When you're in Atlanta, be sure to plan a visit to the Center for Puppetry Arts. Established by master puppeteer, Vincent Anthony, in 1978, the Center for Puppetry Arts is dedicated to entertaining and informing the public about puppetry as an art form, as well as nurturing would-be puppeteers. T

he Center includes the largest puppetry museum in the United States (be on the lookout for puppets from Muppet creator, Jim Henson and Salem, the talking cat from the hit television show, "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch), entertaining and educational performances for all ages - including adults and teens - and hands-on puppet building workshops.

For a unique experience available only in Atlanta, try the adult-only "New Direction Series" performances put on by the Xperimental Puppetry Theatre (XPT) will change your mind about puppets forever. XPT performances present the sum of the collaborative efforts of artists from various fields who extend boundaries by unifying elements of ancient puppet techniques with completely modern, sometimes out-of-this-world modifications.

The Center for Puppetry Arts is located in a former elementary school in Midtown at the corner of Spring Street and 18th, next door to the Berman Jewish Heritage Museum the Center is not far from Georgia Tech, the High Museum and The Varsity.

Special "behind the scenes" tours are offered at an additional cost. Performance schedules and prices vary. Consult the Center for Puppetry Arts web site or call for details.