Amid their Holiday shows, “Women of the Ancient World” opens at Puppet Museum

SEE THIS ASTOUNDING VIDEO PREVIEW | Here’s family fun for the Holidays: Take in this exhibit, and see their ‘Nutcracker Cracked’ puppet extravaganza …

Now at East Portland’s Portland Puppet Museum, these are just a few of the 300 puppets in their spectacular ‘Women of the Ancient World’ exhibition, now on display.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

As they welcome in the Holiday Season, the Portland Puppet Museum has opened their newest, and largest, exhibition. And, they also are again presenting in their Olde World Puppet Theater the fast-paced show, “The Nutcracker Cracked”.

Museum founder Steve Overton adjusts Sita, daughter of the Earth Mother, from the epic poem the Ramayana – along with puppets from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

“We’re so excited to be opening our ‘Women of the Ancient World’ – a spectacular exhibit showcasing all the amazing women from all around the world, and across the ages – and we have the puppets which represent them,” Portland Puppet Museum founder and curator Steve Overton told East Portland News.

Take a quick video tour of their new ‘Women of the Ancient World’ exhibition; and, get a glimpse of their ‘Nutcracker Cracked” puppet show:

The museum’s set designer and artistic assistant, Gwen Zellmer, places the Nubian Princess – the teenage King Tut’s second wife – in a display.

“Set in their own tableau, you’ll see the stories that represent 22 women with 300 puppets – 75 of them, brand new to the museum – that came to us from Asia, Africa, Europe, and America,” Overton pointed out.

These Chinese Opera hand puppets were used to entertain royal audiences during the reign of Jiaqing, the seventh emperor of the Qing dynasty, in 1760.

‘The Nutcracker Cracked’ show returns
In December the museum’s Olde World Puppet Theater began its 14th season of presenting “The Nutcracker Cracked”, their popular and very speedy Holiday parody of the Nutcracker Ballet.

“It’s the perfect show for kids – and for adults with short attention spans – because it’s ‘The Nutcracker’ story told, with 84 puppets, in only just 38 minutes,” remarked Overton.

Steve Overton and Gwen Zellmer rehearse a scene from their Holiday production, “The Nutcracker Cracked”.

The museum is open Thursday through Sunday from 2 until 8 p.m. – unless a live puppet show is being presented. Visiting the museum is free; but donations are gratefully accepted.

“The Nutcracker Cracked” plays various days Saturdays and Sundays through January 12th, at 2 p.m.; tickets are $15 per person. For their exact address, and more information, visit their website: CLICK HERE.

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