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Images- Central Park Swedish Cottage |
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The
cottage was originally a schoolhouse sponsored by the Swedish government
for the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia as an example of
Swedish building design.
For over fifty years, 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 Theater. The company was founded in 1939 as a touring marionette theater and made the Swedish Cottage their headquarters after WWII. They are one of the only public marionette theater companies left in the US – they write (or adapt) their own scripts, construct and costume the puppets, and design and produce every show themselves. Some of their favorites have been: Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Hansel and Gretel. The cottage was originally a schoolhouse sponsored by the Swedish government for the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia as an example of Swedish building design. At the end of the exposition, the NYC Parks Department purchased the schoolhouse for $1,500 and moved it to its present site. Its first use was as a tool house; soon thereafter it was converted to a comfort station and lunchroom. After Swedish-Americans in the City complained about its inappropriate use, it was remodeled as the Park's entomological laboratory. In 1947 the building was retrofitted to house a small children's theater and design workshops. Today it is the headquarters for the Citywide Puppets in the Parks program, which is supported by the not-for-profit City Parks Foundation. In the fall of 1997 a complete
restoration of the building – interior and exterior – was undertaken;
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. If there is any doubt that you have found the cottage, just
look for the American and Swedish flags flying from its roof.
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thanks to www.centralpark2000.com & www.centralparknyc.org |