Welcome Megan West, our new Producing Artistic Director
After months of deliberations and interviews, we are very excited to introduce Megan West as HOBT’s new Producing Artistic Director (PAD). She has a very strong track record in supporting BIPOC artists, challenging the status quo, and widening the stage for all. We appreciate Megan’s careful listening approach, her knowledge of the local arts scene, and her compassionate and warm heart. We are excited to work side by side with her as she leads us toward accomplishing our three-year Strategic Plan goals.
Megan is coming home, in a way: She was HOBT's tour Manager in 2017-18, and her roots in the Twin Cities’ theater scene run deep: She's held Stage Manager and Interim Company Manager roles at the Guthrie Theater, as well as Production Manager and Company Director roles at Park Square Theater. She has also been General Manager at the Playwright’s Center and Executive Producer for The Chameleon Theatre Circle.
Megan is the former Board Chair of the MN Theatre Alliance and is a past board member of the Walking Shadow Theatre Company. She is eager to shepherd HOBT’s future: “I'm very excited to be creating safe and equitable spaces for artists to do their best work. I look forward to supporting all who make this art form happen.”
Welcome Megan by helping us build our bridge the future!
Throughout the last year, HOBT put plans in place to ensure an abundant future for our organization – prioritizing equity and fairness, employing more artists, reaching more audiences, and embracing guidance from the communities we serve. This work is the foundation of our bridge to an artistically rich, vibrant, and financially sound future for HOBT.
We have an audacious capacity-building goal: Raise $300,000 by June 2025.
You believe in the power of puppets to bring joy, resilience, and wonder to the world. Together we can build a bridge to HOBT’s future while maintaining our deep connection to past puppetry brilliance.
Will you lend us a hand? Text "PUPPET" to 243-725 or click below.
Image Description: A purple circular graphic with white text reading "Help HOBT Start Our 50th Season Strong!"
Experience HOBT's Puppet Library!
Visit HOBT's Puppet Lending Library at the Avalon, 1500 E Lake St. You can “check out” select puppets for free at the Avalon. These beautiful masks were made by local artists and community members over many years.
The library is open every first and third Saturday of each month, from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. There's often artists demontrations during those times, and there's always the fun of looking at the puppets and checking out the Avalon, so stop by!
Click HERE to learn more.
To experience the virtual tour, click the "play" button above and then click on the circles to zoom in and out of what you see and to travel all around the Avalon theater.
Mission, Vision & Values
Image Description: Malia Araki Burkhart, Nurture, 2022. This painting displays two people with hands outstretched towards each other. In between them is soil and green plants growing, a cloud with a heart at the center rains down on the plants. The painting reads "Nurture."
We have a new mission, vision, and values statement. Check them out below!
Our Annual Report
Since 1973, In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre has helped to create and cultivate the puppetry community in the Twin Cities. We are a world-renowned theater recognized for our large scale puppets and political activism. For almost 50 years, we have brought some of the most talented puppeteers to Minneapolis while maintaining a strong connection to the local puppet community. In 2022, we embarked on a strategic planning process. We honor what we have accomplished and are we excited to carry the work forward.
Click Below to view our Fiscal Year 2022 annual report and learn what we are planning for the future
Image Descriptions: Three photos. The first shows performers and puppeteers in a chase scene in the Impact Theory of Mass Extinction by Junauda Petrus-Nasah, photo by Uche Iroegbu. The second photo shows three kids playing in a fountain with a colorful puppet crafted by Gustavo Boada outside of the MN Orchestra. The third photo features a turtle puppet on a bicycle by Gustavo Boada, riding around the MayDay Festival, photo by Spencer Joles.