{"id":29306,"date":"2026-05-12T09:12:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T09:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hunthow.com\/?p=29306"},"modified":"2026-05-12T09:12:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T09:12:00","slug":"inside-the-bob-baker-marionette-theaters-annual-puppet-prom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hunthow.com\/?p=29306","title":{"rendered":"Inside the Bob Baker Marionette Theater\u2019s Annual Puppet Prom"},"content":{"rendered":"


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In fact, this year\u2019s prom was the most elaborate yet. Not only did Reilly play emcee, but he also delighted the room with a suite of on-theme ditties (\u201cI\u2019m Your Puppet\u201d; \u201cAm I a Toy or a Treasure?\u201d), accompanied by singer Sierra Ferrell and the seven-piece New Orleans jazz-style band The California Feet Warmers. Later in the night, the producer, DJ, and artist Kindness<\/a>\u2014whose collaborators have included Robyn, Solange, and Dev Hynes\u2014kept the floor moving with a steady stream of club classics.<\/p>\n

There was good reason for the pomp and circumstance: a little over two weeks ago, the BBMT announced its \u201cIn LA to Stay\u201d<\/a> campaign, during which it aimed to raise $5 million in capital to buy the theater\u2019s current building, and another $2 million for needed renovations. Ahead of the prom, the campaign had already found several benefactors, including Wallis Annenberg, the Chris and Melody Malachowsky Family Foundation, and longtime supporters actor Jack Black and his wife, folk artist Tanya Haden. By the final dance, Puppet Prom had reached its $100,000 goal, netting a generous matching donation on top of that. (At the time of writing, the theater is continuing to fundraise through a live auction<\/a> and cash donations.)<\/p>\n

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Photo: Max Christiansen\/BFA.com<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

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Photo: Max Christiansen\/BFA.com<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

For the community surrounding it, BBMT is an irreplaceable resource. \u201cI\u2019ve been coming to Bob Baker\u2019s marionette shows since my kids were small,\u201d Reilly says. \u201cIt is one of the most original and creative theater companies Los Angeles has ever had, inspiring generation after generation of young\u2014and older\u2014minds.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo many of our members delight in the work the BBMT does, from going there as children to bringing their grandkids there today,\u201d adds Nicole Infante, director of the Garibaldina Society, which has donated its space for the Puppet Prom each year. \u201cThere wasn\u2019t a discussion of if we should help, it was how\u2014and will we get to pet the puppets!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n