Marionette Show – “The Frog Prince” with Carl Sprague

The popular puppeteer Carl Sprague will return to Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum in Lenox to charm all ages with the classic fairytale “The Frog Prince” for two Christmas-week marionette performances.  The dates and times are Saturday, December 28 th and Monday, December 30 th both at 3:30 pm. The audiences will have the opportunity to meet this wizard, who knows how to pull strings. Children’s refreshments will be served.

One of the themes of “The Frog Prince ” is about keeping your promises. The princess tries to back out of her promise to the frog, but her father insists that she maintain her integrity. As a result, the princess ends up with her prince. Another theme is about persistence.

Sprague, who has appeared annually at Ventfort Hall with his “behind the scenery” mastery, has been a puppeteer since childhood.  He inherited a collection of 60 antique Czech marionettes, each about eight inches tall that were assembled by his great-grandfather, Julius Hybler, with purchased heads and hand-made costumes.  Hybler’s legacy also includes two marionette theaters.

Also, Sprague has been a set designer for such motion pictures as “The Royal Tenenbaums” and Scorcese’s “The Age of Innocence,” as well as for theater productions including those of Shakespeare & Company.

Admission to the show is $15 per person; $7 for children 4-17 and free for 3 and under. Children must be accompanied by adults.  Reservations are strongly recommended as seating is limited. Please call us at 413-637-3206 for reservations.