Puppetry play by Paula Vogel directed by William Fisher, with puppets by David Valentine, recommended for ages 18 and older.
Butler Theatre brings The Long Christmas Ride Home to the Schrott Center for the Arts in Indianapolis from November 11 to 15, 2026. It's a puppetry play by Paula Vogel, directed by William Fisher, and it's not your typical holiday show. Vogel describes it as darkly funny and deeply theatrical, and that's a fair warning: it deals with love, violence, grief, and the hard work of forgiveness. The story follows three children from one turbulent Christmas into their adult lives and back again, with past, present, and future colliding on a snowy Christmas Eve.
What sets this production apart is how it handles time and age. Actors and puppets share the stage, moving between childhood and adulthood, memory and the present. The puppets aren't just for show—they're woven into the storytelling, helping the play shift between different eras of the family's life. Guest artist David Valentine, a Daytime Emmy Award-winning puppet designer also known for She Kills Monsters, did the designs and will join the audience for a post-show talkback after the Saturday night performance, so if you're curious about how the puppetry actually works, that's the night to go.
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It's a family story, but not one for the whole family. The production is recommended for audiences 18 and older, so keep that in mind before you book. The run opens Wednesday, November 11, and goes through Sunday, November 15. Most performances are at 7:30 PM, with the exception of the Sunday matinee, which is at 2:00 PM. The Saturday night show on November 14 is the one with the talkback afterward. You can find tickets and more details at butlerartspresents.org.
Date
11 November – 15 November
19:30
Recommended Age
+18 years
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