About the Puppet Co.
Our History
Founders Allan Stevens, Christopher and MayField Piper among dozens of their puppets.
Timeline
1969 - Allan Stevens becomes director of the Smithsonian Puppet Theater.
1983 - The Puppet Co. is founded by Allan Steven and Christopher Piper. Our first show is the Magic Mirror, an original story.
1987 - MayField Piper joins the company.
1988 - The Nutcracker is first performed with the Arlington Symphony.
1989 - We opened a permanent playhouse space in the Spanish Ballroom Foyer.
1994 - Our first guest artist performance is Applause Unlimited.
2000 - The Puppet Co. wins the Cherry Adler Award from the Maryland State Arts Council for excellence in children’s theater.
2004 - The current space opens in the renovated Arcade building. It is specifically designed for puppet theatre!
2006 - The Discovery Channel awards us the Excellence in the Arts and Humanities Community Award.
2009 - Our production of The Wizard of Oz receives a “Citation of Excellence” from the Union International de la Marionette – USA, the American wing of our international puppetry organization. This is the highest honor offered for puppetry in the United States.
2010 - The Puppet Co. wins the Cherry Adler Award from the Maryland State Arts Council for excellence in children’s theater, making it the second time.
2012 - Founder Allan Stevens won the Outstanding Artist Award from the Montgomery County Executive’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts and Humanities.
2020 - Allan Stevens and Christopher and MayField Piper retire, passing the reins to Elizabeth Dapo as Artistic Director and Toni Goldberg as Executive Director.
2023 - Isabel Dawson succeeds Toni as Executive Director.