Little Red Riding Hood & the 3 Little Pigs

What If the Big Bad Wolf Got a Bad Rap?

The Puppet Co.’s new show mashes two fairy tales together with a question your kids will still be arguing about in the car: what if it’s the same Wolf in both stories, and what if there’s been a big mistake? What if the Wolf isn’t so big, or so bad? Directed by Danny Pushkin with a cast of three puppeteers, it runs about 45 minutes and is recommended for ages 4 and up. The show plays August 22 through September 20, 2026.

The Playhouse sits inside Glen Echo Park, which is the quiet superpower of any Puppet Co. trip. Come for the 11:30am show, then let kids loose on the park grounds. The historic Dentzel carousel runs on weekends in season, and there’s room to picnic before you head home. Forty-five minutes is also the right length for a first live theater experience: long enough to feel like an event, short enough that nobody melts down in the dark.

Parent Tips 💡

• ✓Book online before you drive out: The theater is small and weekend shows fill, especially over Labor Day weekend. Buying ahead also locks your showtime so you can plan the carousel around it.
• ✓Arrive 15–20 minutes early: Seating is up close and informal, and early birds get the spots where little kids can see without a lap boost.
• ✓Prep wolf-wary 4-year-olds: A quick ‘the wolf might seem scary but this story is about giving him a fair chance’ in the car prevents mid-show lap-climbing. It’s a gentle show, but dark-theater nerves are real at this age.
• ✓Do the 11:30 show with younger siblings: Show, picnic lunch on the park lawn, carousel ride, home by nap. The 2:30 slot suits kids who’ve dropped the nap.
• ✓Make it a Labor Day double-header: If you go over the holiday weekend, the free Labor Day Art Show and Global Rhythms performances are happening steps away in the park.
• ✓Leave the big stroller in the car: The playhouse lobby is tight. A carrier for the baby and free hands for the 4-year-old works better inside.