All-Ages Circus Day, Marionette Show At Laguna Art Museum

LAGUNA BEACH, CA—World-renowned Bob Baker Marionette Theater will perform "The Circus" at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 10, at Laguna Art Museum. Following the show and some interactive time with the puppets and puppeteers, kids of all ages can create art inspired by the current exhibition "Wayne Thiebaud: Clowns."

Ticket sales close Sunday, Oct. 3, so jump on it if you are a fan of the circus, marionettes and art. Or think you might be.

Bob Baker Marionette Theater originally staged "The Circus" in the 1950s, even before opening a permanent theater near downtown Los Angeles. "The Circus" has been brought back to marvel kids of all ages back many times, including a filmed version available over Zoom during the pandemic.

Billed as a fan favorite, it's "a carnival of imagination that will transport you into a world of dazzling acrobatic feats, exotic animal performers and sideshow attractions."

Expect all the classic circus characters, plus a parade of animal marionettes: including a camel, a giraffe and a pair of dancing leopards—all brought to life by puppeteers clad head-to-toe in red.

Thanks to the magic of puppetry and a playful musical score, the strings may be visible but all eyes will be glued to the marionettes.

Bob Baker and Alton Wood transformed an old movie scene shop into the original Marionette Theater, where they performed shows for more than 1 million children in 56 years. Baker passed away in 2014 at the age of 90, and his legacy continues at a transformed Vaudeville theater in Highland Park. There, 2,000 marionettes reside, waiting for their chance on stage.

After the performance and "talk back" with the marionettes and puppeteers, the art making gets underway.

Tour the Wayne Thiebeau exhibit of delightful clown paintings. Then dive into projects inspired by the centenarian's work, led by Laguna Art Museum's team of educators.

At First Thursdays Art Walk last month, they led a popular watercolor-pencil project called "Big Little Watercolor," which was inspired by Marion Kavanagh Wachtel (1973-1954), whose masterful watercolor "Sierra Madre Mountains, La Crescenta" hung nearby.

Here's the schedule for October 10's big-top day of fun:

• Performance of "The Circus" at 11:30 a.m.
• Art-making from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m.

The cost is $20 for members; $25 for non-members.

Due to limited capacity, advanced purchase is required. And remember ticket sales close Sunday, October 3.

Masks are recommended for all visitors and required for non-vaccinated visitors.