Center For Puppetry Arts Continues Holiday Tradition With ‘Rudolph’

Jon Ludwig, artistic director at Center for Puppetry Arts, and “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes discuss the center’s production of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and the upcoming “Rainforest Adventures.”

Gabbie Watts / WABE

The Center for Puppetry Arts continues a Christmas tradition with its production of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” now in its eighth year.

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“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” runs at the Center for Puppetry Arts through Dec. 31. (Center for Puppetry Arts)

The characters, scenery and songs are the same ones you will see in the classic film, but the puppet show requires a whole lot of choreography.

“There’s a show that the audience sees and the one backstage, which is basically a highly choreographed dance,” said Jon Ludwig, who adapted the production and who is the artistic director at the center. And while the production uses more than 60 puppets, there are only six puppeteers on set. “They are not only doing the puppets and singing and doing the voices live, they are also moving all the scenery at the same time.”

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” is open at the Center for Puppetry Arts through Dec. 31.

The center’s next production for kids is “Rainforest Adventures,” which Ludwig discussed with “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes.