Donate at www.hobt.org or by texting “Puppet” to 243725.
In the Heart of the Beast is a puppet and mask theatre that has proudly served the Powderhorn and Phillips neighborhoods for 50 years. From a small group of street theatre artists and activists, HOBT has become a world-renowned theater recognized for its large-scale puppets, community participation, and original mainstage shows steeped in imagination and inspired storytelling.
In 2023, HOBT put plans in place to ensure an abundant future for our organization—and the future is bright! Just last year, HOBT:
• Revitalized and refreshed its home, the historic Avalon Theatre on Lake Street.
• Launched the Puppet Library, which lends out hand-crafted puppets—for free!—to community members and creatives.
• Put on dozens of workshops and artist residencies in Twin Cities schools.
• Welcomed a new Producing Artistic Director, Megan West.
• Put on some fabulous mainstage shows, including a Puppet Fashion Show and the Haunted Avalon showcase.
It hasn’t been easy. Coming out of the pandemic lockdown and related economic hardship has required financial discipline, thoughtful planning, and patience. To ensure HOBT is around for another 50 years, it set out an audacious capacity-building goal: raise $300,000 in individual gifts by June 2025. But individual giving is running behind, and we’re not on track to meet that goal.
Whether you’re just hearing about us for the first time, or you’ve been in our corner all along, we need your help, now. There are lots of ways you can pitch in:
• Make a gift to our Bridge Fund by texting “Puppet” to 243725.
• Becoming a sustaining supporter of HOBT with recurring monthly donations—as little as $5 per month! Visit our website at www.hobt.org for more information.
• Visit the Puppet Library—for free!—between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the first and third Saturday of every month.
• Rent the Avalon theatre for your next event, party or performance.
• Come make puppets with us at Midtown Global Market from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 10 and 24 and March 9 and 23.
And stay tuned for our 2024 mainstage productions!
