This Unusual Maine Puppet Show Is Bringing Bizarre Comedy Back For Two Nights In November
A puppet slam that openly asks artists for work that is edgy, bawdy, or bizarre. That’s a real call for submissions, and I love it already.
The shows can include ventriloquism, object theater, and even cantastoria, an old picture-scroll storytelling style.
The stage sits inside a church built by Danish Lutherans in 1890. Today it holds about 110 people, so nobody is stuck in a far-off nosebleed seat. I like how small that feels.
This corner of Maine has quietly become a magnet for puppeteers. The same building runs free kids’ puppet clubs, hands-on workshops, and a citywide festival of international puppetry.
I believe grown-ups deserve weird puppets too. So when strange, short, sometimes rowdy puppet comedy returns for grown-up audiences, the real question becomes simple.
How strange are you willing to let your evening get?
Grown-Up Puppets Get Their Own Strange Stage
Mayo Street Arts hosts King Friday’s Dungeon Puppet Slams, and the name alone tells you this isn’t Saturday morning TV. These slams are built for experimental, adult, and short-form puppet work.
The call to artists asks for pieces that are edgy, bawdy, humorous, elegant, or bizarre. That’s quite a range.
One act might be gorgeous and the next might be gloriously ridiculous.
Short-form means each piece moves fast. If one act isn’t your flavor, another one is already waiting in the wings.
It works a bit like a puppet sampler platter.
The slams happen semi-annually, so they don’t show up every weekend. That makes each round feel like a small event worth circling on the calendar.
When dates pop up, it’s smart to grab seats early.
Slams also give artists a place to test new puppet works and works-in-progress. You could be seeing a piece before it grows into something much bigger.
That’s a fun little bragging right to carry home.
The best way to go is with an open mind. Some bits will make you laugh.
Others might leave you blinking at a sock with deep feelings, and honestly, that’s the whole point.
Ventriloquists, Scrolls, And Talking Objects Share The Lineup
A teapot can become a villain at a puppet slam. Object theater turns everyday stuff into characters, and the results can be strangely moving or just plain silly.
The slams at Mayo Street Arts welcome several styles beytond classic hand puppets. Object theater, canastoria, and ventriloquism all fit the bill.
That mix keeps the night from feeling repetitive.
Cantastoria might be the least familiar word on that list. It’s a storytelling form that uses illustrated pictures, often on a scroll or panels, while a performer narrates or sings.
Think of it as a very old version of a slideshow, minus the projector drama.
Ventriloquism brings its own kind of comedy. A good ventriloquist lets the puppet steal every punchline.
The puppet usually has worse manners than the person, which is half the fun.
Variety like this helps first-timers too. If you’re unsure whether puppets are your thing, you get several flavors in one sitting.
Something will likely click, even if it’s the weirdest act of the night.
Bring a friend who claims puppets are only for kids. Watching that opinion slowly crumble might be the best show in the room.
An 1890 Church Now Hosts Some Very Unholy Giggles
Danish Lutherans built St. Ansgar Church back in 1890. More than a century later, that same building is where puppets crack jokes in the dark.
Mayo Street Arts was founded in 2009 by artists Blainor McGough and Brian Arlet. The group first leased the old church.
Then in 2013, it bought the building with a major grant from the Brooks Family Foundation.
That purchase gave the arts center a permanent home. It also kept a historic building busy and useful.
Old churches don’t always get such a lively second act.
Renovations have added a new roof and a new stage. The choir loft and performance space were renovated too.
There’s also an outdoor classroom and murals that brighten the property.
Leadership has changed over time as well. Ian Bannon took over as Executive Director from founder Blainor McGough in May 2021.
The puppet-friendly mission carried right along with that handoff.
I like knowing the history before a show. It adds a little extra charm when a bawdy puppet takes the stage where hymns once filled the air.
Few venues in Maine can offer that kind of contrast.
Only 110 Seats Means Every Puppet Face Is Close
Small rooms make puppet comedy hit harder. Tiny facial details, quick hand tricks, and sly little gestures all land better when you’re close.
The venue seats about 110 people. That’s cozy by any standard.
You won’t need binoculars to catch a puppet’s raised eyebrow.
The old church also brings natural acoustics to the table. Sound carries well in the space, which matters when a puppet mutters its best line.
Even quiet jokes have a fair chance of reaching you.
There’s a balcony upstairs too. Some shows put performers on the floor instead of the stage, so sightlines can change from event to event.
If clear views matter to you, arrive early and pick your seat with care.
Free earplugs are offered at all events. That’s handy for louder shows, or for anyone sensitive to sound.
It’s a thoughtful touch that’s easy to overlook.
A small room also changes the mood. Laughter spreads fast when everyone is packed close together.
