Decked out for the Holidays: The Portland Puppet Museum

INCLUDES FUN VIDEO | Check out their new exhibit – as well as the special family shows that run all through the Christmas Season and into the New Year …

With his partner Ping Pong Panda, Portland Puppet Museum Director Steve Overton welcomes guests to this one-of-a-kind gallery.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Director and Owner Steve Overton is celebrating the Holiday Season at the unique Portland Puppet Museum.

“Thanks to eight volunteers, we’ve been able to keep it together over the last year, since the passing of the man I started the museum with, Marty Richmond, about a year ago,” Overton reflected. “Many family members have also gotten involved in puppeteering, which is wonderful.”

Arranging some of the new puppets on display for the Holiday Season, here’s museum Director Steve Overton.

The museum’s 54th exhibit hosted in this Southeast Portland building since 2011 is entitled “Enchanted Fairytale Puppets and Television Characters”. It features never-seen-here-before puppets from the 1700s. (Yes, from three centuries ago!)

“Thanks to eight volunteers, we’ve been able to keep it together over the last year, since the passing of the man I started the museum with, Marty Richmond, about a year ago,” Overton reflected. “Many family members have also gotten involved in puppeteering, which is wonderful.”

Here’s a brief look at the new exhibition, and their live show’s stage, via our video tour:

The museum’s 54th exhibit hosted in this Southeast Portland building since 2011 is entitled “Enchanted Fairytale Puppets and Television Characters”. It features never-here-before puppets from the 1700s. (Yes, from three centuries ago!)

Here are characters from the “Snow Queen” production originally created by The Olde World Puppet Theater in 1984.

“In addition to puppets from around the world featured in fairytales, we also have locally-famous characters back on display, including Bumpity – who was on Channel 2 for years – and Captain Quizmo, host of the Fox Network Cartoon Network back in the late 1980s,” Overton revealed.

On stage: Nutcracker Cracked

Steve Overton sets out puppets for the ongoing performances of Nutcracker Cracked.

Through the end of the year, the Portland Puppet Museum presents their regular Holiday musical extravaganza, Nutcracker Cracked.

Performed by the Olde World Puppet Theatre, and set to the classical music of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Ballet with “cast” of 84 puppets, families with even little kids will stay interested and enjoy this timeless story – which is performed in 37 minutes!

Nutcracker Cracked plays on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. through January 7th. And, there’s a special “Adults Night Out” 21+ performance on December 22nd at 7:30 p.m.

The theater at the Portland Puppet Museum is relatively compact, so if you plan to attend, consider making telephone reservations at (503) 233-7723.

The exhibit hall is free to the public; it’s open Thursday through Sunday, 2 to 8 p.m. – located at 906 SE Umatilla Street, 97202. For more information, visit their official website: CLICK HERE.

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