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ALVA PUPPET THEATER

Where puppets transform, subvert, and reveal hidden stories from history

Harlem Doll Palace

A surreal re-telling of Aunt Len’s Doll and Toy museum, the woman who collected them, and the dolls who lived there…

 New York, NY, US
  • $3,429 raised of $20,000 goal
  • 11 donations
  • 53 days left
This is a Fiscally-Sponsored Project

Fiscally Sponsored by Fractured Atlas

We completed our PATCH Residency!

We were very fortunate to spend the last week of our rehearsal time at the Jim Henson Carriage House as part of their Puppetry at the Carriage House (PATCH) program. The week culminated in a work-in-progress showing attended by puppeteer friends who were able to see the beginnings of the magic we are creating. We are so very excited to load-in to Dixon Place and prepare for our opening in one week!
ALVA PUPPET THEATER is thrilled to present The Harlem Doll Palace premiering November 13 - 17, 2024 at Dixon Place (161A Chrystie St)! This adaptation of The Doll Plays, also by Alva Rogers, is the culmination of years of development and devising by Alva Rogers and many artists and collaborators. We are proud to be supported by The Jim Henson Foundation, Cheryl Henson, The New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), and Dixon Place.

Show Description:
Welcome to Aunt Len’s Doll and Toy Museum! 

Behind the pink door of a three story Harlem brownstone lies a world created by Lennon Holder Hoyte - affectionately known as Aunt Len. The dolls from her "dollection" seek to keep Aunt Len, their beloved museum founder, alive before the outside world can invoke its realities of life, ashes and dust. As Harlem deteriorates around her beloved doll museum, the dolls recreate their journeys to the museum in an effort to keep Aunt Len’s memory alive. 

Enter the world of the Harlem Doll Palace.
Remember, an appointment is necessary for admission.

Additional Fundraising Goals:
While we have been fortunate to receive many grants in support of this work, we are in need of additional funds to ensure we are paying our performers and production team a livable wage AND to set ourselves up for future touring opportunities.

Production Fees: $3,500
This will help us compensate our Director, Stage Manager, Composer, and Sound Engineer

Performer Fees: $10,000
This will help us compensate our performers and puppeteers

Build and Tech Costs: $2,500
Puppet build, projection design, and printing costs

Show Documentation: $2,000
We are creating a mini documentary to cover the process of creating this work and to honor Aunt Len and her Doll Museum. 

Storage and Travel Costs: $2,000
Building safe ways to store and move puppets and set from one location to the next.

Rewards

Featured

Butterfly Shadow Puppet

Donate $500.00 or more

Amount over $50.00 is tax-deductible.

Receive your very own Butterfly Shadow Puppet created by William PK Carter
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Thank You Email

Donate $30.00 or more

Amount is fully tax-deductible.

A personalized Thank You email for supporting The Harlem Doll Palace, a show 30 years in the making! 

Signed Postcard

Donate $50.00 or more

Amount over $2.00 is tax-deductible.

Receive a postcard signed by the cast!

Set of 4 Prints of Puppet Sketches 5" x 8.5"

Donate $100.00 or more

Amount over $5.00 is tax-deductible.

Receive a set of 4 prints of early sketches and experiments from our puppet builders William PK Carter, Rosa Douglas Elling, Dorothy James, Rowan Magee and Esme Roszel

Sponsor Early Doll

Donate $1,000.00 or more

Amount is fully tax-deductible.

Sponsor one of our dolls! Your gift of $1000 will name you as a sponsor of Early, one of our Antebellum Dolls. This support will directly support the fees for our puppet builders and maintenance of Early! We will name you as such on our website. 

Sponsor Hannah Doll

Donate $1,000.00 or more

Amount is fully tax-deductible.

Sponsor one of our dolls! Your gift of $1000 will name you as a sponsor of Hannah, one of our Antebellum Dolls. This support will directly support the fees for our puppet builders and maintenance of Hannah! We will name you as such on our website. 

Sponsor Sarah Doll

Donate $1,000.00 or more

Amount is fully tax-deductible.

Sponsor one of our dolls! Your gift of $1000 will name you as a sponsor of Sarah, one of our Antebellum Dolls. This support will directly support the fees for our puppet builders and maintenance of Sarah! We will name you as such on our website. 

Sponsor Brown Nurse Doll

Donate $2,500.00 or more

Amount is fully tax-deductible.

Sponsor one of our dolls! Your gift of $2500 will name you as a sponsor of Brown Nurse Doll! This support will directly support the fees for our puppet builders and maintenance of Brown Nurse! We will name you as such on our website.
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Sponsor Grace Kelly Doll

Donate $2,500.00 or more

Amount is fully tax-deductible.

Sponsor one of our dolls! Your gift of $2500 will name you as a sponsor of our Grace Kelly Puppet and her trunk. This support will directly support the fees for our puppet builders and maintenance of Grace Kelly! We will name you as such on our website.
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Sponsor Ninon the French Fashion Doll!

Donate $2,500.00 or more

Amount is fully tax-deductible.

Sponsor one of our dolls! Your gift of $2500 will name you as a sponsor of Ninon the French Fashion Doll. This support will directly support the fees for our puppet builders and maintenance of Ninon! We will name you as such on our website. 

Sponsor Army Talking Doll

Donate $4,000.00 or more

Amount is fully tax-deductible.

Sponsor one of our dolls! Your gift of $4000 will name you as a sponsor of Army Talking Doll. This support will directly support the fees for our puppet builders and maintenance of Army Talking Doll! We will name you as such on our website. 

Sponsor Izannah Walker Doll

Donate $4,000.00 or more

Amount is fully tax-deductible.

Sponsor one of our dolls! Your gift of $4000 will name you as a sponsor of Izannah Walker Doll. This support will directly support the fees for our puppet builders and maintenance of Izannah! We will name you as such on our website. 

Production Sponsor

Donate $10,000.00 or more

Amount is fully tax-deductible.

Your gift of $10,000 will name you as one of our production sponsors for our run at Dixon Place and any future runs in 2025. You will be named on our website, and program (if given by November 10)