A Puppet Music Thing (2008)

ALISSA HUNNICUTT has brought together marionettes, table top, bunraku, humanette, toy theater, shadow and kuruma ningyo puppetry and couldnt be more proud to show the musical theater world the breadth of puppet theater. Alissa began studying puppetry with John Tartaglia and is now the resident puppeteer at Mount Sinai Hospitals KidZoneTV working both on-camera and leading puppet-building workshops. She was a featured participant at the 2007 and 2008 O Neill Puppetry Conference where she studied with Ron Binion, Richard Termine, Robert Smythe, Martin P. Robinson and Paul Mesner. Alissas NYC puppet theater credits include playing Fritz, the gay terrorist, in Die Hard the Puppet Musical, all of the puppet characters in Live Nude Girl, Mustard the Dog in The Tales of Custard the Dragon, the feet of Pinokenstein, Great Small Works Eighth International Toy Theater Festival and the critically acclaimed BRIDE at PS122. She is currently in development on her solo cabaret show of songs, patter and puppetry and a full-length puppet musical, Picassos Muse. In addition to being a puppeteer, Alissa is also an accomplished voiceover actor and singer with a Master of Music degree from Manhattan School of Music. You might also catch Alissa performing in the back of some bar in town as a member of Opera on Tap. www.alissahunnicutt.com

TYLER BUNCH has been working as an actor for fifteen years. In addition to performing such characters as Parris in The Crucible, Bottom in Midsummer Night's Dream and Pooh Bah in The Mikado, he may also be recognized by youngsters (or the young at heart) for his performances as Pop, Treelo and Doc Hogg (Bear in the Big Blue House), or Grampu, Dr. Nitwhite, Winslow or Baby Cookie Monster (OOBI, Between The Lions, It's a Big, Big World, Sesame Beginnings) and is a member of the troupe of Puppet Up!, a puppet version of Who's Line produced by Brian Henson. He recently received a Daytime Emmy nomination for directing It's a Big, Big World and is part of Emmet Otters Jugband Christmas at Goodspeed Opera House this December.

JOHN ARDOLINO: A native of West Haven, CT., John studied theatre with the New Haven troupe Theatermania under the tutelage of off-off-broadway vet Margi Maher. In 1995 John moved to NYC where he studied improv at HB Studios in Manhattan. John performed his first puppet show in 1998, with Drama of Works, as Mephistopheles in Dr. Faustus. In 2006 John formed the company Exploding Puppet Productions with his colleague, James Walton, and in 2007 they wrote and performed their first full length show, Die Hard: The Puppet Musical at the NY Musical Theatre Festival. John is a freelance artist who specializes in improvisation, found object puppetry and voice overs.

NATE BEGLE having just returned from fighting the Cretans at Sparta, (or was it the Spartans at Crete?...can never remember) he is absolutely ecstatic to once again hold Hans lovingly in his hand once more. And he'll make sure he warms it up first so as not to be too cold on Han's sensitive nape...he hates that.

CEILI CLEMENS is a Brooklyn based super-villianess, and an alumni of UCONN's Puppetry Arts program. She has performed with Uncle Jimmy's Dirty Basement, Carrie, Hansel and Gretle, Maya the Bee, Animal Farm: A Musical, Butterfly Dreams, The Adventures of Charcoal Boy, Lonerunner, A Show of Hands 2001, and Nosforatu, as well as in many puppet slams across the North East. She has performed at Carnegie Hall with Cats Paw Collective for their performance of "Night On Bald Mountain". She has performed and wrangled for the television shows "Between the Lions', "Blue's Room", "Chapelle Show", "The Tomatoes', "The B-Team" and worked with the Sundance Film Festival. She has built for Avenue Q, Little Shop of Horrors, City Opera, Macy's Parade and for many television shows. She also works as a costumer and theater technician in NYC and the North East.

FRANKIE CORDERO, originally from Chicago, has been working as puppeteer in NYC for the last 4 years. Theater: with Lone Wolf Tribe, Tom Lee, Concrete Temple Theater, and Hystopolis, and at venues such as PS122, La MaMa ETC, The Chocolate Factory, and Carnegie Hall. In addition to performing in many TV/Film projects, his work as a craftsperson, wrangler, and puppeteer can be seen on Oobi, Its a Big, Big World, and Jacks Big Music Show, among others. This Fall, he returns to his understudy role in Madama Butterfly at the Met Opera, and will be directing a music video for Atlantic Records, for which he also designed the puppets and sets. frankiecordero.com

ANDREI DROOZ previously worked with Kanako and Yoko on "Mask, My Love" for the Tri-City Arts Tour in Asbury Park, as well as "The Monkey Moo", performed at last summer's NYC Fringe Festival. He has also appeared in various works at Mabou Mines, the Gene Frankel Theatre, and Theatre for the New City. Thanks to everyone involved!

