String & Shadow Puppet Theater brings its touring summer show to Anchor Park this Thursday, July 16, with free admission for everyone. The Olympia, Washington-based company has built a following in the Pacific Northwest for large-scale outdoor performances that mix puppetry styles, circus arts and original live music — the kind of show that tends to draw both kids who have never seen a puppet taller than they are and adults who forget they're standing on grass.
This year's production is titled "Night at the Grand Opera," set inside an old European opera house. The show is designed for outdoor performance, which means Anchor Park's open lawn will serve as both theater and seating. String & Shadow constructs oversized puppets that perform alongside human performers, blending the visual scale of street theater with the narrative structure of a proper stage production.
Thursday's performance is free, which puts it in rare company among summer entertainment options in Helena. Anchor Park is located on the west side of the city. Show time details were not listed in the event announcement, so attendees should plan to arrive early to secure a good spot on the lawn.