26 SummerTour

RUMPELSTILTSKIN

Promises can be tricky things—especially in a kingdom where magic has a way of twisting even the simplest deal. In this lively marionette adventure, the mysterious Rumpelstiltskin spins more than straw into gold; he spins the whole royal family into a tangle of choices, consequences, and courage. With music, mischief, and a dash of fairy dust humor, the story becomes a celebration of honesty, teamwork, and the magic of reading. And when Baby Sweet Pea toddles in with a book bigger than she is, audiences discover that every great tale—especially the ones found in the library—has the power to turn even the trickiest promise into a happy ending

2026 Summer Library Tour

• 6/3/26  Clearwater Main Public Library  2:00 PM  Clearwater 
• 6/8/26  Dunedin Public Library  2:00 PM  Dunedin 
• 6/13/26  Egypt Lake Partnership Library  11:00 AM  Tampa 
• 6/15/26  North Community Library  2:00 AM  St. Petersburg 
• 6/16/26  Temple Terrace Public Library  6:00 PM  Temple Terrace 
• 6/23-25/26 Orange County Libraries  Varies  Orlando+ 
• 6/29/26  Jimmie B Keel Regional Library Branch  11:00 AM  Tampa 
• 6/30/26  Starkey Ranch Library  2:00 PM  Odessa 
• 7/6/26  Downtown Central Public Library  10:30 AM  Bradenton 
• 7/7/26  Braden River Library, MCPLS  2:00 PM  Bradenton 
• 7/9/26  New River Library  3:00 PM  Wesley Chapel 
• 7/11/26  Mirror Lake Community Library  1:00 PM  St. Petersburg 
• 7/13-17/26 Escambia County Libraries  Varies  Pensacola+ 
• 7/21/26  Seffner-Mango Library  3:00 PM  Seffner 
• 7/22/26  Lakewood Ranch Library  2:00 PM  Bradenton 
• 7/24/26  Centennial Park Library  3:00 PM  Holiday 
• 7/29/26  Selby Downtown Library  1:00 PM  Sarasota 

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Premieres this upcoming 2026-2027 School Year

Treasure Island — A Musical Puppet Adventure for Kids

Set sail on a high‑energy, 35‑minute adventure where wooden puppets, lively music, and timeless storytelling bring Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic to life for young audiences. Elementary students join Jim Hawkins as he discovers a mysterious treasure map and is swept into a world of pirates, storms, and big choices. Along the way, kids see that courage isn’t about being fearless — it’s about taking the next step even when the seas get rough.

Hand‑Crafted Marionettes. One Storyteller. Endless Imagination.

Rooted in centuries of Czech marionette tradition, this production celebrates the art of the one‑man puppet show. Each figure is voiced and performed by a single puppeteer who shifts from narrator to hero to villain in the blink of an eye. The result is a style of storytelling that feels intimate, magical, and wonderfully alive — a craft passed down through generations.

Perfect for Elementary Audiences

This kid‑friendly retelling keeps all the excitement of hidden treasure and high‑seas danger while focusing on themes children understand:

• Honesty
• Loyalty
• Choosing right when wrong looks tempting

As Jim navigates tricky friendships, glittering gold, and stormy seas, he discovers that the greatest treasure is the kind of person he becomes.

A Show That Stays With Them

Students leave with wide eyes, big smiles, and a spark of courage — a reminder that every brave journey begins with a single step.

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Recent Performances

Saturday, December 20, 2026–HANSEL AND GRETEL at Jan Platt Regional Library. Showtime 11 am 3910 Manhattan Avenue, Tampa, FL. Call 813-273-3652.

Saturday, December 13, 2026–PUSS IN BOOTS at Pinellas Park Department of Recreation’s Patti Johnson Farm at 10 am 6199 94th Avenue North, Pinellas Park FL. Call 727-589-8030

Jerry’s PUSS IN BOOTS on Tour in Florida Schools NOW!

