Bits N Pieces & PuppetWorld Current Programs

PUSS IN BOOTS on Tour to Libraries this Summer

Call each library to confirm time and seat availability. (Free admittance)

June 3, 2025 3pm Seffner Library in Hillsborough County
June 4, 2025 2pm Lakewood Library
June 5, 2025 3pm Brandon Library in Hillsborough County
June 11, 2025 2pm Starkey Ranch Library
June 14, 2025 11am Mirror Lake Library
June 19, 2025 2pm Jacaranda Library
June 21, 2025 10am Palmetto Library
June 24, 2025 6pm Temple Terrace Library in Hillsborough County
July 1, 2025 2pm Countryside Library
July 8, 2025 10am Hart Memorial Library
July 8. 2025 4:30pm Buenaventura Lakes Library
July 9, 2025 10am Poinciana Branch Library
July 9, 2025 4:30am West Osceola Branch Library
July 10, 2025 10am Island Library
July 10, 2025 2pm Braden River Library
July 11, 2025 2pm Centennial Library
July 15, 2025 3pm Gauzza Library in Hillsborough County
July 17, 2025 6pm St. Cloud Library
July 18, 2025 10am Zephyrhills Library
July 22, 2025 2pm Brooksville Library

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.

June 18, 2025 Temple Terrace Library at 2pm

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. Please call the Temple Terrace Library to confirm seat availability.

Happi Holli presents her Marionettes in

Little Red Riding Hood

Saturday, April 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM

Temple Terrace Library Call 813-506-6777 for Info

Two Productions on tour to you this school year and next

PUSS IN BOOTS

Our New Musical on tour Now through Summer, 2026

Also On Tour NOW through May, 2026

The Selfish Giant’s Garden

Four Recent Glove Puppet Shows

Three Wishes on a Magic Fish

Monkey Tales

The Gingerbread Man

Peter Rabbit

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. Receive a new puppet workshop activity weekly from Now though May, 2020. Collect a set of stick puppets based on classic children’s stories.

Find Out About Upcoming Shows!

At Home & On Tour

Upcoming Free Hillsborough County

Library Performances

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood

Temple Terrace Library Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Ruskin Library Monday, June 24, 2024

Egypt Lake Library Thursday, July 25. 2024

Brandon Library Wednesday, July 31, 2024

CALL IN ADVANCE TO CONFIRM TIME & SEAT AVAILABILITY

From our past…PRINCESS THIMBELINA

“Thimbelina meets the hoppy green toad from France”.

“A Sparrowhawk teaches Thimbelina why to fly away for the winter.”

WANT THE LATEST ON WHERE WE’LL BE? Join our mailing list!

Presenters

Looking at your next season’s bookings? Please call to hold a special date. Call Jerry at 813-659-0659 or email for info on booking for our 2018-19 season national tour. Already booked your date? Go to Presenter’s page.

All Dates and Locations Subject to Change

Bits ‘N Pieces Puppet Theatre gladly accepts additional engagements throughout the touring season. Most requests may be accommodated by linking with the existing schedule.

Please telephone your local arts agency, call our studios at 813-659-0659 or email us for the latest calendar information.

Tampa Bay’s PuppetWorld Playhouse

There’s always something going on at Bits ‘N Pieces Theatre’s PuppetWorld™ Playhouse. It’s where marionettes, rod puppets, and glove puppets come together to bring classic children’s tales to life.

Puppet shows based on classic children’s literature are presented throughout the year at PuppetWorld. Up to 60 people can be accommodated in the enchanting PuppetWorld Playhouse, where there’s ALWAYS a puppet show for you. It’s an ideal venue for school field trips and large groups. How to get to PuppetWorld.

Our Traditional Puppet Shows

See Our Tampa Bay Calendar

PuppetWorld Tickets

$10.00 general admission, babies under 24 months free; school groups of 15+ should call (813) 659-0659 for discount info. Performances at PuppetWorld include show, puppet-making workshop and behind-the-scenes tour of Bits ‘N Pieces puppet-building studio where you can walk among our GIANT puppets. RESERVATIONS are STRONGLY SUGGESTED at PuppetWorld Playhouse.

Payment

You can make your reservations through our online ticket system and pay with:

CREDIT CARDS or PAYPAL when you buy your tickets online.
CASH or CHECKS ONLY at the door. Sorry, NO CREDIT CARDS at the door.

See the individual show listing for the online ticket system links.

Advance Tickets

ALL ADVANCE TICKET SALES INCLUDE RESERVED SEATING in the rows with the best vantage point. Tickets purchased by credit card or checks received PRIOR to the performance date get the best seats in the house. Ticket sales at the door are general admission only.

Individuals, families and groups can call to arrange a performance any weekday.

Can’t Make It to PuppetWorld for a Show? We Bring the Show to You!

Most requests for performances can be reasonably accommodated. Find out how easy it is to bring a show to your event. Email jerry@puppetworld.com or call (813) 659-0659 for information on how to schedule a performance at your location.

Groups should contact us prior to performance for purchases.

Checks should be made payable to Bits ‘N Pieces Puppet Theatre and mailed to us at 12904 Tom Gallagher Road, Dover, FL 33527.

Tampa Bay Calendar

FREE PERFORMANCES This Summer in Hillsborough County Libraries

Temple Terrace Library Tuesday, June 18. 2024

Ruskin Library Monday, June 24. 2024

Egypt Lake Library Thursday, July 25. 2024

Brandon Library Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Call the Library to Confirm Time and Seating

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

About Bits ‘N Pieces

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 and makes international appearances under the sponsorships of cultural exchange programs with Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan.

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

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.

2010, Czech Republic, World Association of Puppeteers Assembly (Director, Public Relations)
2009, Japan, NyuDouGuMo Theatre, Love and Courage Tour
2009, Czech Republic, Juror, 12th International Festival of Puppet Arts (Prague)
2008, Czech Republic, Juror, 11th International Festival of Puppet Arts (Prague)
2007, Czech Republic, World Association of Puppeteers Assembly (North American Councilor)
2005, Czech Republic, 9th International Festival of Puppet Arts (Prague)
2003, Czech Republic, 7th International Festival of Puppet Arts (Prague)
1999, Germany, Munich Kinder und Jugend Museum
1998, Germany, Exhibit 2000! Conference presentation and workshops
1996, Japan, NyuDouGuMo Theatre, Love and CourageTour
1995, Taiwan, ROC, Chiang Kai-Shek Cultural Center
1994, Japan, NyuDouGuMo Theatre, Love and Courage Tour
1993, Japan, NyuDouGuMo Theatre, Love and Courage Tour
1992, Taiwan, ROC, Puppet Festival of Asian-Pacific Rim Area
1991, Taiwan, ROC, China Youth Corps Residency
1990, Trinidad, West Indies, Rainbow People Tour
1989, Hong Kong, Caption Festival
1988, Singapore, Youth Arts Festival

Our International Guests

2007, NyuDouGuMo Theatre, Japan
2005, Linders Butterflies & Company, Belgium
2000, NyuDouGuMo Theatre, Japan
1999, The Forman Brothers, Czech Republic
1995, NyuDouGuMo Theatre, Japan
1994, NyuDouGuMo Theatre, Japan
1993, I-Yuan Puppet Theatre, Taiwan, ROC
1992, Mr. Yang Feng, Fujian Province, China
1992, Puppet Theatre Bacu, Azerbaijan (USRR)
1991, I-Yuan Puppet Theatre, Taiwan, ROC
1990, Rainbow People Children’s Theatre, Trinidad, West Indies
1988, 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.