Drawing on the author's two decades of watching, writing, and teaching about puppetry from a critical perspective, this is a collection of insights into how we watch, understand, and appreciate puppetry. Reading the Puppet Stage uses examples from a broad range of puppetry genres, from Broadway shows and the Muppets, to the rich field of contemporary performing object experimentation internationally, to the wealth of Asian puppet traditions, as well as the author's own experienced perspectives on the ways performing objects can create and structure meaning. These examples are married with an understanding of the dramaturgical interplay between puppets, performers, and language. An introductory approach for students, critics, and artists, this book underlines where significant artistic concerns lie in puppetry and outlines the supportive networks and resources that shape the community of those who make, watch, and love this ever-developing art.