The best puppet theaters in NYC that kids will love

Founder Nicolas Coppola's love for puppetry began at an early age. After teaming up with his seamstress mother and tailor father, he created his first marionette. From there, he became a pro puppetier and eventually opened up Puppetworks, which Brooklynites are eternally grateful to have in the family-friendly Park Slope nabe. This spot has a bit of everything—birthday parties, group shows and fun upcoming performances such as Rumplestiltskin to look forward to. 

This puppet theater comes with a European flair thanks to the performances of Czech and Slovak fairytales. Viewers have been treated to performances of classics such as A Christmas Carol and unique shows like Czech Winter Tales With Strings. Naturally, a performance of Hamlet is made 100 times better with puppets, wouldn't you say? 

The bilingual theater company Teatro SEA stages productions of kid-friendly classics such as Cinderella and Puerto Rican–Cuban folktale La Cucarachita Martina, all of which are infused with Latin American flavor and empowering messages. It also hosts an annual International Puppet Fringe Festival.

The PuppetMobile travels to parks, recreation centers and playgrounds in all five boroughs to perform free puppet shows for kids, with an emphasis on children in historically underserved neighborhoods. Its fall 2021 production is an urban retelling of "Little Red Riding Hood," performed on some dates in Spanish or Mandarin. No reservations are required.

Thanks to this couple's ingenious idea, WonderSpark Puppets come to you. From birthday parties to schools and any venue you can imagine, the husband-wife duo behind the company brings classics such as Three Little Pigs and The Little Red Hen to life. These colorful, whimsical characters even make their way to Mt. Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital to spread some cheer. 

This Swedish transplant arrived in NYC in 1877 and has become a Central Park staple. Its Marionette Theater—home to fun performances and the site of exciting, unique birthday parties—attracts many visitors. However, it wasn't always about puppet shows. The Swedish Cottage once served as the park's entomological laboratory and even the headquarters for the Civil Defense during World War II.

The theater scene needs a taste of puppetry, and Penny Jones & Co. has been NYC's answer since the '70s. Kiddos have gotten a kick out of performances of The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Mother Goose Tales and Cinderella. If you're looking to throw your little one an out-of-the-ordinary birthday bash, Penny Jones' puppets are the way to go.