One giggle near the front can ripple all the way to the back row in seconds.
Maine’s Puppet Hub Earns That Title Every Month
Some arts centers dabble in puppets. Mayo Street Arts has been called Maine’s de facto puppet hub, and the schedule backs that up.
Puppetry and traditional arts sit at the heart of its programming. The center works to present and promote puppet theater all year long.
That includes shows for families and shows for adults.
Monthly puppet shows keep things rolling. On top of that, visiting artists lead hands-on workshops.
You can go from watching puppets to building one yourself.
Practicing puppeteers get support too. Ongoing Puppet Labs give them space to work on their craft.
That helps explain why new pieces keep popping up at the slams.
Then there’s Puppets in Portland. This citywide festival of international puppetry launched in 2022 and runs every other year.
It has featured wildly creative work, including shows built from found objects and large-scale puppets.
All of this means the bizarre comedy nights aren’t random. They grow out of a whole puppet community that keeps building, testing, and performing.
Pretty impressive for a small corner of a city better known for lobster rolls.
More Than Puppets Fill This Lively Calendar
Over 150 arts events a year happen here. That’s a busy schedule for a building with roughly 110 seats.
Mayo Street Arts presents international music and dance performances. Folk music and dance get special attention.
Visual arts exhibitions also fill the space, since it doubles as a gallery.
The building wears several hats. It works as a theater, concert venue, art gallery, and meeting space.
It also offers affordable artist studios and rehearsal space for creative folks who need a place to work.
That variety makes it worth checking the calendar more than once. Maybe you come for strange puppets in November.
Then you return later for a folk concert or a dance performance from another part of the world.
The center also backs artists in practical ways. Its Traditional Arts Network helps new Mainers build their artistic careers.
The MSA Mission Fund gives cash awards and in-kind support to artists who fit its mission.
So buying a ticket does more than fill your evening. It helps keep a home base going for performers who might not find one elsewhere.
That’s a nice bonus for a night of laughs.
Kids Get Their Own Puppet Club, And It’s Free
Wednesdays belong to young puppet makers. Club Puppet is a free youth program where kids make puppets and play with them.
Participants explore movement, sound, and character. They use all kinds of materials to bring their creations to life.
It’s hands-on, messy in the best way, and full of imagination.
The program fits the center’s bigger mission. Mayo Street Arts aims to engage diverse youth in quality learning experiences.
Free programs make that goal reachable for more families.
Other youth efforts round things out. There’s an East End Community School Partnership.
A Summer Spanish Theater Workshop adds language and performance to the mix.
Now, the bizarre comedy slams are meant for grown-ups. Edgy and bawdy aren’t exactly bedtime story words.
Still, families have plenty of other puppet shows to enjoy here throughout the year.
I like that one building serves both crowds. A kid might build a lopsided dragon on Wednesday.
A few months later, adults might howl at a rude talking lamp on that same stage. Both moments feel like they belong.
The Neighborhood Around The Theater Matters Too
Kennedy Park is often described as the most densely populated, ethnically and culturally diverse square mile in Maine. Mayo Street Arts sits right in that neighborhood.
The location shapes the mission. The center works to strengthen its neighborhood by offering a vibrant, safe, and inspiring place for the arts.
Many programs grow from that goal.
You’ll find it at 10 Mayo St, Portland, ME 04101. It sits near the bottom of Munjoy Hill.
That puts it within easy reach of the rest of the city.
Parking takes a little planning. Free on-street parking is available in the neighborhood.
A paid lot, Top of the Old Port Parking on Pearl Street, sits about a six-minute walk away.
Bus riders have options too. Greater Portland Metro routes reach the venue, with nearby transfer points for routes 7, 9A, and 9B.
Give yourself some extra minutes before showtime. Circling for a spot while a puppet starts its opening monologue isn’t the entrance anyone wants.
Arriving early also gives you first pick of seats in that small room.
Pay What You Can Makes Weird Nights Easy To Try
Money shouldn’t stand between you and a puppet with questionable manners. Mayo Street Arts has a pay-what-you-can policy for all of its events, no questions asked.
That’s a big deal for curious first-timers. You can test out adult puppet comedy without worrying too much about cost.
If you love it, you can pay more next time.
Tickets are sold through PortTIX, the center’s official box office partner. Grab them ahead of time when you can.
With only about 110 seats, popular nights can fill up.
Know the policy before you click buy. Reservations aren’t refundable.
If the venue cancels an event, though, you’ll get options for an exchange or a refund.
The best plan is to watch the event calendar closely. Puppet slams come around semi-annually, so dates can sneak up fast.
Then gather your strangest friends. Two nights of bizarre puppet comedy in Maine is a rare treat.
Missing it would leave you hearing secondhand stories about a heartbroken sock all winter long.