Bits N Pieces Puppet Theatre presents merry marionettes in “Puss In Boots” by the French author Charles Perrault. Step-by-step, one step at a time, Puss In Boots, the magic cat, learns honesty is the best policy as he helps little brother Nat defeat a wicked Ogre, rescue a kidnapped Princess, and change from Paw-per to Artisto-Cat! Puss In Boots finds Fame and Fortune, step-by-step, one step at a time.

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JOIN our Email List to find out about seeing a show or presenting a performance

Shadow Puppet Circus Workshop

Make a shadow puppet and join our colorful Rainbow Circus. Put on a performance for class enjoyment. Then take your puppet home and continue building your own show! All supplies provided.

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Happi Holli presents her Marionettes in…

Little Red Riding Hood

Call 813-659-0659 for Info

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Three Productions on tour to your school this year and next

PUSS IN BOOTS

Our New Musical on tour Now through Summer, 2026

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Also On Tour NOW through May, 2026

The Selfish Giant’s Garden

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Rumpelstiltskin

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RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER…

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Four Recent Glove Puppet Shows

Three Wishes on a Magic Fish

Monkey Tales

The Gingerbread Man

Peter Rabbit

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Past Seasons’ Shows

Alice At PuppetWorld!

Alice looks forward to tea with the Mad Hatter and March Hare.

Three Billy Goats Gruff

MAKE PUPPETS TODAY!

Make Stick Puppets and Perform Today

We are making “Thimbelina” Puppets this week. You can make the stick puppets, stage set, and put on the show. The Big Blue Bird and Mr. Mole are waiting to meet tiny Thimbelina. Join our Email list and receive a puppet workshop activity.

 

Find Out About Upcoming Shows

School and Library Performances this season and next.

Watch for more Free Performances as the Season Develops!

Hansel and Gretel at Platt Library

Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 11:00 am

Call the Library for more information

Call us year-round to arrange a special in-school field trip date-Or arrange for a show at your location. We make it easy to bring a show to you! Contact us!  Call 813-659-0659 or email jerry@puppetworld.com

Bits ‘N Pieces Puppet Theatre is dedicated to influencing the world of tomorrow by enchanting the children of today. Through the theatrical retelling of classic children’s stories, each with its own unique life lesson and moral, Bits ‘N Pieces brings to life the magical wonderment of children’s fantasy and reinforces the core values long told and emphasized by great storytellers.

The Great Travelin’ Show –
GIANT Puppets on National Tour

From script and design to actual building and choreography, it takes two years to produce one complete giant puppet production. Yet, each season, Bits ‘N Pieces continues to bring forth a new musical production of high quality children’s theatre. Shows featuring the magical nine-foot-tall puppets may be seen in a variety of venues and settings during the touring season. The company tours extensively throughout the United States.

PuppetWorld™ Playhouse –
Home to Tampa Bay Puppet Shows

Thousands of children have experienced the art of puppetry with Bits ‘N Pieces’ Master Puppeteers at the beautiful PuppetWorld Playhouse since its opening. Traditional puppet shows based on classic children’s literature are presented throughout the year with a full repertory of puppetry styles from around the world including hand puppets, marionettes, rod puppets, and shadow puppets. In addition to performance and workshop space, the facility gives visitors an up close look at the GIANT puppet exhibition and puppet-building studios. It’s an ideal venue for school field trips and large groups. Can’t make it to PuppetWorld? We’ll bring a show to you. Call (813) 659-0659 to arrange a performance at your location.

Arts In Education Programs

Each of our musical productions is adapted and specifically developed to complement and enhance the educational curriculum of the nation’s elementary school systems. Education booklets are made available to sponsors to supplement that community’s teachers’ plans. Bits ‘N Pieces also offers a variety of workshops and residencies for teachers and students as hands-on learning experiences. More information on workshops and residencies.

