Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum in Lenox will present programs for all ages during holiday vacation week!
The popular puppeteer Carl Sprague will return to Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum in Lenox to charm all ages with his new program “The Merry Monsters” for two holiday vacation week marionette performances. The audiences will have the opportunity to meet this wizard, who knows how to pull strings.
"The Merry Monsters" is a holiday comedy for all ages. It will feature his historic puppet theatre's extensive cast of odd characters - witches and demons, vampires and dragons, various princesses (in distress and otherwise), sorcerers (including Harry Potter) as well as animals of all descriptions. It will be silly and fun. Please come for a holiday laugh.
Sprague, who has appeared annually at Ventfort Hall with his “behind the scenery” mastery, has been a puppeteer since childhood. He inherited a collection of 60 antique Czech marionettes, each about eight inches tall that were assembled by his great-grandfather, Julius Hybler, with purchased heads and hand-made costumes. Hybler’s legacy also includes two marionette theaters.
Monday, December 27th, and Thursday, December 30th at 3:30 p.m.
Admission: $15, adults; $7, children 4-17; free 3 and under
Mary Jo Danckert Maichack, a nationally recognized singer and storyteller will present a program at Ventfort Hall on Tuesday, December 28th. The mansion will be decorated for the holidays.
“King Frost and Chilly Tales to Warm Up Chilly Children” (or, If These Walls Could Talk…and Sing) is a perfect mix for celebrating winter and the holidays, with a delightful mix of folktales, songs with guitar, even an invitational song/dance with audience volunteers. Come; hear about King Frost in this gripping tale from wintry Russia! Join in making the crackling sound of icicles, and find out what happens to the girls in the snowy fields. Will the little dog ever get his blinis (Russian pancakes)? Chant along and be enchanted! Help tell a magical poem of snow falling—your hands and fingers will replace the words until all is quiet as falling snow.
Maichack, who has performed some 4,000 shows from San Francisco to Vienna, Austria, is known for her upbeat, fun and funny style, and her ability to engage her audiences with varied ways to participate as suits their comfort and enjoyment. She has performed for the National Storytelling Network (and also served as its Massachusetts State Liaison and Northeast Regional Director), on regional storytelling festival stages and on PBS. She has won two NAPPA national awards for her CDs of storytelling and music.
Tuesday, December 28th at 3:30 p.m.
Admission: $20 for adults, $10 for children 4-17; free for age 3 and under.
Children must be accompanied by adults. Reservations are strongly recommended as seating is limited and can be made by calling (413) 637-3206. Walk-ins will be accommodated as space allows. Please note that all tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Payment is required to make a reservation for an event. Proof of vaccination including ages 5 and over, ID for ages 18 and over, and masks are required.
Ventfort Hall Mansion & Gilded Age Museum, 104 Walker Street, Lenox.
