Bob Baker Marionette Theater

What Bob Baker Marionette Theater does

Bob Baker Marionette Theater (BBMT) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1963 in Los Angeles, California, self-described as the largest and longest-running puppet theater in the United States. It operates a single venue at 4949 York Boulevard in Highland Park and produces live marionette performances built on a collection of over 3,000 handcrafted puppets, some dating to the 1940s, fabricated and maintained by an in-house workshop. Each main stage show deploys approximately 100 puppets in in-the-round performances, and the theater serves roughly 145,000 audience members and 20,000+ students annually, with the latter representing the first theatrical experience for 80% of participants. Educational field trips are aligned with California Content Standards for Pre-K through 3rd Grade.

BBMT operates a diversified revenue model spanning ticketed main stage performances at $25 per person, $15 educational field trips, $500-$750 mobile traveling shows for private events and community functions, an e-commerce merchandise store ($3-$150 item range), an annual membership program offering 20% discounts on five annual performances, and a donation/capital campaign structure currently pursuing $5 million for permanent home acquisition and $2 million for critical repairs. In May 2026, BBMT launched Choo Choo Revue, its first original production in 40 years, running through August 30, 2026. The organization has expanded into adjacent programming including the School House Rocks concert series (with $5 per ticket funding free shows for underserved Title 1 schools), the Bob Baker Puppetphonic monthly radio show on dublab, sensory-friendly performances, and ASL-interpreted showtimes. Distribution is primarily regional (greater Los Angeles), supplemented by an 11+ organization partnership network spanning the City of LA Department of Cultural Affairs, Hollyhock House, multiple public library systems, and nonprofit co-presenters including Saturday Morning Cartoons United and Craft Contemporary.

Name

Bob Baker Marionette Theater

Legal name

Bob Baker Marionette Theater

Website

https://bobbakermarionettetheater.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bob Baker Marionette Theater is a Los Angeles nonprofit founded in 1963 that operates live marionette performances, educational field trips, traveling shows, and community programming from a collection of over 3,000 handcrafted puppets, serving roughly 145,000 audience members and 20,000+ students annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Theater and Performing Arts

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing (339930)

SIC

Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944)

akta.pro primary industry

Puppetry & Marionette Theatre (MPAGABAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theatre Services & Design (Scenic/Costume/Props/Stage Management) (MPAGABAO), Dolls, Plush & Action Figures Retail (CRALAFAD)

Keywords

• Live marionette theater
• Puppet fabrication services
• Family entertainment venue
• Educational field trips
• Traveling puppet shows

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Live Performance Tickets: Ticket sales for main stage shows at $25 per person, with children 2 and under admitted free. Show runtimes are approximately 1 hour.
2. Field Trip Programs: Educational field trips for school groups, homeschool groups, Boy and Girl Scout troops, and senior centers at $15 per person regardless of age.
3. Traveling Company Shows: Mobile puppet shows brought to backyards, parks, schools, and events. One-puppeteer shows starting at $500, two-puppeteer shows starting at $750. Theme options include Traveling Jamboree and Hallowen Spooktacular.
4. Merchandise Sales: Online store selling apparel, accessories, puppets, toys, books, collaborations, and gift items. Items range from $3-$150.
5. Membership Program: Annual membership offering tickets for 5 annual performances at 20% below box-office price, plus pre-sales and guest ticket discounts.
6. Donations and Capital Campaign: Tax-deductible donations supporting preservation, education, and innovation. Currently running capital campaign for permanent home acquisition ($5 million goal) and critical repairs ($2 million).
7. Puppet Repair Services: Repair services for puppets including re-stringing, de-tangling, and restoration through a request form.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bob Baker Marionette Theater produces and presents live marionette puppet shows at its historic Los Angeles theater, drawing on a collection of 3,000+ handcrafted marionettes. It extends its performances off-site through a traveling company, offers educational field trips for schools and community groups, runs the Bob Baker Puppetphonic radio show on dublab, and sells related merchandise through its online store alongside puppet fabrication and repair services.

