Puppet Tears: Puppetry Shop Talk

On this week's show we're joined by the one-and-only Stacey Gordon. Stacey is the founding owner of Puppet Pie, a puppet building art studio in Phoenix Arizona. She is also a performer on Sesame Street, where she has performed Julia, the first Muppet character with Autism, since 2015.

We talk with Stacey about how her early love for dolls and toys lead to an interest in theatre, growing her business from an Etsy shop to an international arts programming, and the series of events that lead her to Sesame Street. Tune in for a truly inspirational chat full of insights into how to find success in the arts! PLUS: find out what do when your camera only records video 5 seconds at a time!

For mentions and episode highlights, visit PuppetTears.com/StaceyGordon

Release date: June 14, 2021 Edited by Matt Bowen Hosted by Adam Kreutinger & Cameron Garrity

On this episode, we have an animated discussion with the one-and-only Jamie Bressler! An absolute power-house puppet builder, Jamie has built characters and props for the Jim Henson Company, Saturday Night Live, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and beyond. Her own work has earned her Comic-Con and Internet fame, creating on-model puppet versions of Disney and Pixar characters. We talk to Jamie about how her training as a scenic designer evolved into a passion for puppetry, skills she learned from Puppet Kitchen and Bob Flanagan's Den Design Studio, and the experience of seeing her builds come to life on stage and screen. Join us for some great pointers on how to being your puppet building journey! PLUS: find out which guest-host kept breaking a sword Jamie built for SNL. For mentions and episode highlights, visit PuppetTears.com/JamieBressler Release date: May 17, 2021 ​Edited by Matt Bowen Hosted by Adam Kreutinger & Cameron Garrity

Here to discuss their critically renowned documentary Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street, Puppet Tears welcomes the film's producers Trevor Crafts and Ellen Scherer Crafts. Their movie, based on Michael Davis's 2008 book Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street, was an official selection at the 2021 Sundance Film festival, is in theaters now, and is available on-demand Friday, May 7.

We talk with Trevor and Ellen about their journey in creating the acclaimed film, the unique challenges that came with unearthing over 55 years of Sesame Workshop archives, and how their appreciation for Sesame Street's legacy has expanded and deepened since starting this project in 2015. Don't miss a great discussion with these visionary creators of this definitive Sesame documentary. PLUS: learn why the filmmakers chose to gift us with footage of swearing Muppets!

For mentions and episode highlights, visit PuppetTears.com/StreetGang Release date: May 3, 2021 ​Edited by Matt Bowen Hosted by Adam Kreutinger & Cameron Garrity

It's time to meet our very special guest Fergie L Philippe to Puppet Tears podcast! Fergie is an accomplished musical theatre actor best known as Hercules Mulligan and James Madison in Hamilton on Broadway. Fergie is rocketing his way towards a career in puppetry as well and is host of the new podcast It's Time to Meet the Muppets on Broadway Podcast Network.

We talk to Fergie about his early love for puppetry pointing him towards a career in musical theatre, how his appreciation for the All-American Musical morphed upon joining it's second touring production, and where the Muppets will be in ten years. He also talks about what he's learned from his mentors - stars of Sesame Street and Avenue Q. PLUS: a puppet tears story about Hamilton's iconic double turn-table!

For mentions and episode highlights, visit PuppetTears.com/FergiePhilippe

Release date: April 19, 2021 Edited by Matt Bowen Hosted by Adam Kreutinger & Cameron Garrity

For this episode of Puppet Tears, the guys are joined by one of their best friends in the world of puppetry - Madison J. Cripps. Known around the world for his boisterous approach to busking, Madison is the founder of Cripps Creations (formerly Cripps Puppets). He has performed marionettes at venues across the United States, including multiple National Puppetry Slams. He received a UNIMA citation of excellence for his work on Billy the Liar in 2015. We talk to Madison about his unique method for developing characters, how to weather the critique process, and what he learned from the power-house cast of mentors who have helped him sharpen his point of view over the years. He also shares some great tips for busking and keeping audiences engaged. PLUS: tune in after the credits to find out what the "J" in Madison J. Cripps stands for! For mentions and episode highlights, visit PuppetTears.com/MadisonJCripps Release date: March 29, 2021 Edited by Matt Bowen Hosted by Adam Kreutinger & Cameron Garrity

