Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater

West Side at 79th Street
Puppeteers have been bringing to life magical tales of princesses, paupers, genies, and giants to hundreds of youngsters and their parents at Central Park's Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre for decades. The company was founded in 1939 as a touring ... more
Puppeteers have been bringing to life magical tales of princesses, paupers, genies, and giants to hundreds of youngsters and their parents at Central Park's Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre for decades. The company was founded in 1939 as a touring marionette theater and made the Swedish Cottage its headquarters after WWII. It is one of the only public marionette theater companies left in the U.S. — writing (or adapting) the scripts, constructing and costuming the puppets, and designing and producing every show. Popular productions have included Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Hansel and Gretel and Cinderella Samba. The Cottage, a model schoolhouse, was built as Sweden's exhibit for the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. At the end of the exposition, Frederick Law Olmsted moved the Cottage to its present site in Central Park. It was first used as a tool house but was soon converted into a lunchroom and restroom. In 1947, it became the headquarters of the Parks Department's Traveling Marionette Theatre, and in 1973 it was remodeled to include a permanent stage. Since then, the Cottage has hosted daily marionette shows. In the fall of 1997, a complete restoration of ... more

Puppeteers have been bringing to life magical tales of princesses, paupers, genies, and giants to hundreds of youngsters and their parents at Central Park's Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre for decades. The company was founded in 1939 as a touring marionette theater and made the Swedish Cottage its headquarters after WWII. It is one of the only public marionette theater companies left in the U.S. — writing (or adapting) the scripts, constructing and costuming the puppets, and designing and producing every show. Popular productions have included Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Hansel and Gretel and Cinderella Samba.

The Cottage, a model schoolhouse, was built as Sweden's exhibit for the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. At the end of the exposition, Frederick Law Olmsted moved the Cottage to its present site in Central Park. It was first used as a tool house but was soon converted into a lunchroom and restroom. In 1947, it became the headquarters of the Parks Department's Traveling Marionette Theatre, and in 1973 it was remodeled to include a permanent stage. Since then, the Cottage has hosted daily marionette shows.

In the fall of 1997, a complete restoration of the building — interior and exterior — was undertaken under the stewardship of the not-for-profit City Parks Foundation; it was rededicated in May 1998. Today visitors can enjoy the whimsical Scandinavian details inside the theater, along with seating for 100 children, central air conditioning, and a larger, state-of-the-art stage for more sophisticated productions. The original Baltic fir exterior was completely refurbished and details such as the second floor balcony were reconstructed. The Cottage can be easily identified by the American and Swedish flags flying from its roof.


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Upper West Side Description

Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater is located in the Upper West Side neighborhood of Manhattan. The home of diverse cultural attractions, the Upper West side is sandwiched between Riverside Park to the west and Central Park to the east. Both parks are excellent leisurely green spaces to spend a day. Central Park is especially notable, as it is New York’s "flagship" park. With over 843 acres of land, it is home to 275 species of birds. It’s quite easy to spend an entire day there too, as the park has several restaurants on its perimeter, a Boathouse, a Carousel, ball fields, a running track, reservoir, sculptures of Alice in Wonderland and Shakespeare, and a nearly endless list of events and other attractions. In addition to being the most densely populated area of the United States, the Upper West Side is the home of several academic institutions and a litany of famous people too numerous to list here. The American Museum of Natural History is among the most notable museum in the neighborhood. This world-famous museum is comprised of several different Halls, each dedicated to a particular theme. The museum's exhibition-halls house a stunning array of artifacts and specimens from all corners of the world and all historical periods including some magnificent dinosaur fossils. Other nearby cultural institutions worth checking out include the New York Historical Society, and the new Rose Center for Earth and Space which houses the Hayden Planetarium; the most technologically advanced Space Theater in existence. The Upper West Side also contains some of the greatest venues to hear classical music. There is the Metropolitan Opera House —one of the world’s leading opera companies since its opening in 1883—as well asAvery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall and the renowned New York City Opera. Additionally both The Julliard School and Fordham University grace the area. You’re bound to get hungry while visiting the neighborhood, but fear not -there are plenty of famous places to nosh or grab some classic New York smoked salmon in the Upper West Side. There’s Zabar’s—a heavenly deli if there ever was one; Fairway Market which has a huge, gourmet selection of just about everything; Citarella, with fresh fish and much more; and Murray’s Sturgeon Shop—just to name a few. If you're looking for a more substantial meal, head to Prohibition, an upscale restaurant and bar. The interior, which invokes the glamour and romance of the Prohibition-Era style of the twenties and early thirties, helps create terrific ambience. All of this has made Prohibition a mainstay on the Upper West Side. There's also the takeout booth at Carmine's. Carmine's simple and very popular concept is to serve every meal in the style of an Italian American wedding feast - which means large portions of homestyle antipasti, pastas, seafood and meat entrees served on large platters designed for sharing. And when we say large, we mean large; an entree here could easily feed three to four average eaters. After your weekend mid-day meal, take a walk back through Riverside Park or stroll down Riverside Drive and admire the impressive monuments, grand apartment buildings, and views of the Hudson River, all while burning off a few calories of course. Given the number of attractions and cultural institutions in the neighborhood, the Upper West Side is an ideal location to spend your stay in New York. The charming Excelsior Hotel is located right near the Museum of Natural History and Central Park. Meanwhile, the cozy and reasonably priced Belnord Hotel is another conveniently located option for the budget conscious traveler, as is the Comfort Inn Central Park West.

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Info

West Side at 79th Street
New York, NY 10025
212-988-9093

Editorial Rating

Admission And Tickets

Adults: $8.00
Children: $5.00
Please note: Reservations are required.

Group rates are available for schools and other large groups.

For reservations, group rates, and information on private birthday parties, please call 212-988-9093.

Nearby Subway

  • to 81st St
  • to Museum of Nature History

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