FAQs

Please note that we have made multiple changes to the ticketing process! Please take the time to read the ticketing section to understand the changes.
A contact form to reach our front of house is at the end of this page. Thank you!

Ticketing/Rain Checks

  • Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for children ages 4-14 as well as students and senior citizens, and free for children ages 3 and under. However, we feel that it’s important to make art accessible to all – we won’t turn anyone away due to lack of funds. Pay what you can tickets are only available at our shows and not online.

  • Tickets are available by pre-sale online. You can find them HERE. There is a limit of 800 pre-sale tickets per show. 200 tickets will be held at the door for folks without access to digital ticketing.

    Please note that there are no physical paper tickets. You can show us proof of purchase on your phone or just show up and tell us your name – if you buy tickets online, your name will be on a list that we have at the door. There is a PDF link to your tickets on the bottom of your confirmation email.

    All tickets sold at the theatre are on a first come first serve basis. Seating is general admission.

    If you need to switch show nights - keep reading in the dropdowns below!

  • We try to adhere to the adage, “The show must go on,” however, occasionally we have to postpone or cancel a show to prevent damage to the puppets, instruments and sound equipment.

    Rain before a show: We wait until 6:00 pm to make a final decision as to whether or not the show can go on.

    Rain during a show: We will pause the show to see if the rain will pass, but will not delay the show longer than 30 mins.

    Updates will be posted on our Facebook page, on our Instagram and ticket buyers will also receive an email notifying them of changes.

    NEW THIS YEAR: At The Forest Theatre: In the event of rain and the show needs to be canceled, Paperhand will issue you a voucher to order tickets for another date for this year’s run. This is different from what we have done in the past. Previously, we would allow you to just show up for another show. This system presented problems due to the limited seating at sold out events. Reissuing tickets will allow us to make sure that we do not exceed our seating capacity on a given night.

  • All sales are final. You may change the date of your tickets to another performance up to one day prior to the performance. Instructions are below under the transfer ticket dropdown.

  • Yes! Our new ticket platform allows you to do this yourself. Please see instructions below under the transfer ticket dropdown.

  • If you have NOT been issued a voucher due to a rained out show, then yes, you can transfer your tickets. Please see the instructions below, as you can do this yourself.

    1. From your order confirmation email that you received from Paperhand when you purchased your original tickets, there are two links that you may select, Manage Tickets or Contact the Event Organizer. Select "Manage Tickets".

    2. You will receive another email with a subject "Manage your tickets". Open the email and select the "Manager your tickets"

    3. A page will open for you to enter the email that you used to purchase your original tickets. You will be asked to complete the security process. Then select "Get a secure login link"

    4. You will receive a notification that a login link has been sent to your email. If you do not receive this email, be sure your email is correct or contact the box office at tickets@paperhand.org

    5. In the new email, select manage tickets again and you will open a page that says "View Order". Select view order.

    6. From this point, select reschedule select the new date from the drop down. Your will be asked to confirm the change. You will receive three emails: a cancellation of you original tickets, a confirmation of the new tickets and the email with your QR codes.

What to Expect/About the Venue

  • The Forest Theatre’s address is 123 South Boundary Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27514. It is located on the eastern part of the UNC campus and is sandwiched between Boundary Road (north side of the theatre) and Country Club Drive (south side of theatre). The entrance is on Country Club Road and directly across the street from Playmakers Repertory Theatre.

  • You’re welcome to bring a picnic dinner or any other food to the Forest Theatre.

    Water from the public tap at the Forest Theatre doesn’t taste great and is possibly unsuitable for drinking. Event goers should bring their own water to the Forest Theatre shows.

    As we get closer to showtime, you wll be asked to consolidate your space so that we can seat everyone who has purchased tickets for that evening. Paperhand does not sell food but we will have cartons of water for sale.

  • ​​The Forest Theatre is rustic stone and wood. We recommend bringing a stadium seat, cushion or blanket to sit on. Please DO NOT bring lawn chairs. They take up a lot of room and our shows tend to sell out and we want to fit in everyone that has purchased a ticket!

    You’re welcome to come early and bring a picnic if you like! It’s a great way to get a choice seat and enjoy the pre-show. We also strongly encourage folks to bring reusable water bottles.

    Please remember to pack out whatever you take in to the Forest Theatre. There are several trash cans and orange recycling bins for your use. Please take a minute after the show to pick up any fallen trash or food and dispose of recyclables in the orange bins.

    Phone use is allowed at performances, but please silence your ringtone and be courteous of those around you.