We're back with one of the hardest working puppeteers in the business - Warrick Brownlow-Pike! You know him from his work with CBeebies as Oucho Cactus and Dodge the Dog, performing Marion the Cat on BBC 2's Mongrels, a lead performer and puppet captain on Netflix's Dark Crystal Age of Resistance, and performing Gonger on Sesame Street. We'll chat with Warrick about the many projects on his expansive C/V, how different productions called for him to access different performance techniques, and what it's like to create and star in an original Sesame Street segment. Join us for a conversation jam-packed with puppet tear stories - some even including Warrick's own illustrations! PLUS: hear what event reminded him that he is definitely claustrophobic. For mentions and episode highlights, visit PuppetTears.com/Warrick BP Release date: March 15, 2021 Edited by Matt Bowen Hosted by Adam Kreutinger & Cameron Garrity

On this week's show we're hopping across the pond to chat with a real puppetry work horse: Phil Fletcher. Phil has been performing Hacker the Dog live on CBBC nearly every day for over twelve years. He is the prolific puppet builder and cabaret performer behind his original troupe 'The Gluvets.' Phil has also appeared as an additional performer in numerous television programs, including Netflix's Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. We talk with Phil about his early aptitude for puppet construction, the benefits and challenges of performing on live television, and his non-stop drive to create original, truly unique characters. Tune in for an off-the-wall conversation that goes from Banana Splits to Feebles in no time at all! PLUS: find out how you can write-off a bathroom mirror on your taxes! For mentions and episode highlights, visit PuppetTears.com/PhilFletcher Release date: January 27, 2021 Edited by Matt Bowen Hosted by Adam Kreutinger & Cameron Garrity

Welcome to 2021! We're kicking off the year with Chris Thomas Hayes, the rising star who has performed Hoots the Owl on Sesame Street since 2019. Chris is a member of the Sesame Workshop mentorship program for new puppeteers, and has worked with the Center for Puppetry Arts and Madcap Puppets. He is also an accomplished human actor on both stage and screen. The guys talk to Chris about how he made the switch from theater to monitor-style puppetry, the power of representation in media, and the responsibility involved in taking on a legacy character on Sesame Street. Tune in for some fun discussions about the joys of walk-around puppets, the pitfalls of mascot characters, and the multiple times Chris's birthday has brought him good luck. PLUS: we'll try to get the attention of Marvel Studio's Kevin Feige. For mentions and episode highlights, visit PuppetTears.com/ChrisThomasHayes Release date: January 13, 2021 ​Edited by Matt Bowen Hosted by Adam Kreutinger & Cameron Garrity

The Cheers to Puppeteers series comes to a close with a very special guest - Debra Spinney. Affectionately known as "Mrs. Big Bird", Deb is the wife of the late Caroll Spinney who brought life to Big Bird and Oscar on Sesame Street for 50 seasons. In addition to being Caroll's manager, she traveled the world with the iconic show and pitched story-lines which became some of Sesame Street's most historic moments. We talk to Debbie about her path that brought her to working for the Children's Television Workshop in 1972, how her life changed after falling in love with Caroll, and how she continues to be an ambassador to Sesame Street. You can not miss this heart-filled conversation packed with stories about Deb and Caroll's adventures and how she's working to keep his art alive. PLUS: find out why we need to get #ReleaseTheSpinneyCut trending! For mentions and episode highlights, visit PuppetTears.com/DebSpinney Release date: December 26, 2020 ​Edited by Matt Bowen Hosted by Adam Kreutinger & Cameron Garrity

In our penultimate installment of Cheers to Puppeteers, we're talking to Dave Goelz - the legendary performer who created and still portrays some of The Muppet Show's most iconic characters, including Gonzo the Great, Bunsen Honeydew, Zoot, Beauregard, and more. He has recently reprised the roles of Boober Fraggle and Uncle Traveling Matt for Apple TV+'s Fraggle Rock: Rock On, which was filmed during the COVID-19 lockdown. We talk to Dave about coming into puppetry from his first career as an industrial designer at IBM, rising to stardom with Gonzo in The Muppet Show and The Muppet Movie, and the challenge of taking on a legacy character. He also shares some wisdom from his father that has guided him through his work as a designer, puppet builder, performer, and more. PLUS: we get a new story about Kermit Love that you just can't miss! For show notes and episode highlights, visit PuppetTears.com/DaveGoelz Release date: December 23, 2020 Edited by Matt Bowen Hosted by Adam Kreutinger & Cameron Garrity