18th Annual Winter Sunshine Puppet Theater Series Presented by Putney's Sandglass Theater

Has the frigid winter weather got you down? Are you counting the days until Spring? If so, then it's time for some "Winter Sunshine" — a series of four unique puppet theater shows for the whole family presented by Sandglass Theater in Putney, Vt. Dedicated to serving children and families through the art of puppetry, Sandglass Theater showcases a different live puppetry performance every Saturday during the month of February. Featuring performances by four premier, New England-based puppet companies from Vermont and Massachusetts, this year's featured artists are: Puppet Kabob on Feb. 1; Puppet Motion on Feb. 8; Doppelskope/Sandglass Theater on Feb. 15; and Sandglass Theater on Feb. 22. "Our Winter Sunshine Series was started at Sandglass Theater by Bonny Hall and Jamie Keithline of Crabgrass Puppet Theatre in 2007. They lovingly nurtured and cultivated this series for many seasons until they handed it over to Sandglass Artistic Director Shoshana Bass, and myself," says Jana Zeller, Sandglass Theater's Youth Programming Coordinator in a recent email. "We continued to grow "Winter Sunshine" into the beloved event that it is today. Over the past 18 years we have hosted dozens of guest artists and welcomed hundreds of children and adults to our theater, to soak up the sunshine that puppetry brings to the heart in the darkest, coldest winter months," adds Zeller. Zeller notes, "We are excited that "Winter Sunshine" continues to grow such an enthusiastic and loyal audience and attracts such a high caliber of visiting artists who specialize in creating theater for young audiences." Zeller explains that this series is funded in part by the New England States Touring program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program and the six New England state arts agencies. Sandglass is proud to be supported by a number of local businesses including: Southern Vermont Solar, We Clean Heat Pumps, J & B Glass and The Putney Diner. Hot chocolate is generously provided by the Bellows Falls Village Square Booksellers. Winter Sunshine's 2025 featured artists will present shows at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. every Saturday in February at Sandglass Theater. Winter Sunshine's four shows are: FEBRUARY 1 – "The Snowflake Man" Presented by Puppet Kabob, Georgia, Vt. (Sarah Frechette) The story of "The Snowflake Man" is inspired by Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley, the self-educated farmer and scientist who attracted world attention when he became the first person to photograph a single snow crystal. The Snowflake Man swings audiences into the historic 1920s through creative storytelling, intricately designed Czech-style marionettes, and a striking pop-up book of watercolor scenery. This award-winning show combines art, science, and a little-known piece of American history to magical effect. Puppet Kabob's Snowflake Man brings an old-timey Vermont charm through the story of a local hero told with Czech-style marionette puppets and sets folded out of a suitcase. FEBRUARY 8 – "Lisa the Wise" Presented by Puppet Motion, Waltham, Mass. (Sarah Nolen) When Lisa, a brave young girl with a heart of gold, meets Baba Yaga, the most famous witch in the woods, an epic battle of wits ensues. Dancing houses, enchanted dolls and hilarious "ghost servants" bring this classic Russian fairy tale to life with a contemporary twist. Imaginative shadow puppetry lights the way in this hilariously spooky story about the experiences that make us wise. Sarah Nolen has presented many shows in this community and has performed at "Puppets in Paradise," "Puppets in the Green Mountains" and "Winter Sunshine." She is also a collaborator on some of Sandglass' original works. FEBRUARY 15 – "The Amazing Story Machine" Co-Produced by Doppelskope and Sandglass Theater, Vermont The Grimm family is on the verge of unveiling their amazing new Story Machine, which runs on steam, dreams, and promises to revolutionize how stories are told and how people connect. When their fabulous contraption malfunctions, they must invent a new way of storytelling on the spot, using puppets and help from the audience. The Grimms explore some of their favorite fairy tales, including "The Hare and the Hedgehog," "Hansel and Gretel" and "The Brave Little Tailor." Story Machine has been on tour at the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival and returns to Vermont for this engagement, before heading off to a two-week run in Boston. FEBRUARY 22 – "Punschi" Presented by Sandglass Theater, Putney, Vt. An enchanting tradition of imaginative puppetry and entertainment. Originally created by Sandglass Co-Founder, Ines Zeller Bass, now performed by her daughter, Jana Zeller, "Punschi" offers a double feature hand puppet show with a special guest appearance of a classic Sandglass character Kasper and the Cow. The iconic German children's hero, Kasper, and his best friend, the endearing giant Augustin, go on a rollicking chase to reclaim Kasper's suitcase — stolen by the cow! When the giant Augustin wins a tiny airplane, his buddy Kasper accidentally flies off with it. Kids delight in this dizzying, call-and-response adventure. "Punschi" has delighted audiences for over 40 years and is a legacy staple of Sandglass Theater. "We choose performances for "Winter Sunshine" that we know will create a beautiful atmosphere in our intimate theater space," concludes Zeller. SHOW DETAILS: Sandglass Theater presents four puppet shows for the 18th annual "Winter Sunshine Series" each Saturday in February. All shows take place at Sandglass Theater at both 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sandglass Theater is located at 17 Kimball Hill in Putney, Vt. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.sandglasstheater.org, call 802-387-4051 or email info@sandglasstheater.org. Tickets for all Winter Sunshine shows are $12 general admission, $10 for students and seniors or $8 for Medicaid/EBT cardholders. Sandglass Theater is an accessible, 60-seat theater located right off of I-91, at exit 4 in the heart of downtown Putney, Vt.