Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre facts for kids
The Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre is a special building in Central Park, Manhattan, New York City. It is located near the Delacorte Theater and 79th Street. This charming cottage is home to amazing puppet shows.
The cottage first came to the U.S. in 1876. It was part of Sweden's display for the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. This big event celebrated 100 years since America became a country. The building looked like a small schoolhouse. Its unique Swedish design caught the eye of Frederick Law Olmsted. He was the famous person who designed Central Park. Olmsted brought the cottage to Central Park in 1877.
Since 1947, the cottage has been a center for puppet shows. A group of puppeteers used to travel around the city. They performed for kids in playgrounds and school halls. Today, the City Parks Foundation continues this tradition. They run the CityParks PuppetMobile. This is the oldest traveling puppet company in the country. It offers free shows and puppet-making workshops. These events happen in parks, community centers, and schools all over New York City.
In 1973, a special theater was built inside the cottage. It was made just for marionette performances. Since then, many thousands of children and families have visited. They have enjoyed the original puppet shows created there. The Swedish Cottage is also part of the Historic House Trust of New York City. This means it is an important historical building.
What Are Marionettes?
Marionettes are a type of puppet. They are controlled from above by strings. These strings are attached to a control bar. A puppeteer moves the bar to make the marionette "walk" or "talk." It takes a lot of skill to make them look alive!
Amazing Puppet Shows
The City Parks Foundation manages all the shows at the Swedish Cottage. Talented puppet makers and puppeteers work there. They create and perform all the marionette productions. These shows often tell classic stories.
Some of the popular shows have included:
- "Hansel and Gretel"
- "Gulliver's Travels"
- "Sleeping Beauty"
- "Alice in Wonderland"
- "Jack and the Beanstalk"
- "The Secret History of the Swedish Cottage"
These shows bring stories to life in a magical way. They are a wonderful experience for everyone.
