Puppet Theatre

Nashville's Downtown Puppet Festival

Memorial Day weekend 2011, the downtown public library was transformed for Nashville's Downtown Puppet Festival.

Nashville Public Library has a long marionette tradition, dating back to 1938, when legendary puppeteer Tom Tichenor put on his first show, Puss in Boots, at the downtown library. Today, more than 70,000 children are entertained each year by Wishing Chair Productions.

Puppet Festival Website

Nashville's Downtown Puppet Festival was funded by the Nashville Public Library Foundation.

WISHING CHAIR PRODUCTIONS

CURRENT SCHEDULE

Fridays & Saturdays
9:30, 10:30 & 11:30 am
All ages

The Main Library's children theatre programming builds upon the enchantment of the 70 years of marionette tradition at the Nashville Public Library. Countless shows have been staged throughout the years, including those by Tichenor and the library's current artists.

The Foundation supports the acquisition of materials and production of puppets for new shows which are funded through the generous support of Carol and Bobby Frist.

Rachel Love Steele Puppet Collection

The Nashville Public Library recently recieved a gift of approximately 100 collectable puppets in the name of late native Nashvillian Rachel Love Steele. As a child, Rachel enjoyed attending Tom Tichenor's puppet plays at the library. 40 years later, she remembered with great fondness triops with her sisters and mother as Tom's fanciful creations were brought to life for the delight of Nashville's chidlren.

Photo Gallery

In the interest of continuing the puppet legacy beguin by Tichenor, this newest collection will add a "hand-on" aspect to the puppet program. Many thanks to Rachel's family and friends for making this donation possible.