In the Heart of the Beast moves to Hennepin Ave.

In The Heart Of The Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre (HOBT) has moved its magic of puppet production and performance to a new location at 2411 Hennepin Ave. in Minneapolis.
After 36 years at its location in the Avalon Theater on Lake Street, current executive director Elina Kotlyar said it was time for a move. “There were multiple reasons,” she noted. “We outgrew the space, and the building was not environmentally sustainable. It was an old building and needed a lot of care, and we were not able to do that. It was not as accessible. The Avalon had been built as a movie theater, and it was fantastic for that. So we moved.”
HOBT was created in 1973 by a very amazing group of artists, according to Kotlyar. She said HOBT was focused on justice and grew out of street theater. Many of the founders and early artists had been inspired by the Brennan Puppet Theatre, which specialized in making large puppets. That theater is still active in Minneapolis under the name of Open Eye.
Kotlyar said several artists wanted to start something of their own, and HOBT, or Powderhorn Puppet Theatre, as it was first called, started in the basement of a local church. The name was changed in 1979, and the puppet theater moved once again to a location on Lake Street that later became Roberts Shoes. In 1989, HOBT purchased the Avalon Theater and was at that location until early November 2025.

MAYDAY PARADE IN SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS
The first Mayday parade was held in 1975, a couple weeks after the Vietnam War ended, and large puppets led the way in the parade that ended in Powderhorn Park. According to HOBT archives, about 50 or 60 attended that first event, which grew over the years to attract tens of thousands of people. Social justice themes were portrayed by giant puppets in the Mayday parade.
“We leased the Mayday event to the community several years ago,” Kotlyar said, “and the community picked it up. We had a virtual parade during COVID in 2021, and that was the last time HOBT ran the event as an organization. But the celebration continues every year.”
She said that HOBT has evolved over the years. It began with large puppets and a focus on Mayday, led by the artistic vision of Sandy Spieler, who was the artistic director at HOBT for 48 years.

STORYTIME WITH PUPPETS
“Over the decades, we have had Saturday story times, stage productions and puppet labs, which originated at HOBT but are currently at Open Eye,” Kotlyar said. “Each stage production is conceived and created by a cohort of artists. And workshops have long been a part of HOBT. Artists have gone to schools, churches and libraries. Stage productions take a long time to conceive, build, perform and fund. But we have a robust program of bringing workshops to the community.”
Kotlyar said HOBT has held a story time and had a puppet library for the last three years. “We try to offer as many free programs as possible,” she said. “Our community programming has grown. We recently went to Osh Kosh, Wis. That was cool. We only go that far once in awhile, but it is nice we can go all over Minnesotas, and not just the Twin Cities.”
She said many of the artists who work with HOBT also work with other puppet programs throughout the metro and share their experiences.
Kotlyar said that the story time offers adults an opportunity to come in and participate with their children. Storyteller Chelly Beaver’s goal is use inexpensive materials to make the puppets. People can use the puppets at HOBT or can make them at home.
“Our programming is so accessible,” Kotlyar said.

CHECK OUT FOR A PUPPET
“We use a lot of recyclable material, like cardboard and paper mache. We want to be as environmentally friendly as we can.” She stated that the puppets created at HOBT, as well as the masks, came out for special occasions. They were usually kept in storage. “About three years ago we decided to get rid of the storage and bring the puppets into our space. With the Puppet Library, people can check out a puppet or mask for a birthday or to bring to a protest. Up to four items can be checked out per person and returned in two weeks.”
The large puppets, like the moon and sun, are called wandering puppets and can only go out with a puppeteer. And there are a few that are too valuable to check out.
“A lot of people just come and play with the puppets,” Kotlyar said.
“They don’t check them out. They just want to be puppeteers for 50 minutes.”
With the programming, there is no such thing as hours, explained Kotlyar. “When someone contacts me for a program, I ask when. We do it anytime they want if an artist is available. We try to schedule public workshops some days after work or on weekends. Performances are usually an evening thing.”

MAKE YOUR OWN PUPPET OR MASK
A mask-making workshop is scheduled for December. This workshop may last multiple days or participants can finish their mask at home.
Kotlyar said the mask-makers create a mold out of clay. When the clay dries, they put paper mache on top. When that dries, the paper mache is removed from the mold. Then they decorate the mask. The clay is recyclable. ”Some of the masks that are created are just amazing,” Kotlyar said.
The mask-making workshops are popular and are often done in schools. “In one school, the kids were reading a book, and the teachers wanted us to come in and create masks around that,” Kotlyar said. “In another, a writing teacher was working with the kids on the masks.”
She said HOBT works with many puppet art forms, such as marionettes, shadow puppets and finger puppets. “Chelly’s stories require all types of puppets for storytelling,” she added.
Kotlyar described most of the HOBT workshops as multi-generational. “Not every workshop has a performing aspect, but some of them do,” she claimed. “Some people may want to learn how to make a mask, but may not want to perform. Many people who do technical tasks, such as stage managing or costume designing do not want to get on stage, but let their work shine.”
Kotlyar said HOBT is not necessarily adding new events right away in its new location, but will continue with the storytelling, puppet library, workshops and stage productions. Puppet trivia and a puppet slam are planned. The new location offers a versatile space, with the ability to set up a stage in different areas. The basement can be used for onsite workshops.
HOBT has two full-time staff, with a few part-timers also employed. And plenty of volunteers who helped make the move. “A couple of dedicated staff members have been working tirelessly the last few months to make it happen, also,” Kotlyar said.
Her background is in speech pathology, “I am all about building relationships and connections.”
Kotlyar said the main goal of HOBT is that they are trying to create accessibility and be welcoming to everyone. “We are looking at more than just physical accessibility,” she said. “We want to bring in ASL and language interpreters, and be able to offer lighting that is not so bright. We want a space that is accessible by bike or walking or the bus.
“Because I have been a speech pathologist, I want to build on programming for the disabled community. I want adults and older youth living with disabilities to feel comfortable here.”