommended For Adults and School Aged Children
Beauty and the Beast:
Reflections on the First Simpich Show
September 24 – November 7, 2014
Thirty years ago, puppeteer David Simpich set about to create his first marionette show: A retelling of the classic French fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast. Now, fifteen productions and over 200 marionettes later, he returns to the story and characters that began his career. Together they carefully explore Beauty’s journey to a mysterious castle overseen by a ferocious monster; but as this beloved tale unfolds, David also returns to the personal struggles and adventures of his first efforts in the art of puppetry. Together, these “reflections” create an extraordinary and unexpected theatre experience.
Performances:
7:00pm Fridays;
2:30pm Wednesdays, Saturdays & Sundays
Recommended For Adults and School Aged Children
Heidi
An All New Theatre Presentation for the 2014 Holiday Season!
November 19 – December 31, 2014
Near the modest hut of the “Alm Uncle” nestled just below the snowy Swiss Alps, the adventures of a young girl named Heidi begin. Her escapades with Peter and his lively herd of goats, the softening of her bitter grandfather’s heart, and the untimely circumstances that carry her far away to the crowded city of Frankfurt are all brought to life with hand-carved marionettes. Utilizing for the first time in over twenty years the string puppets from his 1985 production, puppeteer David Simpich brings to the 2014 Holiday Season a remarkably unusual staging concept in his brand new adaptation of Johanna Spyri’s beloved novel.
Performances:
7:00pm Fridays (through December 19);
2:30pm Wednesdays, Saturdays & Sundays
Additional 2:30pm Shows:
Tuesdays: December 16, 23 and 30;
Friday, December 28
Recommended For Adults and School Aged Children
About Simpich Showcase Theatre
The Simpich Showcase Theatre is one of the United States' only performance facilities dedicated to presenting year-round string-puppet productions for adult and family audiences. Featuring original plays from the Simpich Marionette Repertoire, the intimate 70 seat theatre plays host to a variety of stories and subject matter, from award winning productions such as The Secret Garden, Hans Christian Andersen Storybook and Great Expectations to original plays by puppeteer David Simpich, as well as Christmas, Easter and other seasonal offerings. The adjoining Simpich Museum also houses rotating exhibits of many marionettes from the Simpich performances, displayed in elaborate settings.
The Simpich Showcase Theatre has a handicapped access entrance and a seating area reserved for wheelchairs and patrons with special sight and hearing needs. Arrangements for these must be made in advance of the performance by calling our box office at (719)465-2492
Our Theatre Features Concessions
Offering a large variety of reasonably priced snacks and beverages. Concessions open one half hour before show time.
