Henson Alternative’s Puppet Up! – Uncensored

We saw this at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City this last Friday. What incredible fun! Funny, outlandish, irreverent, and incredibly well done! An absolute side-​splitting joy! I wish we had been able to go to all four shows of the run! We’ll definitely be back when they next return!

This is hands-​down my FAVORITE form of improv (and I’ve seen just about all the variations). Tickets sell out lightning quick, so I recommend you snag a pair, get ready to throw out suggestions for the improv puppeteers, and sit back for some ridiculously humorous off-​the-​cuff, adult laughs. I can’t wait to see this show… again and again!

One of the most fun shows I’ve seen at the Pasadena Playhouse. An improv /​sketch comedy show with puppets and everything is better with puppets. In the beginning, an usher puppet will introduce the two ‘shows’ happening on stage. One with the puppets and the other with the puppeteers.
Everything is moderated by one person and the puppeteers come up to perform sketches based upon audience input. People threw out topics like selling insurance, driving slow in the fast lane and sushi making. It was a live version of Who’s Line Is It Anyways except with puppets. Dirty, dirty puppets.
I was laughing my ass off most of the time. Thanks Katie and Unilocal for a wonderful night out!

This was one of the best shows I’ve seen at the Pasadena Playhouse. Well I’ve never seen a bad show here but this was really different — funny and semi offensive, in a good way. And the place was packed. Usually when we get tickets courtesy of Unilocal and the fabulous Katie B, it’s because they have a surplus of empty seats available. But yeah this time almost every seat was filled.
So I think I understand the premise as this show is a shoot off of the Henson puppet company. They had over 30 different puppets and can do little improv skits based on what the audience suggests. There was a cool moderator and then 6 puppet handlers. And they performed in front of a camera, which was projected onto two giant screens so that you’re mostly seeing the puppets and not the people. Also they can do a lot with perspective and looping with the screen/​cameras. I found the topics and skits funnier in the first half. Then there was a 15 min intermission. And the second half was more technical. With a CG puppet, full body puppets, and the aforementioned looping. But loved the finale with just the hand puppets. Wish I could describe the skits better other than it was super hilarious but you should just really go see it for yourself. It really is «uncensored.» Also they had a few skits with audience participation and those who participated got puppets. How cool is that. If you didn’t get picked they also had puppets for sale out in the courtyard. It was only around at the Pasadena Playhouse for a super limited run. But if it comes back here or to another theater in LA, I would def catch it again. It would be a diff show every time. Puppet Up!

My husband and I were so fortunately to score tickets for this show on Thursday evening (Thank you Katie B. & Pasadena Playhouse!). I watched the preview video on the Pasadena Playhouse website about this show and thought it would be like the Avenue Q puppet show that was shown in Vegas many years back.
To summarize this show, Henson Alternative’s Puppet Up! — Uncensored is like Avenue Q and Whose Line Is It Anyway mashed up all together. Like Avenue Q, these puppets cover naughty, dirty adult topics (definitely not kid friendly, although I was surprised to see some children under 10 in the audience… parents probably realized how this probably wasn’t the same puppet show they had intended it to be, lol) but with the improvisation of Whose Line Is It Anyway where the audience gets to help come up with skit topics by shouting out suggestions when the host/​MC ask for them. So really if you were to see this show again, it would be a different show because of the improvisation.
Anyways, the 2 hour running time was quite enjoyable all the way through (there was a 15 minute intermission) with this incredibly talented group of people (group of 5 and a witty host). When the show first started, out came a person with a bell hop puppet (check out my photo for what they looks like) asking everyone to silence their cell phones and anything else that makes noise and then said the audience was in for a real treat because this is 2 shows in one. You have the main show of the puppets and then whatever goes on below (lol, meaning the talented cast of people controlling them). One of the puppets later on in the show had said that he can’t see anything below him, lol. Loved the funniness of it all.
Unfortunately this show is only at the Pasadena Playhouse for an incredibly limited engagement (July 24−26… so last showing is today) and then they are off to perform at another theater. If you get a chance to see this show, I would highly recommend going because you will be entertained (and offended… as the host/​MC said everyone will be offended by the end of it, lol).
Just thought I would also mention that a few people from the audience were picked to be on stage, so if you do not want to be picked, than you want to stay away from the seats up close (but if you do get picked, you may be lucky to score a free puppet… the puppets they were selling before and after the show cost a hefty $ 35 a piece).
Oh just have to mention again that you may just want to leave the kids at home.

This was my second time seeing PUPPET UP! I had seen it in West Hollywood a few years back and they’ve upped their game, adding new technological features to the art of puppetry (ex. they had an animated head superimposed on a live puppeteer).
This is DEFINITELY not a show for kids, as there is quite a bit of inappropriate and adult humor… which I loved.
It may be because it was their first night at the Pasadena Playhouse, but they started 12 minutes late, so you shouldn’t have a problem getting in if you are a tad bit late.
Goldstar has great deals for this show sometimes as well.
If you enjoy inappropriate comedy and if you enjoy improv, this is the show for you!

Henson Alternative’s Puppet Up was a pure joy! The Pasadena Playhouse that housed the show was filled with plenty of fans on opening night. While I was still grasping the idea of the show, other audience members were already shouting random topics for the MC. Topics went from Physics, Porn Stars, Dutch, Online Dating, Train, to Music Videos. It’s brilliant; you’ll never know where the show will take you!
Here’s the formula of the show:
Puppet
Improv
Audience Participation
PG to Rated-​R
Singing
Camera Visual Effects
I can definitely see myself returning for another show with my own topics in mind. If you’re a fan of comedy and old school puppetry, check this show out! Most importantly, don’t be shy and be a part of the show *some of the lucky participants actually received a puppet for their help!
Keep an open mind and start yelling your own scene to make the show your own! Lastly, PUPPET UP!!! PUPPET UP!!! PUPPET UP!!! PUPPET UP!!!
*Seat T23+T24, last row in Left Orchestra.

Very funny improv puppet show.
If you want a chance to get on stage sit on the left front of audience