  • Yes, the Forest Theatre is outside.

  • We ask that the lot directly behind Forest Theatre be reserved for disability and performer parking.

    Parking can be a little tricky in Chapel Hill. Your best option is the Park Place Lot, located on S. Boundary St. just beyond the Forest Theatre. If the Park Place lot is full, the visitor lot on South/Raleigh Rd is not too far away. Street parking is open to the public most nights and weekends. Parking can be harder to find when UNC has a home football game, so we suggest arriving extra early to find a spot and walk over to the theater. You can find the UNC campus parking map HERE.

    Franklin St Parking: There are parking decks on Franklin Street that are a short walk away, check out the Franklin St Parking Map for more info.

    ALWAYS read the signs before you park and NEVER park in unauthorized spaces or along the road – they WILL ticket and/or tow!

  • The Forest Theatre was built in 1916 and is not easily accessible for all audience members. There are unfortunately no handicap accessible ramps within or around the theatre.

    We always save a few spaces in the lot directly behind Forest Theater for disability parking and are more than happy to help those in wheelchairs and with other mobility issues to find a way to see the show.

    Directions below:

    1. Go to the parking lot behind the Forest Theatre located off of S. Boundary St.

    2. Drop off your passenger(s) and/or, if possible, park. We try to keep a space open for handicap accessibility, but do be prepared that it may be taken.

    For seating, enter from the rear of the theater and proceed to the left. Once you pass the stone wall of the stage, the wheelchair seating is located on the ledge, beside the speaker, to the right of the main audience seating. The sound is louder here, please bring ear plugs just in case they are needed.

    To purchase tickets, enter from the rear of the theater and proceed to the right. There will be a “box office”. You may also go to the main entrance and purchase your tickets at our main box office.

    Do not hesitate to ask one of the puppeteers (they are usually wearing all black) for help.

    If you would like to view the seating beforehand, the Forest Theatre is accessible throughout the day.

    We realize this is not ideal seating, but are glad it’s a possibility for our audience members that use wheelchairs to see the show at the Forest Theatre.

    If you have any questions about accessibility or if you would like to let us know in advance that you have special parking/accessibility needs to insure we can accommodate you, please email or use the form below on this page: tickets@paperhandpuppet.org

  • Port-a-potties are located near the main entrance of The Forest Theater.

  • Pets are not allowed at The Forest Theatre. Service animals are, of course, welcome.

  • Smoking is not allowed at the Forest Theatre.

About Our Shows

  • Our Summer Shows are created for everyone. Adults and children of all ages are welcome. Some small kids are startled by the combination of loud sounds and large moving objects. Try sitting in the back for your first show and move closer each time you come until they are hooked, and become fans for life.

  • Most of our shows run approximately 1.5 hours with no intermission.

  • Evening performances begin at 7:00 with a pre-show act at 6:20. Matinees begin at 3:00 with a pre-show act at 2:20.

    We highly recommend arriving early to see the wonderful opening acts and to ensure you get the seating you desire.

    On Saturday’s, we recommend arriving extra early (around 5:45) to ensure you have a seat. Saturday shows at the Forest Theatre usually sell out! Get there EXTRA early or, if possible, choose a Friday or Sunday. Same great show, more elbow room. Give yourself some extra time to find parking as well!

  • Desire to have more room with friends and family at the show? Then attend a Friday or Sunday performance! Saturdays are our most attended shows. At The Forest Theatre, these performances are at full capacity and it’s necessary for everyone to scoot in and make room for all to enjoy the show.

  • Sometimes. Some of our shadow puppet and illuminated segments of the performance necessitate darkness. Therefore, we may shift the performance slightly in order for the show to be beautifully presented!

  • Yes! You can purchase t-shirts, DVD’s, music, stickers, postcards and more at our ticket counter. Also, be sure to stop by our “Cheap Art” table for incredible unique art at low prices made by our cast! (The DVD for the current years production will be available at the following years show.)

  • We love talking to the audience and are happy to show off the puppets after the show. That being said, packing up at the end of the night is quite a process. We carry heavy and sometimes delicate materials, so we ask that you be mindful and make room for the puppeteers and musicians who begin packing up after the show.

  • Each show has a different story, but much of our work revolves around climate change, healing, connecting with the earth and our communities. We use our platform to lift up voices that are not normally heard. If you want to learn more about us, head to our About page. Head to the show page to learn more about it!

  • Applications are closed for the summer 2024 season. Check back in June of 2025!

Still have questions?

Email us directly using the form below.