Product overview

Bob Baker Marionette Theater (BBMT) operates as a single-venue nonprofit theater with multiple product lines: main stage marionette performances featuring 100+ handcrafted puppets from its 3,000+ collection; the Traveling Company for mobile puppet shows; educational field trips; the School House Rocks concert series; and Bob Baker Puppetphonic radio broadcasts on dublab. The theater also operates an e-commerce store selling merchandise and collaborates with artists on capsule collections. BBMT's flagship current production is Choo Choo Revue, its first new show in 40 years, running May-August 2026. The organization is conducting a capital campaign to secure its permanent home.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Choo Choo Revue Hour-long live marionette show taking audiences on a fantasy train journey across rolling hills, mountains, and deserts, featuring characters like dancing luggage, singing mushrooms, and a cicada jugband. Intended for all ages with tickets at $25.
• Main Stage Shows Live marionette performances at BBMT's historic theater featuring an average of 100 handcrafted puppets per production, with a runtime of approximately one hour, ending with ice cream for all guests. Tickets at $25.
• Bob Baker Puppetphonic Monthly radio program broadcast on non-profit dublab station featuring DJ sets and archived tunes from BBMT's 60+ years of audio archives, with live broadcast also playing outside the theater's windows.
• School House Rocks Concert Series Live concert series combining musical artists with BBMT puppets. Each $5 from ticket sales funds free traveling puppet shows for underserved schools in Los Angeles through the Schoolhouse program.
• Traveling Company Shows Mobile puppet show services bringing marionette performances to schools, birthday parties, parks, and community events. One-Puppeteer Shows start at $500 (25 minutes, 12 puppets, 10'x15' space); Two-Puppeteer Shows start at $750 (25 puppets with themes including Traveling Jamboree and Hallowe'en Spooktacular, 15'x20' space).
• Field Trips Educational puppet show experiences for school groups, homeschool groups, Boy and Girl Scout Troops, and senior centers, featuring morning (10:30 AM) and afternoon (2:30 PM) time slots with 100 handcrafted marionettes. Tickets cost $15 per person regardless of age.
• Puppet Fabrication Services In-house fabrication of fully functional animated puppets for BBMT shows, Hollywood productions, and private commissions, including custom puppet creation by the skilled artisan team.
• Puppet Repair Services Repair and restoration services for puppets including re-stringing, de-tangling, and full restoration to original glory, available through a request form.
• BBMT Online Store Online merchandise store featuring apparel, accessories, art, books, puppets, toys, collaborations with artists (Paul Frank, Clover Scout, Merch Motel, Gentle Thrills, Baseman), and gift cards in denominations of $25, $50, $75, $100, and $200.
• Annual Membership Program Annual membership offering tickets for 5 performances at 20% below box-office price, plus pre-sales to popular shows, guest ticket discounts, and other member perks.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 145,000 people served annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Saturday Morning Cartoons UnitedminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 July 2026501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to preserving animation history and uplifting the creative arts community. Co-presenting The Pink Panther: A Night for a Purrpose event on July 18, 2026, with proceeds supporting their filmmaker grants.
• dublabcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNon-profit Los Angeles radio station cultivating local cultural ecosystems. Co-broadcasts Bob Baker Puppetphonic monthly radio show featuring archived tunes and behind-the-scenes content.
• Craft ContemporaryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMuseum on LA's Miracle Mile committed to craft education and community engagement. Executive Director Rody N. Lopez hosting Choo Choo Talkback event.
• Hollywood EntertainmentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNon-profit film organization screening and preserving eclectic, non-commercial films. Co-presenting film programming residency with BBMT, with events inspired by BBMT show themes.
• Sid the CatminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLos Angeles venue and presenter. Partnering with BBMT for School House Rocks live concert series combining music artists with puppets.
• Living EarthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSolar-powered Grammy-nominated outdoor arts series working with conservation organizations and cultural institutions. Co-presenting Logan Hone's Feeling Fireworks event.
• VidiotsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFilm foundation at Eagle Rock location. Co-presenting Cats + Vidiots' Jellicle Ball screening event with live BBMT puppet appearances.
• City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural AffairscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCity department operating Hollyhock House and Barnsdall Art Park. Co-presenting Puppets in the Park free community events series with free puppet shows and family art activities.
• Hollyhock HousecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHistoric house museum and cultural venue. Hosting Puppets in the Park events on west lawn, bringing free puppet shows to the community.
• Alhambra LibraryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPublic library hosting BBMT performances for Summer Reading Challenge event, part of California's Lunch at the Library program.
• Altadena Library / Loma Alta ParkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLibrary system hosting BBMT puppet shows as part of Lunch at the Library initiative supported by California State Library.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Geffen Playhouse: Los Angeles-based nonprofit theater producing plays and educational programs for diverse audiences. Comparable as an LA-based nonprofit theater with educational outreach and major donor/foundation support, operating in the same regional market.
• South Coast Repertory: Major nonprofit regional theater in Costa Mesa, CA producing plays, family programming, and educational outreach. Comparable as a Southern California nonprofit theater with educational programming and a strong local donor base.

Broad incumbents

• Cirque du Soleil: Large-scale live theatrical entertainment operator serving family audiences with touring shows. Comparable as a broader live entertainment incumbent targeting similar family demographic, though at vastly larger scale and with different content type.
• Disney Theatrical Group: Major producer and licensor of family theatrical productions. Comparable as a broad incumbent in family theatrical entertainment targeting parents and children, though serving much larger audiences and operating as part of a global entertainment portfolio.

Direct peers

• Sandglass Theater: Nonprofit puppet theater company in Vermont producing original performances for adult and family audiences. Comparable as an independent nonprofit puppet theater with touring and educational programming.
• The Puppet Co. Family puppet theater at Glen Echo Park in Maryland producing live marionette and puppet performances for young audiences. Comparable to BBMT in scale, audience focus, and live marionette family programming.
• National Marionette Theatre: Touring marionette theater company performing classic puppet shows for family and educational audiences — directly comparable to BBMT's marionette-focused performance style and family/entertainment positioning.
• Center for Puppetry Arts: Atlanta-based nonprofit puppet theater that operates as a museum, performance venue, and education provider serving families and schools — the closest direct analog to BBMT in scope and mission, also combining live performances, educational programming, and a permanent collection.

Others

• The Jim Henson Company: Entertainment company founded by Jim Henson, focused on puppetry, animation, and family content — including the Henson Alternative puppet programming. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem participant that advances the broader art and commercial craft of puppetry that BBMT also practices.

Emerging players

• Tanglewood Marionettes: Touring marionette puppet show company offering performances and workshops for schools, libraries, and family events. Comparable to BBMT's Traveling Company offerings and educational outreach model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/bobbakermarionettetheater
• Facebookfacebook.com/BobBakerMarionetteTheater
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@BobBakerMarionetteTheater
• Xx.com/bobbakerbbmt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bob-baker-marionette-theatre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bob Baker Marionette Theater