The Bits 'N Pieces Puppet Theatre Story

Specializing in musicals featuring the art of puppetry, Bits ‘N Pieces Puppet Theatre produces original, contemporary adaptations of classic children’s literature. Their productions have been seen by millions of children in the United States, Asia, and Europe.

Bits 'N Pieces home studios are located on the east side of Tampa, Florida. The company was founded in 1973 at a small studio in Tampa, Florida by Jerry Bickel, who continues today as Executive Director. Holli Rubin, Artistic Director, and Jerry experimented first with traditional puppets and the initial production featured several puppetry genres. Soon after, they perfected their original body puppets that grew to be the company’s trademark nine-foot tall giants. Located just outside of Tampa in Dover, Florida, Bits ‘N Pieces Theatre now includes multiple studios, business offices and the PuppetWorld performance space.

The giant bird puppet from Thimbelina. Our talented troupe of actors and larger-than-life puppets have enjoyed accolades across the United States, Asia and Europe. In 1988 Bits ‘N Pieces initiated an international exchange program taking their performances to Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, and Trinidad. During those years they also sponsored visits to the USA by artists from those countries as well as the Soviet Union and China.

Bits ‘N Pieces Theatre returned most recently from engagements at the 7th International Festival of Puppet Art in Prague (Czech Republic). Additional European engagements are planned for 2004. Two recent 4,000-square-foot exhibitions at the Evansville, Indiana Museum of Arts and Science and at the Munich, Germany Kinder Museum paid tribute to the artistic beauty and craftsmanship of Bits ‘N Pieces Theatre’s giant puppets. Visit our calendar page for our current tour schedule.

Bits 'N Pieces is sponsored Bits 'N Pieces is sponsored in part by the Arts Council of Hillsborough County, Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners, Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, Florida Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts & YOU!

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