In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre (also known as Heart of the Beast or HOBT) is a puppet company and nonprofit organization from Minneapolis, Minnesota. The company has written and performed scores of full-length puppet plays, performed throughout the US, Canada, Korea, and Haiti and toured the Mississippi River from end to end. The theatre is best known for sponsoring the annual May Day Parade and Ceremony that is seen by as many as 50,000 people each year. History HOBT began in 1973 as Powderhorn Puppet Theatre, named for a neighborhood park and lake in Minneapolis. In 1975, the theatre organized their first May Day procession and event. About 50-60 people and a few puppets marched, raised a maypole in the park, and had some speeches. In the next years, the event grew and evolved into a way to celebrate community builders. In 1979, the theatre changed its name based on a suggestion by poet and theatre member Steven Lisner. In 1987, they moved into the Avalon Theater, a former cinema originally built in 1909 as the Royal Theatre. HOBT purchased the Avalon Theater in 1990 for the building and staging of productions. In 1999, the Weisman Art Museum at the University of Minnesota exhibited Theatre of Wonder: Twenty-five Years In the Heart of the Beast, celebrating the works and productions by the theatre. In 2017, the theatre received $275,000 from the will of Sarah Bowman, a performer and longtime supporter of the theatre. The funds are planned to be used in upgrading the theatre building. In 2018, the organization was awarded a grant by The Jerome Foundation. Productions Over the years, productions have used various styles of puppet and mask performances, including bunraku and larger-than-life puppets. These include: "Puppet Cabaret!" (quarterly) "The Minotaur or: Amelia Earhart is Alive and Traveling in the Underworld" (2018) "Make Believe Neighborhood", celebrating Mr. Rogers (2018) "La Natividad" (2016, 2014, 2012, 2008, 2007, 2006) "Crow Boy", based on the children's book by Taro Yashima (2016) "Queen" by Junauda Petrus and Erik Ehn (2016) "La Befana" (2010, 2001, 1995, 1991, 1989, 1988, 1984, 1983, 1982, 1981, 1979, 1974) "The Story of Iqbal Masih" (1997) "Don Quixote" (1994, 1993) "This Land", a tribute to Woody Guthrie (1993) "Beowulf" (1985) "The Fisherman and His Wife" (1975, 1974) May Day Parade and Tree of Life Ceremony The annual parade hosted by In the Heart