Strings of Tradition: A Family’s Journey in Arizona Puppetry

Reporter: Takell Woods

PHOENIX- Growing up with parents who were heavily involved in the puppetry world, Gwen Bonar sometimes saw more puppet artists than her family. 

“I got to watch these six-generation Chinese and puppeteer masters from backstage when I was a tiny little kid and just absorbed everything that I could,” said Bonar.

Bonar, the daughter of the theatre's founders, is now the artistic director.

The Great Arizona Puppet Theatre was on the verge of being demolished when it first existed in the building. Kenneth Bonar and Nancy Smith began practicing puppetry in 1976 and founded the theatre in 1983. 

Bonar started her puppeteering career as a child, helping her parents. As she progressed in the art form, she took over from her parents. 

On Sunday, September 15, the Great Arizona Puppet Theatre showed The Little Engine That Could. 

“The last time I was here was in second grade,” said Jackie Villalobos, who took her toddler son. 

Before walking into the auditorium where the show took place, an exhibit filled with puppets, both old and new, was on display. Children were able to get their hands on some puppets. 

When walking into the auditorium with high white ceilings, with colorful artwork, and with the main lighting on the stage. It had comfortable seating and a star-themed carpet for the minor children, and many parents and grandparents gathered for the show. 

“I have a three-year-old son, and a friend of hers invited my wife, and so she told us about it,” said Joel Mueller. 

Some parents took the opportunity as a playdate for their children. While most of the children sat on the colorful carpet, some decided to stay with their parents. 

“We're looking for something that people are going to be interested in. But I think also a nice message that isn't going to be forcing it down anybody's throat is a good thing,” said Bonar. 

The show was about 30 minutes. In the beginning, the main puppeteer spoke to the children, helping them release their sillies so they could enjoy the show. The central theme of the show was self-belief, using trains and children's toys to illustrate how believing in yourself can help you overcome problems. 

“I really liked it, Mommy. I really liked it,” said Villabos about her son's reaction to the show.

Bonar described the experience of a puppet theatre as interesting, especially in changing times, given the city's fluctuating arts funding. 

After the show, the head puppeteer thanked the audience and let families take photos and get up close to the puppets. When speaking to the audience, Bonar mentioned that the puppets were made during the COVID-19 virus. 

The theatre hosts shows, but it also visits schools to perform them. These shows are mainly for educational purposes. 

“We have award-winning educational shows, and we're passionate about arts and education, and you know, when we're so passionate,” said Bonar

In recent times, Bonar has found herself revising some of the messages in her stories to make them more relevant to the current time, claiming that the same stories that worked in the 1990s do not necessarily work now. 

“You really have to believe in the characters, and you have to believe in each one of those characters, and you have to believe in the message that you're doing. If we're being good storytellers, we have to have this passion behind the stories,” said Bonar.