Coachella 2026: We Talked To L.a.'s Beloved Bob Baker Marionettes About The Festival

It’s been a large week for L.A.’s Bob Baker Marionette Theater — it made its Coachella debut and entered an statement to acquisition nan Highland Park theater it has been renting since 2019.

Last Friday afternoon, hundreds of group packed into Coachella’s red-walled Gobi Tent shelter to watch nan show. Puppeteers, dressed successful nan classical Bob Baker reddish from caput to toe, brought retired immoderate of nan company’s beloved icons — including nan show’s host, Pink Cat, adorned successful sequins and jewelry. “Puppet-chella … meeeeooowww!” boomed nan puppet arsenic she took nan stage.

The 40-minute group was a departure from Bob Baker’s typical, much friendly shows. According to Winona Bechtle, nan theater’s head of partnerships, it featured much puppets connected a azygous shape than they’ve ever had before. Pink poodles pinch agelong achromatic eyelashes danced successful a can-can line, a quartet of googly-eyed cacti bobbed on to nan euphony and a trio of mini achromatic dogs galloped connected nan stage.

But what stole nan show was a capacity of Ben Platt’s screen of Addison Rae’s deed opus “Diet Pepsi.” A Hansel-like puppet dressed successful a frock made of leaves danced on to nan opus while fairy-like puppets made of brightly colored flowers swayed successful circles astir him. The Bob Baker Marionettes knew their assemblage very good — nan crowd shrieked on to nan chorus. After all, does it get immoderate much L.A. niche than a Bob Baker x Ben Platt x Addison Rae Coachella crossover?

The Bob Baker Marionettes will beryllium backmost connected shape astatine Coachella connected Friday, April 17, from 2:55 to 3:35 p.m. successful nan Gobi Tent. You tin drawback nan recorded capacity connected Coachella’s YouTube channel astatine 4 p.m. Friday.