Award Winning

Bits ‘N Pieces’ combination of imagination, artistry, and hard work have made it an award-winning representative of Florida arts at home and abroad. Recognition of its achievements include:

• The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games’ Cultural Olympiad’s Regional Designation Award for Innovation and Excellence in the Arts
• The Arts Council of Hillsborough County’s Award for Excellence in Arts Education
• The award-winning Art Off the Wall television series about artistic process (see the video on our YouTube channel) featuring Artistic Director and Master Puppet Builder Holli Rubin
• The Florida Theatre Conference Distinguished Career Award in Children’s/Youth Theatre presented to Executive Director Jerry Bickel.

International Cultural Exchanges Since 1988

Bits ‘N Pieces first participated in international cultural exchange programs in 1988 – the same year it began presenting international puppetry artists to children in Florida. Since then, we’ve traveled to countries throughout Europe and Asia presenting our unique form of American artistry.

• Thailand, World Puppet Carnival (Bangkok) (Director, Public Relations)
• Indonesia, World Puppet Carnival (Jakarta) (Director, Jurist)
• Guatemala, National Arts Council, Commissioned “Petruska”
• Kazakhstan, International Festival of Puppet Arts (Director, Lecturer)
• Czech Republic, World Association of Puppeteers Assembly (Director, Public Relations)
• Japan, NyuDouGuMo Theatre, Love and Courage Tour “Peter Rabbit”
• Czech Republic, Juror, 12th International Festival of Puppet Arts (Prague)
• Czech Republic, Juror, 11th International Festival of Puppet Arts (Prague)
• Czech Republic, World Association of Puppeteers Assembly (North American Councilor)
• Czech Republic, 9th International Festival of Puppet Arts (Prague) “Dinosaur & Ant”
• Czech Republic, 7th International Festival of Puppet Arts (Prague) “Puss In Boots”
• Germany, Munich Kinder und Jugend Museum “Dinosaur & Ant”
• Germany, Exhibit 2000! Conference presentation and workshops
• Japan, NyuDouGuMo Theatre, Love and Courage Tour “Peter Rabbit”
• Taiwan, ROC, Chiang Kai-Shek Cultural Center “Thimbelina”
• Japan, NyuDouGuMo Theatre, Love and Courage Tour “Alice In Wonderland”
• Japan, NyuDouGuMo Theatre, Love and Courage Tour “Pinky Flamingo”
• Taiwan, ROC, Puppet Festival of Asian-Pacific Rim Area “Dinosaur & Ant”
• Taiwan, ROC, China Youth Corps Residency “Puss In Boots””
• Trinidad, West Indies, Rainbow People Tour “Thimbelina”
• Hong Kong, Caption Festival “Puss In Boots”
• Singapore, Youth Arts Festival “Puss In Boots”

Our International Guests Since 1988

• NyuDouGuMo Theatre, Japan “Digging Turnips”
• Linders Butterflies & Company, Belgium
• NyuDouGuMo Theatre, Japan “Puppetry Workshops”
• The Forman Brothers, Czech Republic
• NyuDouGuMo Theatre, Japan “Ukulele Melody”
• NyuDouGuMo Theatre, Japan “Momotaro”
• I-Yuan Puppet Theatre, Taiwan, ROC “Little Red”
• Mr. Yang Feng, Fujian Province, China
• Puppet Theatre Bacu, Azerbaijan (USRR)
• I-Yuan Puppet Theatre, Taiwan, ROC “Magic Mountain”
• Rainbow People Children’s Theatre, Trinidad, West Indies
• Mr. Masaji Teresawa, Japan

Support Bits ‘N Pieces

Bits ‘N Pieces Puppet Theatre is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization. We rely on contributions from individuals, corporations, foundations and public agencies to sustain our programs today and to ensure our future. If you would like to make a contribution to Bits ‘N Pieces Puppet Theatre, we appreciate your donation. Please contact us.