The LI Puppet Theatre’s new owner is longtime hand
Anthony Labriola is the new owner of the Long Island Puppet Theatre in Hicksville. Credit: Stephen R. Shilling II
The Long Island Puppet Theatre in Hicksville has a new owner.
Anthony Labriola has worked at the theater for more than 10 years, since he was 13 years old. He went to his first show there at about age 7. He learned the puppetry business from the former owners before taking over the venue at 10 Heitz Place in Hicksville in March. Labriola, 24, who also lives in Hicksville, has a bachelor of fine arts degree from The School of Visual Arts in New York.
“I think it’s a really one-of-a-kind establishment,” Labriola says. “It’s a little slice of fantasy. When the previous owners were ready to retire, I couldn’t let this place go.”
The current show is “Sirena, The Little Mermaid,” at 1:30, 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Tickets are $13 at the door, $11 by phone in advance. To reserve tickets, call 516-932-5469. For more information, visit lipuppet.com.
The theater will be having a daylong ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the new ownership sometime in mid-July, Labriola says. Other upcoming shows will include “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” “Punch & Judy” and “Peter Pan.”
The theater also offers puppet workshops and themed special occasion parties, including a Princess and Prince Party, a Rock Star Party, a Super Hero Party, and more.
Beth Whitehouse writes about families, parenting and great things to do with the kids on Long Island. She’s been a Newsday editor and shared a 1997 Newsday staff Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the crash of TWA Flight 800.
