Puppeteers Helping Puppeteers


By Alex U. Griffin P


uppeteers often hide in the shadows, or right outside of the frame, and we let our craft speak for us. We also work together, not only in collaboration but sometimes just to bring life to a single character. We have each other’s backs, sometimes very literally. What do we do when faced with the closing of venues we use to reach audiences? We restring ourselves, reinforce our structure, and work together to tell our stories.


The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 drastically altered life as we knew it. Theaters shut their doors. Schools went online. Festivals, conventions, and any large gatherings were postponed indefinitely or cancelled outright. Even Disneyland,


the “happiest place on Earth,” closed its gates. Within the puppetry community, many who could sought to support those who couldn’t, by one means or another.


The Direct Relief Fund for Puppet Artists The Direct Relief Fund for Puppet Artists was intended to be a separate channel of support. It was a way to offer a quick $500 cash injection for puppeteers who needed anything from supplies to utilities or groceries. The idea was grand. Was it even possible to raise enough funds to offer that sort of support? We quickly found out. The initial starter funding was personally donated by continued on next page


JIm Rose is one of nine amazing puppeteers interviewed for "Cheers to Puppeteers" launched by the "Puppet Tears Podcast." Photo courtesy of Cameron Garrity


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