The nicest monster in Brookline . . .
“The Bella Show” was the inaugural early childhood programming for Puppet Showplace Theater’s “Puppet Playtime” series for children under three and their families from 2012-2018. I created and performed 14 45-minute live episodes with puppeteer Brenda Huggins and her mouth and rod puppet, Bella Monster.
Each themed episode collected original songs, movement games, story theater, one-on-one puppetry interactions, and 8-10 minute glove puppet vignettes. Many of the puppets used in the performances were created by Puppet Showplace Theater founders Mary Churchill and Paul Vincent Davis.
Together, Brenda and I have performed at First Night Boston, the Boston Book Festival, Brookline First Light Festival, Cambridge River Festival, Duckling Day in Boston Common (5 years running!) and hundreds of birthdays, holiday parties, community centers, and school auditoriums.
The attached video clip was streamed from Puppet Showplace Theater during COVID-19 quarantine on June 14, 2020 with selections from our “Bugs” episode and a live audience Q&A. This episode features my original songs “Hello,” “Do the Wave,” “Chuck It In,” and “A Leg Up on You.”
Puppet Playtime / The Bella Show
Bella Monster and Phil in . . . "The Bella Show"
Bella, Brenda, and Phil performing at First Night Boston 2015.
Phil and Bella monster spread holiday cheer in an MIT lecture hall for university families and staff.
Phil, Bella, and Brenda in their "Teddy Bear Picnic" episode. The three bear puppets were crocheted by Puppet Showplace Theater founder Mary Churchill.
Phil, another Mary Churchill puppet, Bella, and Brenda
Phil, Bella, and Brenda perform at Brookline's First Light festival, 2013.
Bella explores the chicken coop in the Farm episode. Chicken puppets by Alexandra Herryman.
Bella and Mary Churchill's mouse in our retelling of "The Lion and the Mouse" for our Jungle Episode.