now open in Martinsburg - 4/9/2008
Joe Santoro’s vision has finally come true after 14 years of touring with his Wonderment Puppets. His puppets now have a permanent home in Martinsburg, called Wonderment Puppet Theater.
His unique idea of creating a full time, year round puppet theater for families, is now a reality. This form of entertainment is something new for the Eastern Panhandle area, he says.
His new theater will provide six original puppet shows a year. It also has an exhibit hall, a puppetry store, a puppet workshop, classroom, his personal studio for creating future shows and a recourse room for educators and parents. Drama students can apprenticeship with him in the art of puppetry theater.
Wonderment Puppet Theater also has a birthday room for party celebrations, with a special scripted birthday puppet show, special effect lighting and party music.
Permanent puppet theaters have been popular and numerous for decades overseas, but in the United States only 40 full time puppet theaters exist. Wonderment Puppet Theater will be 41, and the only existing one in West Virginia.
Santoro, who otherwise works as an art teacher at Hedgeville Elementary School, along with his wife Jane, spent years looking for the right building to house this project, and then in February 2007 they found and bought an old two story Victorian house on King Street built in 1885.
Future expansion will be an outdoor piñata garden and an outdoor theater for summer shows. He also plans on showcasing other children entertainers throughout the year.
After the shows the guests can explore the exhibit hall and gift shop. Santoro will always give personal attention to anyone with a curiosity for puppetry.
The theater is open every Saturday and Sunday for public performances. The premiere show is “The Frog Prince” with show times at 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. This show will run from March 29 through June 1.
The theater is located at 412 West King Street, Martinsburg.
For more information call 304-258-4074.
Copyright 2008 The Morgan Messenger, Inc.
www.morganmessenger.com