After years of wondering whether the rent would pull the strings instead of the puppeteers, the Bob Baker Marionette Theater has reached a deal to buy its Highland Park home at York Boulevard and North Avenue 50. The price tag is about $5 million, and the nonprofit says it has raised roughly $4.5 million so far, leaving about $500,000 still to go to close the sale, plus another $2 million needed for key repairs and upgrades. Owning the building would secure a permanent stage and safeguard the theater's extensive puppet collection and school programs from future rent hikes.
"This is monumental for us," co-executive director Alex Evans told the paper, describing how the purchase would end decades of financial precariousness, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. According to the Times, the company has a $500,000 loan lined up to help close the deal, with fundraising covering most of the purchase price but leaving a gap for closing and renovation costs. The outlet also quotes philanthropist Mary Fagot and developer Brian Mikail, who both called the outcome a "win-win" for the neighborhood and for cultural preservation.
First New Production in 40 Years
All of that financial hustle is unfolding as the troupe rolls out Choo Choo Revue, its first full new mainstage show since 1981, scheduled to run May 16–Aug. 30, 2026, and featuring more than 100 brand-new handcrafted puppets, according to the Bob Baker Marionette Theater. The production is being positioned as both an artistic milestone and a crucial revenue driver as the organization steps into building ownership and expands its education and fabrication work.
Ownership Locks In a Cultural Anchor
The Bob Baker Marionette Theater serves roughly 20,000 students on school field trips each year and draws more than 145,000 audience members annually, numbers that help explain why local leaders pushed to keep the company rooted in Highland Park, per the Los Angeles Times. The York Theater building dates to 1925 and has hosted movies, a church, and small businesses over the years. Planned repairs include a new roof, restroom work, and upgrades to make the space more functional for school groups and community events.
How to Help or See the Show
Tickets for Choo Choo Revue are already on sale, and the theater has laid out several ways for supporters to help close the funding gap and pay for renovations. Visit the theater's Bob Baker Marionette Theater donation portal or the Choo Choo Revue ticket hub on the Bob Baker Marionette Theater site for tickets, showtimes, and details on how to support the campaign.
