Interview Q&A
How long have you been in business?
I have been at the 3156 W 38th Avenue location for 22 years.
What is your primary product or service?
Great marionette shows for kids ages about 4 to 10 or so.
How did you first become interested in your line of business? (if owner) - What is your background? (If owner or store manager)
In my youth I did art work, some art dolls that were batiked. When my children were little, I would sit in the play pen hand sewing the final touches to the dolls. I would wiggle an arm or leg and have the dolls " sing". It bought me time and the kids seemed to love this activity. Next I was making puppets, traveling to libraries to perform. I had a little home day care and the tots would travel with me, thinking all was quite exciting. My husband and I bought this building, gutted it and remodeled it into a puppet theater, coffee shop and a place for us to life. My life at the puppet theater just grew from these silly beginnings.
How do you differentiate yourself from other businesses in your category and area?
I am the only puppet theater in about 600 miles.
How many locations do you have and do you have plans to expand?
This is it!
Provide detailed directions to your location
The puppet theater is located 1 1/2 blocks west of Federal, on the south side of the street in a big yellow building with a free parking lot on the side of the building, in the Denver Highlands.
What type of payments do you accept?
Cash, charges, checks and first born children.
Which areas do you service?
Anyone who wants to come here. Children do need to be old enough to sit in their seats and be quiet for the hour length of the puppet show. The shows are interactive, but ambient and unrelated noise from little ones does spoil the theater connection between the audience and the performer.
if not in seats and any noise, children (with their adult) are ask to step out, regroup, then return to the theater.
Who owns your company or runs daily operations?
Me and me and me
What are your hours of operation?
Winter time the shows are Thursday, Friday at 10:00, Saturday and Sunday at 1:00.
Summer hours are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 10:00, and Saturday at 1:00
I am open 1/2 hour before and after each 1 hour marionette show for hands on puppet play.
What is the best compliment anyone can give you?
Children ask how the marionettes mouths move. They don't but I say that it is because each child has on such a great imagination hat.
What is your favorite quote or Bible verse?
"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." Henry David Thoreau
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