With just a week left before Christmas, I took my 16-month old daughter to the Tiny Tot puppet show the Puppet Co. in Glen Echo park on a Sunday morning. We easily found parking nearby and walked over the bridge to the park. If you’ve never been to Glen Echo, it’s a really interesting place in that it used to be an amusement park. There are signs to follow so you can easily find what you’re looking for: parking, puppet shows, bakery etc.
Nutcracker Fantasy is a 30-minute puppet demonstration that features Nutcracker music. The puppeteer was an amazing man who has been in the puppet industry for over 60 years. The purpose of Tiny Tot Theater performances are to expose young children to the arts.
It’s a starter program, shorter in length, which allows children to learn the art of sitting and watching a show. My daughter was attentive the entire time and she loved how the puppeteer interacted with the puppets. At the end of the show, the puppeteer allowed the kids to come up and interact with a few puppets as well.
The show is very low key and they barely dim the lights so you can keep up with your squirmy toddler. I would say this show is appropriate for ages 0 to 4. There were a few infants but mostly toddlers. Seating is on the floor with a few side benches.
Tiny Tots Theater is generally on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday every week at 10 a.m. The Nutcracker Fantasy is here for five more shows – December 26 to 30, 2016. Performances are a deal at just $6 per person. You can purchase tickets online. I loved that this show serves as a starter transition into longer shows appropriate with age. We will definitely make this a tradition and work our way up to the longer shows as our daughter ages.
In addition to the Tiny Tots program, the Puppet Co. also has a main stage production of The Nutcracker. The main stage show is for ages 5 and up and is longer at 50 minutes. The lights are completely dimmed and the kids are expected to sit for the duration of the show. A few shows remain and tickets are selling fast for both, don’t delay.
Up next on the main stage is Goldilocks from January 20 to February 19, 2017. New Tiny Tot programming will be announced soon.
Give your child the gift of an experience this holiday season and head to the Puppet Co. now or in the new year!
