Wonderment Puppet Theater
celebrates it's 5th anniversary
Joe Santoro’s vision has finally come true after 14 years of touring with his Wonderment Puppets.His puppets now have a permanent home in Martinsburg, called Wonderment Puppet Theater.
His unique idea of creating a full time, year round puppet theater for families, is now a reality. This form of entertainment is something new for the Eastern Panhandle area, he says.
His new theater provides six original puppet shows a year. It also has an exhibit hall, a puppetry store, and a personal studio for creating future shows.. Drama students can apprenticeship with him in the art of puppetry theater.
Wonderment Puppet Theater also has a festive birthday room for party celebrations, with a special scripted birthday puppet show, special effect lighting, party music and clean up with every birthday package.
Permanent puppet theaters have been popular and numerous for decades overseas, but in the United States about 40 full time puppet theaters exist. Wonderment Puppet Theater is the only existing one in West Virginia.
Santoro, who otherwise works as an art teacher at Hedgeville Elementary School, along with his wife Jane, spent years looking for the right building to house this project, and then in February 2007 they found and bought an old two story Victorian house on King Street built in 1885.
Future expansion will be an outdoor storybook birthday garden and a pirate theme birthday party.
Before and after the shows the guests can explore the hands on exhibit hall and gift shop. Each child receives a balloon and anamal crackers after each show. The Santoro's will always give personal attention to anyone with a curiosity for puppetry. It's a one of a kind children's theater. Nothing like it exhist anywhere.
The theater is open every Saturday and Sunday with show times at 12noon. to 2 p.m. Addmission is $4.50 for 2 years and up. No reservations required.Special week day shows can be arange for traveling familes. Call for more informations.
The theater is located at 412 West King Street, Martinsburg.
For more information call 304-258-4074.