Latest News |
Upcoming Meetings & Events
May 2026 Guild Meeting (online via Zoom)
Sunday May 17, 2026 at 2:00pm, featuring guest artist Claire Ritzler Learn to make a variety of puppets from easily found materials to use in classrooms and community events or as part of storytelling. We will explore hand puppets, shadow puppets, and rod puppets. Children and adults can create their own puppets for ensemble puppet shows or individual storytelling. Come and zoom in on the fun! 2026 Southwest Regional Puppetry Festival Registration (Coming Soon) Registration for the Heart of Texas (HOT) Puppet Festival will open on May 15, 2026 with a $10 Early Bird discount for those who register before June 1, 2026. Check out the Hot Puppets website (or scan the QR code below with your mobile device) for the most up-to-date information about festival registration, pricing, event schedules and more. 
June 2026 Guild Meeting (In-Person)
Sunday June 14, 2026 at 2:00pm, Houston Toy Museum Guild President Joanne Schroeder will be showing participants how to create a foam log that can be used as a portable puppet stage. The compact and hollow design is especially great for hand puppet skits involving animals or forest folk. Join us at the Houston Toy Museum for this free crafting event and make your own adorable puppet hideaway! Houston Toy Museum 321 W. 19th St., Houston, TX 77008 Phone: 281-305-8828
Save the date! 2026 Southwest Regional Puppetry Festival, October 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. Our monthly meetings offer ideas and instructions on creating puppets and puppet shows. 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 - Jean Pirtle |
Photo Gallery
Title Image Credit. Artisphere, Creative Common License.
