2025 was a year of making, moving, and imagining what's next for In the Heart of the Beast.

From puppet performances and lantern processions to Storytime, artist workshops, and community celebrations, we continued bringing people together through the art of puppetry. We shared skills, developed new partnerships, and brought puppets into classrooms, parks, libraries, and neighborhoods across Minnesota.

And as the year unfolded, we prepared for one of our biggest changes in decades: moving from the Avalon Theatre, our longtime home on Lake Street. With help from artists, volunteers, and neighbors, we packed up our puppets and made the big move in October. By November, we were settling into our new home at 2411 Hennepin Avenue, where our new neighbors welcomed us and we invited longtime friends to come explore our new digs!

THANK YOU. To everyone who made, taught, performed, packed, unpacked, carried puppets, welcomed neighbors, traveled with us, made a donation, you helped bring another year of HoBT to life.

Here's a look at where the puppets, and the people behind them, took us in 2025.

HoBT in the Community

In 2025, we brought puppetry beyond our walls and into museums, libraries, parks, festivals, classrooms, and neighborhood celebrations across Minnesota. From Storytime and hands-on puppet-making to larger-than-life puppets making appearances at community events, we connected with people of all ages through play, creativity, and shared experiences. We worked alongside community partners, joined familiar celebrations, and found new places to bring people together through puppetry.

Here's where we showed up in 2025:

50th & France •• American Swedish Institute (ASI) •• Ella Baker Elementary •• Flint Hills Festival •• Gammelgården Museum •• Garlic Fest •• Jewish Family and Community Services •• Midtown Greenway Coalition •• Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA) •• Minnesota State Fair •• Open Streets - Nicollet Avenue & Lyndale Avenue •• Peavey Park •• Planet Homeschool •• Powderhorn Park •• Ramsey County libraries •• Rochester Community School •• Science Museum •• St. Joan of Arc •• St. Paul Academy •• St. Paul Libraries •• The Capitol •• Toneworks Music Therapy •• University of Minnesota •• Walker Art Center

Puppets all year long!

Throughout 2025, we continued creating opportunities for people of all ages and experience levels to discover, explore, and make puppetry. Our Puppet & Mask Lending Library and Puppet Storytime offered regular ways to engage with puppets, while funding from the Minnesota State Arts Board (MSAB) helped us offer a variety of hands-on workshops, from artist training to alebrijes and mask-making. Whether borrowing a puppet, sharing a story, or learning a new skill, there were plenty of ways to get involved!

Our year-round programs included:

Puppet & Mask Lending Library
Puppet Storytime
Artist Training Workshops — supported by MSAB funding
Community Puppet-Making Workshops — including alebrijes and mask-making, supported by MSAB funding

Puppetry Meets STEM!

With support from Hennepin County's Green Partners program, we brought environmental education to life through two original puppet shows! Using storytelling, colorful characters, and imaginative puppetry, our artists explored the natural world and our connections to the ecosystems around us.

Where the River Runs
Created by Spencer Arevalo, Danielle Hendricks, and Lu Calvo-Searle.

Trees Are Cool
Created by Julie Boada, Esther Ouray, and Imix Ybarra.

HoBT: Host with the Most!

We love making room for artists and their ideas! Throughout 2025, we welcomed puppeteers, performers, and creative collaborators to share their work, try something new, and connect with audiences. From puppet slams and variety shows to intimate performances, exhibitions, and gatherings, we opened our doors to a wonderfully eclectic mix of artists and projects. Whether providing a stage, a gathering place, or behind-the-scenes support, we're proud to help artists bring their ideas to life.

Some of the artists and events we hosted in 2025:

Weird Stuff Only
World Puppetry Day with the Twin Cities Puppetry Guild
Agency of Tiny Tourism
The Kitchen Table with Puppet & Press
Gator Ma'am Puppet Slam

A Year of Puppetry

Every season brings something different to HoBT! Throughout 2025, we took part in community celebrations, supported arts advocacy, offered summer puppet camps and artist workshops, and gathered with friends and collaborators to mark the changing seasons. From hands-on learning to public celebrations, these special events gave us more ways to make, share, and celebrate puppetry together.

Thank you to the artists that put the heart in HoBT ❤️

Alex Hagen, Angie Courchaine, Angel Gagliano, Andrew Young, Bart Buch, Brynn Kelly, Chelly Beaver, Ches Cipriano, Danielle Hendricks, Dominique Herskind, Erica Warren, Esther Ouray, Eva Adderley, Felicia Cooper, Fletcher Wolfe, Gustavo Boada, Hannah Longley, Harry Waters, Jake Quatt, Jennings Merganthal, Julie Boada, Karly Bergmann, Kate Foley, Kurt Hunter, Laurelie MacKenzie, Laurie Witzkowski, Lizz Windnagel, Lys Akerman-Frank, Maggie Arbeiter, Maggie Chestovich, Orren Fen, Sofia Padilla, Spencer Arevalo, Stayci Bell, Silviano Gonzalez, Steve Ackerman, Tara Fahey, Thomas Boguszewski, Winnie Bettengurg