Columbia Marionette Theatre

About Us:
Allie Scollon Founded in 1988 by Allie Scollon and her son John, the Columbia Marionette Theatre is South Carolina's premiere family theatre and cultural treasure. Our magical mission is to entertain and educate children and adults across the state of South Carolina through he long standing tradition and artistry of marionette puppetry.

The vibrant company, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization houses its own theatre which can accommodate as many as 250 children and adults per performance and is completely accessible to the physically challenged. WE are conveniently located at 401 Larel Street (the corner of Huger and Laurel Streets) near the entrance to Riverfront Park in beautiful downtown Columbia.

Patrons of all ages enjoy our family season where productions include original adaptations of classic stories, new works and innovative shows. Puppets, ranging from Tinkerbelle's 12 inches to Zeus' 5 feet, appear on a thirty-foot stage. Designed for teachers, families, caregivers, children and the child in each of us, the lives of millions have been enriched through this facility and its programs.

After seeing a show at the Columbia Marionette Theatre, visit Geppetto's Toy Shoppe and take home a token of the experience by purchasing a puppet in the store. Profits help support the daily operations of the theatre.

For schools and daycares, the theatre offers three perfect programs. Visit the theatre for an intensive, hands-on learning experience; a field trip that won't soon be forgotten. Or schedule a visit from our traveling troupe. Many of the traveling troupe's performances are educational covering such topics as substance abuse, litter prevention, the fundamentals of getting ready for school and dental health. Our puppeteers and artists will even come to your school and teach your kid's how to stage their very own puppet production with our artist-in-residence program.

All productions are created entirely in house -- the script is written, the puppets are made, the soundtrack is recorded and the sets are painted by our team of talented artists. With dedicated full time staff members, each production takes several months to create from start to finish.