My Favorite Pittsburgh Thing To Do With Kids: Puppetmaker Cheryl Capezzuti

Cheryl Capezzuti has been making art in Pittsburgh for more than 20 years. She is best known as the master puppetmaker of the First Night Pittsburgh Parade, which features hundreds of giant puppets made in workshops with kids and adults from all over Pittsburgh.

As the creative force behind projects like Giant Puppet Dance Club, Cheryl jokes that she married her opposite in her math professor husband, David Sluss.

The Brighton Heights couple have two daughters, Stevie, 13, and Cassidy, 11.

Not surprising, Cheryl loves to have her kids make and dance in giant puppets.

“But when I’m not busy putting them to work at the service of my passion,” she jokes, “we all like to do things that are a little more relaxed.

“One of our favorite things to do is hang out in Schenley Plaza with friends. Whether it is for an outdoor concert or just an evening of relaxing, it is something we all enjoy. We’ll either pack a picnic or get take-out pizza from The Porch and toss a blanket down on the lawn.”

She loves the all-you-can-ride season Carousel Pass. And the family usually stops at the Carnegie Library while they’re there.

“Our evenings in the plaza end with a grand finale: Ice cream from Waffallonia and, weather-permitting, a quick wade in the fountain. It’s our perfect, wind-down summer evening.”

Cheryl enjoys taking a break from her professional life to chill with her kids.

“My professional life is really intense,” she says. “I make, I teach, I direct, and I juggle a million things … just like every other mom I know! Luckily, I married a guy that holds the world together and magically keeps things from turning into complete and utter chaos.”