Amazing Puppetry Spectacle Shatters Record at Westwood Library
By Dolores Quintana
The Westwood Branch Library witnessed a remarkable milestone as it welcomed a record-breaking audience of approximately 220 children, parents, and community members for an enchanting live puppet show from the Bob Baker Marionette Theater on September 10. This event marked the largest turnout for a single program in the 18-year history of the Westwood Branch Library.
Among the attendees were families from Westwood’s local schools, including Warner Avenue Elementary School, Fairburn Avenue Elementary School, Westwood Charter School, Overland Avenue Elementary School, Saint Paul the Apostle Catholic School, Sinai Akiba Academy, Westwood Presbyterian Preschool, and Emerson Middle School. The event also drew participants from various neighborhoods, including Brentwood, West Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Palms, Mar Vista, Manhattan Beach, and even visitors from Pennsylvania.
The audience was treated to a captivating 30-minute puppet show, “A Day-in-the-Life on the Farm,” followed by an engaging 15-minute Question and Answer session hosted by the puppeteers, Ginger Duncan and Molly Fite. During the Q&A, Ginger and Molly showcased their puppetry skills, including a delightful demonstration of Clarissa Hen “laying an egg” and hatching a dancing chick, much to the children’s delight. Afterward, attendees had the opportunity to meet with the puppeteers and take photos with the vintage puppets, an experience that was both generous and heartwarming.
To conclude the afternoon, every guest enjoyed a delicious ice cream sundae cup, identical to those served at the renowned Bob Baker Marionette Theater, accompanied by a freshly baked Diddy Riese cookie on the library’s outdoor patio.
The success of this event was made possible by the dedication and support of numerous individuals and organizations. Special thanks were extended to the Westwood Branch Manager and Senior Librarian, Dr. Jennifer Noble, as well as the Westwood Branch staff and LAPL’s Lauren Skinner for arranging event documentation. City Librarian John Szabo played a pivotal role by deploying LAPL Central Library’s PR resources in support of the event.
Additionally, the Friends Board members, volunteers, and community supporters all contributed their time and efforts to ensure the event’s success, from setup to cleanup and publicity. The generous donations from Diddy Riese Cookies and Ralphs Fresh Fare further enhanced the event’s success. We reported on the event on September 8.
Ultimately, the entire team at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater, including Co-Executive Director/Head Puppeteer Alex Evans, Director of Operations Caleb Codding, Office Manager Jules O’Malley, and the extraordinary puppeteers Ginger Duncan and Molly Fite, played an integral role in creating a magical experience for the enthusiastic audience.
In summary, it took a collective effort to make this event the largest and best-attended program in the 18-year history of the Westwood Branch Public Library. Looking ahead, plans are already in motion to bring back the renowned Bob Baker Marionette Theater for its fourth encore appearance at the Westwood Branch Library in May 2025, celebrating the library’s 20th Anniversary. Stay tuned for more enchanting performances!
