Coachella 2026: We talked to L.A.’s beloved Bob Baker Marionettes about the festival

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The Bob Baker Marionette Theater in Los Angeles had a busy week, performing at Coachella for the first time and agreeing to buy the Highland Park theater they’ve called home since 2019.

Hundreds of people filled the red Gobi Tent at Coachella last Friday afternoon for a special performance. The puppeteers, all dressed in classic red, brought out some of the company’s most famous puppets, including the show’s host, Pink Cat, who was covered in sequins and jewelry. As she took the stage, the puppet exclaimed, “Puppet-chella … meeeeooowww!”

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Bob Baker Marionettes at Coachella: L.A.’s tiniest stars take on music’s biggest festival

Bob Baker’s recent 40-minute performance was different from his usual, smaller shows. Winona Bechtle, the theater’s director of partnerships, said the show had more puppets on stage at once than ever before. The performance included dancing pink poodles with long eyelashes, a group of wobbly-eyed cacti moving to the music, and three little white dogs running across the stage.

Music

The 2026 festival marks a quarter-century of music and art, and has grown into a huge international event.

The highlight of the show was definitely Ben Platt’s rendition of Addison Rae’s popular song, “Diet Pepsi.” A puppet resembling Hansel, wearing a dress made of leaves, danced to the music, while flower-shaped puppets twirled around him. The Bob Baker Marionettes clearly understood their audience – the crowd enthusiastically sang along. It was a uniquely Los Angeles moment, blending the Bob Baker Marionettes, Ben Platt, and Addison Rae at Coachella.

The famous Bob Baker Marionettes are returning to Coachella! You can see their show live on Friday, April 17th, from 2:55 to 3:35 p.m. inside the Gobi Tent. If you miss it, or want to see it again, a recording will be available on Coachella’s YouTube channel at 4 p.m. that same day.

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2026-04-16 23:31