Thanks to Xinchen Zhao who filmed me at work as part of her film masters’ degree work. Look for traditional Bu Dai Xi puppets and newer work, too.
Here’s the link: Margaret Moody and the Living Art of Bu Dai Xi Puppetry
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Bu Dai Xi Shows with Galapagos Puppets and Jimmy Zhao Chinese Music Ensemble
The Monster King thinks he is about to eat delicious buns filled with all the food in the village. But Monkey King and the mighty Pig Ju Ba-jie are trying to trick him so he can’t take the villagers’ food. Madeleine Beresford and I will perform this suspenseful episode of the Chinese epic Journey to the West with the Jimmy Zhao Chinese Music Ensemble on January 11 at Temple Emmanuel of Wakefield. Hope you’ll join us!
“The Ice River”: A Journey to the West Puppet Show, January 11, 2pm, Temple Emmanuel of Wakefield, 120 Chestnut St., Wakefield, MA. Tickets: $15. More information: https://wakefieldtemple.org/
In February our group– me, Madeleine Beresford and the Jimmy Zhao Chinese Music Ensemble — will celebrate the Year of the Horse with another episode of Journey to the West:
“The Fiery Mountain and Its Princess”: A Monkey King Tale at Puppet Showplace Theater, 32 Station St., Brookline, MA, February 14 to 17. For times and tickets: https://www.puppetshowplace.org/calendar/2026/02/14/the-fiery-mountain-and-its-princess-a-monkey-king-tale-by-galapagos-puppets
Iron Fan Princess
Monkey battles a blazing fire
You’re INvited. . .
Please join me for a puppet show this fall! These shows are open to everyone:
October 25, 2 pm: “Alice, or the Red King’s Dream,” performed by Dream Tale Puppets Freedom Hall, 976 Main St., Cotuit, MA. Free admission. More information: https://dreamtalepuppets.org/
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Pam Shanley, me, and Peter Lehman in “Growing Things” -
“Alice, or the Red King’s Dream”
November 8, Arlington Open Studios, Arlington Center for the Arts, 20 Academy St., 3rd floor. Morning, time TBD: “Growing Things,” a tale of planting hay and cheese! Performed with Pam Shanley and musician Peter Lehman. Afternoon, time TBD: “Badger Meets the Fairies,” a gentle tale of a badger who wants to learn to fly. Both shows are free, best for ages 3 to 10.
December 6-7, Puppet Showplace Theater, 32 Station St., Brookline, MA., 10:30am & 1pm “The Trolls and the Tree,” an environmental fable for ages 4 to 12. Performed with Ann Wynne as Squirrel and musician Peter Lehman. Tickets available at puppetshowplace.org
December 13, 3:30pm , Arlington Heights “Holiday Stroll” Performance at Kumon Math & Reading Center, 1343 Mass Ave., Arlington. “Taking Turns,” featuring Doggie and Mathilda, free.
What the Puppets Did on Summer Vacation
Pam Shanley, me, and Peter Lehman in “Growing Things”
The Trolls and the Tree at Somerville Community Growing Center
“Alice” with Dream Tale Puppets
The puppets went to the Somerville Growing Center, Lesley Ellis School, Woods Hole Community Hall, and lots of day care centers and preschool camps. Meeting all the children and teachers was joyous!
We made a lot of puppets together, starting at Kwong Kou Chinese School camp, and ending at Arlington Center for the Arts Vacation Arts Camp.
Making puppets at Kwong Kou Chinese language camp
A lizard at sunrise, ACA camp
Flying creatures, ACA camp
I miss summer already!
Take a Look at My Reviews
Here’s a link to reviews of puppet shows that I performed through the booking website GigSalad:
https://www.gigsalad.com/margaret_moody_puppets_boston
The Trolls at the Growing Center
Time to rehearse! Trolls Skimpa and Blompa will present “The Trolls and the Tree” at Somerville Community Growing Center on June 2nd. Looking back at the first photos of Ann Wynne, Peter Lehman and I working on this green-themed show, we’re wearing masks. We developed the show during the pandemic and only performed outside — at Arlington EcoFest, at Lexington Community Farm, at Old Schwamb Mill. Rehearsing is easier when you’re not afraid of getting sick.
“The Trolls and the Tree” — making toast
Growing Things: A Cow and Mouse Story
Rain scarves
Cow and Mouse are old enough to help with planting day. Cow plants hay, his favorite food; Mouse plants cheese. With the help of audience members, rain is plentiful. The soil is rich. Why won’t the cheese grow? Only Cousin Rat seems to know.
This interactive story was developed at Lexington Community Farm with advice from the education staff and some wise children. Margaret Moody and Pam Shanley operate puppets; Peter Lehman plays beautiful tunes on mandolin to accompany the action. Everyone helps harvest at the end of the story. Best for ages 3 to 8.
Doggie and Mathilda at Mystic Open Studio
the bouncy house!
Taking Turns
neighbors
I hope you’ll join me and Marina Strauss this Saturday at 10 am for a fun puppet show, hands-on puppet play — and the joy of creating a puppet with Marina!
“Taking Turns” features two neighbors who don’t want to take turns, and a lot of gentle humor. It’s best for families with children ages 3 to 8. Registration for the show + puppetmaking package is $15: https://www.mysticopenstudio.com/service-page/puppet-play-and-make-your-own-2-8-10?referral=service_list_widget
Mystic Open Studio, 785 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington MA
“The Ice River: A Monkey King Story” with Bu Dai Xi and Chinese Folk Music
Temple Master and Monk Tang
Temple Master and Monk Tang
Buns offered to the Monster King
Monkey King and Monster
A wily river monster is causing a lot of trouble. He demands that villagers put all their food into two giant buns for his delight, and he won’t let the Monk Tang and disciples cross his river. Can the Monkey King and fellow disciples banish the monster and continue their journey? I hope you’ll join me for this action-packed episode of Journey to the West performed with acrobatic Bu Dai Xi puppetry. I’ll be performing with Galapagos Puppets and the Jimmy Zhao Chinese Folk Music Ensemble.
February 1 at 10 am, Acton Memorial Library, free performance : https://actonmemoriallibrary.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/journey-to-the-west-puppet-show-hold/
This performance was made possible with the generous support of Acton-Boxborough Cultural Council, a local agency of Massachusetts Cultural Council.
January 25 – 26, Puppet Showplace Theater, Brookline, MA: https://www.puppetshowplace.org/calendar/2025/01/25/the-ice-river-a-monkey-king-tale-by-galapagos-puppets
Winter, Winter
Badger Meets the Fairies on Saturday, December 14 at 3:45 pm, Wonder Yoga, 1305 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington
There’s a lot of holiday cheer at the Arlington Heights Holiday Stroll. Come join me for a gentle tale of Mr. Badger, who helps the fairies with a building project. Then it’s complicated: the fairies won’t use cement and Mr. Badger wants to learn to fly. A 35-minute show, so you can get to the tree lighting on time! Admission free, best for ages 4 and up.
MORE SHOWS COMING UP:
The Ice River, a Monkey King story with Jimmy Zhao Music Ensemble, Puppet Showplace Theater, January 25 & 26,