Party Animals
Party Animals follows four furry friends as they navigate the biggest social hurdle of their young lives — throwing their first party! Meet a bunny with boundless energy, a sloth with social anxiety, a hedgehog wrestling with wrapping, and a skunk who's trying to keep everything cool and under control. Through song, dance, and original rock 'n' roll music by Boston local Phil Berman (of Puppet Playtime & The Holiday Sing-Along), these little stars discover that music can be an exuberant and healthy way to express their inner selves.
This latest Incubator world premiere comes from Sarah Nolen (Puppet Motion) — creator of Judy Saves the Day and Lisa the Wise; and our beloved Resident Artist! Party Animals balances silly antics with deeper truths, all conveyed through traditional hand puppetry performance: the life of the party!
Legendary rock star Pete Townshend once said, "Rock 'n' roll might not solve your problems, but it does let you dance all over them" — equally true for children and their grown-ups!
Party Animals premiered on Jun 7, 2025 at Puppet Showplace Theater in Brookline, MA.
All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 5 - 9
Hand puppetry
Length: 40 minutes
Language: English
From Waltham!
The development of Party Animals was funded in part by a Family Grant from the Jim Henson Foundation and supported by Puppet Showplace Theater’s Incubator program.
Sarah first approached me about writing one or two songs sometime in 2023. By the time we got to work in earnest on the music, the score had exploded into a mini puppet punk musical. This show offered unique opportunities to compose in a pop-punk rock genre, taking cues from No Doubt, David Bowie, The Runaways, and many other rock mainstays.
Sarah’s sweet and sour cast of characters made writing songs a delight. As part of the production of the show, we produced a recording of the score for performance and posterity.
I hope PARTY ANIMALS can bring its message of self-acceptance and joy through music to a wide, wide audience.