Marionettist JANICE GRIMALDI was a 2008 emerging artist at the O'Neill Puppetry Conference in Waterford, Connecticut where she directed, "Hoffmann's Tavern Tales," part of a larger work planned for 2009. Grimaldi has performed solo marionette pieces for three consecutive summers at the O'Neill Conference and for the Spring Gala of The Commonwealth Opera Company. She has taught marionette performance, built marionettes for, and directed puppet operas at American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts. These works include "Rigoletto", "Der Freischutz" and several smaller complilations entitled, "Opera Bits and Pieces." Grimaldi studied marionette construction and performance at the University of Connecticut's "String Academy." She also appeared in U.Conn's puppet "Magic Flute" and in a fringe slot for the Puppeteers of America meeting held on campus. Grimaldi has studied in Buoch, Germany with marionette master Albrecht Roser and in Waterford, Connecticut with marionette masters Philip Huber and Jim Rose.

KANAKO HIYAMA originally from Chiba, Japan, Kanako obtained B.A. from Fort Lewis College in Colorado. Her directing credits include; "The Monkey Moo" (NY Fringe Festival), "Hamlet" (La MaMa ETC), "Tokyo Rose" (Chocolate Factory Theater) and "Ho'ichi, the Earless" (La MaMa.)

BEN KRAUSS is thrilled to be working on A Puppet Music Thing at NYMF. Recent music directing credits include Fame (Shawnee Playhouse), Rue Imaginarium (Little Village Playhouse), and Dames At Sea (Morristown-Bearde Theater). An active pianist and vocal coach in New York City, Ben has also performed at the Duplex Cabaret, Columbia University, and the Liederkranz Opera House. He received his BA at Vassar College in 2005 and his MA at the Aaron Copland School of Music Queens College in 2007, where he received both the Hubert Sukoff and Luigi Dallapiccola awards in composition.

MARIANNE KUBIK heads the movement division of the graduate acting program at the University of Virginia and has taught at such schools as the University of Connecticut, University of Kansas, Boston University, and Emerson College. Her movement specialties include period dance styles, stage combat, Laban, and mask, and the foundation of her work is in Meyerholds biomechanics, which she studied at GITIS in Moscow. Her book chapter on the subject can be found in Movement for Actors, and she has shared both her practical training and her original performance work in such venues as the International University in Slovenia and the Czech Republic, the Accademia Dell Arte in Italy, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the Fox Theatre, Construction Company in NYC, Boston Center for the Arts, and the Eugene O Neill Theater Center, where she recently served as movement coach for the National Puppetry Conference. Marianne holds an MFA from Boston University College of Fine Arts, is an Advanced Actor/Combatant in eight weapons recognized by the Society of American Fight Directors, and ballroom dances in her spare time.

HOWIE LEIFER has been making and performing with puppets since 1980. His work has been seen in theaters, street fairs, libraries, schools, museums, and political demonstrations. He performed at the last three International Toy Theater Festivals in New York City as well as the Henson International Puppetry Festival, The Avignon Off and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

JAKE LOEWENTHAL is a sophomore acting major at Fordham College at Lincoln Center. Fordham Credits Include: Laughing Pictures (A Hollywood Odyssey), The Rover, Kate Crackernuts, and Fall Up and Fly. He is delighted to be working with puppets.

LISA MARGAROLI was last seen as Carla in Pinokenstein (Bad Musicals Festival) and recently returned from the national tour of In the Mood, a 1940s Big Band Revue. NYC: Hair, The Genvieve Duvall Affair. Other roles: LI Premiere of Breaking Up Is Hard to Do (Marge), Pirates of Penzance (Edith), Jekyll & Hyde (Nellie), The Rocky Horror Show (Magenta), She Loves Me (Ritter), A Chorus Line (Sheila), Into the Woods (Rapunzel), and others. Lisa has a B.S. in Music from Hofstra University, and has had the honor of performing both Durafle's & Mozart's Requiem at Carnegie Hall and works of Aaron Copland at Avery Fisher Hall. Lisa is thrilled to be in her first NYMF show with great friends. Thanks Alissa!

