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Watch the 2024 Houston Puppetry Guild Festival video belowUpcoming Meetings & Events
April 2026 Guild Meeting
In Person – Sunday, April 12 at 2:00 pm CT We will meet in person at the Houston Toy Museum, where we will exhibit toys past and present: Tin toys, Barbie, GI Joe and other action figures, novelty toys, and so much more—including puppets! This is a paid event. The museum is offering us a discount so our cost is only $10.00. If you would like to invite others, you may. The Houston Toy Museum is located at: 321 W. 19th St. Ste C Houston TX 77008 Phone: 281-305-8828 After the tour we will gather at a nearby restaurant for food and fellowship. Save the date! 2026 Southwest Regional Puppetry Festival, October 1, 2, 3 Message from: Greg Ruhe, Southwest Regional Director Calling on all puppetry enthusiasts to save the first weekend in October 2026 for Hot Puppets, a Southwest Regional Festival to be held at the Sawyer Yards artist complex in Houston. Get ready for several exciting puppet shows, workshops, and parties! Please contact the festival director, Greg Ruhe if you are interested in helping with the planning and preparation for an extraordinary puppetry event. |
About the Guild
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The Greater Houston Puppetry Guild was formed in August 1977 and Chartered by The Puppeteers of America (the national organization of puppeteers) in 1979. The Guild was first introduced to the public by presenting a performance at the Houston Children's Zoo by its members. This performance was so successful that public demand required the scheduled two performances to become three.
In September, 1979, the Guild further promoted itself by building a tent for its performance booth at the Texas Renaissance Festival. The Guild members performed "Punch and Judy" and other hand puppet shows every hour of the six weekends of the Festival. The Guild has been a steady presence in the area ever since. We are puppetry enthusiasts of all descriptions and ages: professionals, beginners, teachers, librarians, puppet makers, puppet collectors, and people who simply enjoy puppets. You are invited to share our interest in puppetry by joining the Greater Houston Puppetry Guild. The Greater Houston Puppetry Guild is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. |
Activities
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PERFORMANCE AND CRAFTSMANSHIP.
Many of the Guild's members are puppet builders and performers. We come together to share our common interest, to learn from one another, to stimulate broader public interest in puppetry, and to raise the standards of the Art of Puppetry. We meet quarterly in the Greater Houston Heights area for dinner, to share our latest creations and shows, and and to conduct general business. We gather a few more times each year for member performances, technique swaps and build workshops. APPRECIATION. The Guild is involved in education and in the promotion of the Puppetry Arts. To further these goals, every September the Guild has day workshops for school and church educators and librarians at Cypress Creek Christian Community Center. Professionals can earn 7 Continuing Education Hours while they attend playful, creative workshops on using puppets to promote literacy, building simple puppets for and with students, and teaching students to perform with puppets. |
Officers
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President - Joanne Schroeder
Vice President - Stephen Hurst Secretary - Greg Ruhe Newsletter - Bonita Riley Treasurer/Festival Organizer - Jean Kuecher |
Photo Gallery
Title Image Credit. Artisphere, Creative Common License.
