The International Puppet Fringe Festival

Get ready for summertime fun as New York City  is set to host the 3rd Annual International Puppet Fringe Festival- the only international festival dedicated to puppetry. Organized by Teatro SEA, Grupo Morán (The Morán Group) and The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Education Center. With a diverse lineup of performances from all over the world, the festival will showcase the artistry and creativity of puppetry. Puppet Fringe will feature free public performances and events daily – open to all.

Kick-off will be on August 9th at the Clemente Soto Vélez Center in the Lower East Side of Manhattan (107 Suffolk Street, NYC), with a mini-Halloween Procession where puppeteers will take to the streets with their favorite fun and spooky puppets to emulate the famous Village Halloween parade, created by Mr. Lee each October. Lee was known for his visionary, surreal life-size puppets that have become a feature in NYC parades, theaters and public celebrations. 

There will be two special exhibitions of Ralph Lee’s work which will be held in various venues in the Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center (107 Suffolk Street) featuring important art pieces from the recent exhibition at the Ballard Institute Museum of Puppetry and rare photographic records of important moments in Mr. Lee’s career.

Other events include cabaret nights hosted by Great Small Works and Punto SEA Puppet Open Mic Nights, film screenings provided by Heather Henson’s Handmade Puppet Dreams film series, roundtable discussions by the Mettawee River company, master-class workshops in puppetry and puppet crafting, a weekend of MicroTheater performances (guerilla-style theater in unorthodox venues), and a gala closing party featuring an incredible salsa band.

The 2023 International Puppet Fringe Festival promises to be an unforgettable experience, whether you are a puppet enthusiast, an art lover, or simply looking for a fun and family friendly event to attend.  See website for complete schedule.