MARTA MOZELLE MACROSTIE is a puppeteer, puppet builder, props master, theater educator, and jazz vocalist. She holds a BA in Puppetry and Music from the Univ. of Massachusetts. Marta currently lives in Hartford Ct, where she has designed and built for Oddfellows Playhouse, Hartbeat Ensemble, ARTFARM, and Hartford Children's Theatre. In Hartford, she also works as a puppeteer for Concerned Citizens for Humanity, performing HIV Education shows throughout the Hartford school system. When not up to her elbows in paper mache or hand puppets, she can be found fronting her quintet, Marta Mozelle & her Solid Senders, at various swing dance events across the northeast. Marta will be moving camp to NYC this fall.

YOKO MYOI has appeared in numerous theater productions at The Chocolate Factory, St.Ann's Warehouse, La MaMa e.t.c., HERE, St. Mark's Church, and P.S.122. She has toured nationally with Dan Hurlin's "Hiroshima Maiden", Pamella O' Connor's "The Anatomy of Melancholy" and Silent Partner's " Fables", "Haiku Suite." "The Monkey Moo" which she created in collaboration with Kanako Hiyama and Zelda Pinwheel was presented in Fringe NYC in 2007.

MIKE O BRIEN (a.k.a. Dr. Michael O Brien, Ph.D, a.k.a. Milo) is an accomplished teacher, director, actor and puppeteer. He has been actively involved in the theatre arts for almost thirty years, with over eighteen years as a theatre educator. Mike began working with puppets twelve years ago when he was cast as the lead puppeteer in a production of Monkey Storms Heaven. Mike is also in regular attendance at the Eugene O Neill National Puppetry Conference in Waterford, CT. There hes written and directed the original plays Your Dream My Dream and Grama.

WILL PIKE was one of the puppeteers on Pinokenstein (Bad Musicals Festival) and has attended the O Neill Puppetry Conference where he studied mechanics with Jim Kroupa and marionettes with Jim Rose and Philip Huber. Love you Maire.

HALEY RAWSON is currently a Junior at Fordham University at Lincoln Center, where she is pursuing a B.A. in Theatre Performance. She was featured this summer Off-Broadway as Grace in "Lights & Music", directed by Jeremy Quinn at the 45th Street Theatre. Other favorite credits include Thaisa in "Pericles" at the Provincetown Playhouse, Actor #2 in "Monologue?" at the Helen Hayes Theatre, Lilith in "Last Call: An Apocalypse Story" and Water in "Life is a Dream", both at Fordham University.

BEN STROTHMANN: With one of Broadways leading headshot studios, Ben is also the original photographer for the Playbill Broadway Yearbook. Born in Milwaukee, WI, his mom is the famous Suzy of Suzy's Cream Cheesecakes, inventor of the Turtle cheesecake! (suzys.com) Ben is excited to be an uncle for the 7th time! He speaks Spanish & Icelandic and enjoys playing piano, guitar, cello, & of course the puppet! Special thanks to Jim, Brad2ley, and the entire gang at the 46th Street Club House! Stage: Chorus (The Mikado), Dr. Geppetto (Pinokenstein: The Musical), Derk/Jewish Man (Dutch Courage), Snoopy (Y.A.G.M.C.B), Mark (A Chorus Line), Rolf (Sound of Music), Wrangler (Will Rogers Follies), Company Dancer (Dance Machine Int'l), Singing Waiter (Stardust Diner); Concert: The Leading Men (Joe's Pub 2005, Birdland 2007); TV: Chappelle's Show. www.benstrothmann.com

IAN SWEETMAN built his first puppet when he was 12, and didn't do it again for 18 years. His loss. In spite of this embarrassing fact, Ian has spent much of his adult life employed as a puppeteer for Theme Parks, marionette theaters, community organizations, museums, and, recently, television. Ian also earned a Master of Fine Arts in Puppetry from the University of Connecticut. Ian is currently employed as the Stock Supervisor for the Metropolitan Opera Costume Shop.

