East Lyme Puppetry Project, Inc.

Sharing the history, culture and art of puppetry with the wider community

The Reluctant Dragon

by Lionheart Puppet Company

May 18, 2025 at 2PM

East Lyme Community Center

Join us before the show on 5/18 for a Shadow Puppet workshop by The Lionheart Puppet Company. Tickets for the workshop are $10.

Supporting children’s literacy and art appreciation.

 

East Lyme Puppetry Project Inc. is a nonprofit group of local artists and teachers. Giving to our community is our main goal. Together we bring local puppetry troupes, kids puppetry art workshops and more to Southeastern Connecticut. Collaborating with other charities like Care and Share help us teach not only arts and culture, but also the importance of community.

An interview with our #1 fan

Our goal is to encourage student creativity, appreciation of the arts and the enjoyment of collaboration. Because of this, we work to develop and implement student workshops that emphasize script writing, set design, sound, lighting, stages, puppet building and production.

Puppetry Workshops

FB kids shadow puppet show.jpg
A group of people smiling at a food donation table, including a man holding a baby who is passing a can to a woman.

Come join in the fun of watching high quality puppet shows from around New England, performing right here in East Lyme.

(featured photo by Tanglewood Marionettes)

FB%2BCinderella.jpg

Events

The East Lyme Puppetry Project and the Linden family invite children and adults alike to come pick from our menagerie of Folkmanis hand puppets to play with in our children’s puppet theater.

Children playing with hand puppets in a play area with adults observing.

Caren’s Corner

Our Community

Community working together makes a better tomorrow. Help ELPPI to teach children why it’s important to give back.

  • Workbench with doll-making supplies and drawings

    'The Secret' by Dick Waterman

    We are developing our first original puppet show about the first battle submarine. Scroll right or left to check out some of our production photos and be sure to sign up for our email list to receive updates on ‘The Secret’, and other news and events.

  • Wooden sign with silhouette of a person holding a finger to their lips, with the text "The Secret" beside it, on a wooden table.

    Title sequence shadow puppet by Stephen Marks Hamilton

  • Progression of a puppet creation from sketch to final form, showing stages of drawing, sculpting, assembling, and painting.

    Progression of Dr. Benjamin Gale from ‘The Secret’. Design and body sculpt by Candice Burridge, head sculpt by Corinne Bachand, painted by Candice Burridge.

  • Person sculpting a clay figure with various clay pieces and tools on a table.

    Our very own Candice Burridge building Dr. Benjamin Gale.

  • Clay sculptures of human figures and body parts on sketch paper, with plastic container nearby.

    Various marionettes currently in production for ‘The Secret’.

  • A hand-painted canvas depicting a kitchen scene with blue cabinets, a stove, fridge, and countertop. There are small appliances, containers labeled "tea," "sugar," and "flour," along with hanging utensils and a wall painting. The background contains a window with plants and a door. The painting is resting on a cluttered surface with boxes and pillows.

    Modern kitchen scene by Norma DeGraft.

  • Close-up of a handmade doll with a detailed face, wearing a white shirt and dark vest with brass buttons.

    Details of David Bushnell’s historically accurate costuming, designed and hand-sewn by the very talented Sarah Murphy.

  • Four-panel image showing the creation process of a sculpted puppet from sketch to finished product.

    Progression of our Nathan Hale marionette. Design, head sculpt and paint by Corinne Bachand, body sculpt by Candice Burridge.

  • Person holding a small clay sculpture near various sculpting tools on a table, with a printed portrait and handwritten notes in the background.

    Head sculpt in progress.

  • Clay sculpture of a face with dramatic eyebrows and a crooked smile in a workshop, held by a vise with protective padding.

    Head of Nathan Hale about to be drilled to prep for assembly.

  • Person crafting a wooden puppet with articulated arms.

    Candice Burridge painting the bar maid.

  • Wooden puppet theater stage setup with a barrel-shaped puppet in a workshop setting.

    Stage by Dick Waterman.

  • Collage of a handmade doll and its dress-making process, featuring a cloth doll in a beige dress, close-ups of stitching, and fabric pieces being sewn together.

    Details from the barmaid’s costume. Designed and hand-sewn by Sarah Murphy.

  • Two handmade clay sculpted faces held in a person's hand.

    Head sculpts of Ezra Lee and Israel Putnam, by Corinne Bachand.

  • Two handmade wooden puppets with painted faces, wearing traditional clothing; one with a plaid skirt and corset, the other in a white shirt.

    Costume detail of Barmaid and Dr. Ben Gale, designed and hand-sewn by Sarah Murphy.

  • Sculpting detail scene with clay figure hand being drilled, surrounded by clay body parts on table.

    Tiny hand being prepped for assembly.

  • Painted fireplace scene with candles, window, and portrait.

    Fireplace scenery by the very talented Norma DeGraft.

  • Close-up of a person holding two partially open gray plier-like tools with sharp edges.

    Marionette joint fitting. These are going to make some strong knees for our Nathan Hale marionette.

  • Close-up of a hand holding a fabric doll wearing brown pants with sewing pins inserted for alterations.

    Nathan Hale costume detail, designed and hand-sewn by Sarah Murphy.

  • Handcrafted puppet in historical costume hanging against a white background

    Nathan Hale costume detail, designed and hand-sewn by Sarah Murphy.

  • Paint details of Ezra Lee and Israel Putnam. Both marionettes by Corinne Bachand.

  • Wig creation for Nathan Hale using wool yarn and needle felting, by Sarah Murphy.

Contact

Feel free to contact us with any questions.

Email
productions@elppi.org

Facebook

LinkedIn