In this best of all fairy tale worlds, the Barefoot Puppets tell the rollicking, fun-filled story of what happens when two great classics get mixed with a twist! You’ll never guess what happens when an inquisitive redhead goes in search of a run-away cookie. Chase scenes! Hilarity! The Big Bad Wolf! A perfect pre or post-Thanksgiving family activity.

About the Performance and Artists:

This year’s Thanksgiving Special really is special! Master puppeteer Heidi Rugg and her Barefoot Puppets always tells a great story, using music, adorable puppets, a great plot and fun and funny characters- Discovery Theater audiences love her.

This time she has taken two classic tales, stirred them together and created something new AND old. Their version of "Little Red" stars an inquisitive redhead (wonder who that could be?) in search of a run-away cookie. Children and their families will delight in this mixed-up, fun-filled romp through fairy tales with original music, snowy scenery, lots of chase scenes and everyone's favorite Big Bad Wolf! And because Discovery Theater just loves to throw parties, we invite all the children to decorate a gingerbread cookie of their own after either show on Friday, November 28th. What is Thanksgiving without a little sweet and a lot of fun?!

Barefoot Puppet Theatre brings to life world folktales, classic tales (with a twist!), and adaptations of true stories for children and family audiences. The company has been performing shows since 1997, when Heidi Rugg began touring her original shows. These award-winning performances feature beautiful puppets, imaginative and well-researched scripts, unique staging, original music, and lots of audience participation. This Richmond-based company has thrilled audiences at The Smithsonian Discovery Theater, Boston's Puppet Showplace Theater, the Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts, and hundreds of schools and libraries. In 2005, Barefoot Puppets was thrilled to receive an UNIMA-Citation of Excellence, the highest achievement in North American puppetry. Heidi now works with her husband, Sam, who manages the technical aspects of the performances and does the driving.

Visit a Museum after the Show…

And while you and your family are down on the Mall, why not stop in to see one of our great Museums? African Art and Asian Art are right down the hall. There are also four other wonderful museums right outside the Ripley Center’s doors (Can you name them?) – and all are free. So make a day of it and have a Smithsonian holiday, starting with a wonderful Discovery Theater show… see you there!