JAMES WALTON studied the art of designing and building puppets at Denver's Puppet Palace for two years under his friend and mentor Cory Gilstrap. Upon moving to NYC in 2003, James joined the ranks of Brooklyn based Drama of Works where he was a puppeteer in the award-winning "Warhol" and designed their Shadow Puppet adaptation of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. In 2006, with the help of his friend John Ardolino, James launched Exploding Puppet Productions. Collaborating closely with Drama of Works and Blue River Productions, James and co-creator Ardolino composed, designed, wrote, produced, and preformed in EPP's flagship production Die Hard: the Puppet Musical. James lives in Brooklyn with the woman he loves Professor Peterson.

STACEY WEINGARTEN is a fledgling director, puppeteer, wrangler, and creative type who is thrilled to contribute to A Puppet Music Thing. Currently a workshop intern with The Jim Henson Company, Stacey served as a PA on Seasons One and Two of Johnny and the Sprites and has attended the O Neill Puppetry Conference as a participant. This October, Stacey is directing the new work HouseKeeper at Fordham College Lincoln Center, where she is an undergraduate (Double Major: Theatre Directing and Communications; Minor: Ancient Greek). Other credits include Oki Doki Oki Doki, dir. Jesse Averna), Kate Crackernuts, Pauls Voice/Puppet Design, Fordham).

MEGHAN WILLIAMS is a jill of all trades. She works as a performer, puppeteer, prop designer, production manager, stage manager, model builder, and electrician. Recent credits include performing in The Womens Projects Corporate Carnival, production managing for the Great Small Works Eighth International Toy Theater Festival at St. Anns Warehouse and stage managing Celebrate Brooklyn! in Prospect Park. Check out her set design in the upcoming Capture Now at The Green Room at 45 Bleecker Street.

DAVID FOWLER is a new addition to NYMF and is very excited to be a part of this season. After earning a BFA in technical design from Stephen F. Austin State in Texas, he worked as an audio engineer and mixer at the Arizona Theater Company for several years. He then got the opportunity to lead the sound department at NY Stage and Film Company until obtaining the assistant audio supervisor position at The Public Theater in NYC. He is now a freelance audio mixer in NYC and is happy to be a part of this festival.

CORY PATTAK, NYC: "The Blue Flower" (Prospect Theatre), "Mercy Thieves" (Outhouse Theatre), "International Women's Day" (St. Barts Cathedral), "Do Not Disturb" (59E59), "The Bubble," "Castronauts" (NYMF). Regional: "Footloose," "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Cats," "Annie," "Fiddler on the Roof" (Pittsburgh Musical Theatre), "Fully Committed" (Syracuse Stage), "Rounding Third," "Our Lady of 121st Street" (The Redhouse), "Great Expectations" (Prime Stage),Young Playwrights Festival (Pittsburgh City Theatre), "Private Lives" (South Park Theatre), "Kiss Me, Kate," "The Front Page," "Twelfth Night," "Floyd Collins" and "The Shape of Things" (Syracuse University) and many concert/cabaret designs at Ars Nova. Assistant lighting design for "Chicago" (2008 US Tour), "Les Miserables" (TOTS Tour), "Shamu's XmasMiracle" (Seaworld),"Gem of the Ocean," "I Am My On Wife" (Pittsburgh Public), "Girl's Room" (Queen's Theatre in the Park), "Essential Self-Defense" (Playwrights Horizons), "The Internationalist" (Vineyard), "Altar Boyz," "Love Song" (Adirondack Theatre Fest), BC/EFA Easter Bonnet, Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, Westport Country Playhouse and New World Stages. Upcoming: "Ride" (Outhouse Theatre @ 59E59), "The Sparks Fly Upward" (Hoyt Sherman Place) BFA: Syracuse University.www.corypattak.com.

DARA SEITZMAN grew up near Detroit, Michigan and currently resides in Manhattan. She earned a BFA in Theatre Performance and a BS in Biology at The University of Michigan. Theatre credits include: Brecht's Man is Man (Leocadia Begbick), The Merchant of Venice (Jessica), The Pirates of Penzance (Edith), Swingtime Canteen (Topeka Abotelli), Jesus Christ Superstar (Mary), Sweet Charity (Nickie), Godspell (Sonia), Cowgirls (Lee), Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Suzanne/Countess), and Grease (Cha-Cha) at theatres such as Urban Stages (NY), Prospect Theater Co (NY), Seven Angels (CT), Performance Network (MI), New Harmony (IN) and Bristol Riverside (PA). Dara records vocals for cast albums, sings with the bands Blue Number Nine and The Teddy's, does voice-over work, and is a proud member of Actors' Equity. www.dara.biz