Puppet-y Wedded Bliss

One of the great bonuses available in Geek Theatre for an actor is the chance to get to play the same character in several different plays, since geek genres lend themselves so well to sequels, trilogies, serials, etc. This is both a rare gift as an artist and also in real life…..those of us who worked on all 3 Team of Heroes plays got really really close and we still hang out, which can be rare once a play is over. Our assistant director even officiated Madam Mayhem’s wedding

So one day the actor that played The Cap’n (Jason Sharp) approached me and said he had a crazy idea. He wondered if I would be willing to marry him and his fiancé Jayson Potter with a puppet officiant. Naturally, I was totally on board with this (and I was already ordained, so that was no problem). We met a couple of times to talk about what sort of officiant and ceremony they would like, I sent them some sketches to choose from, had faux fur swatches sent to them so we could make sure we matched their ceremony colors, etc. And that eventually led to The Right Honorable Ruth Monster Ginsberg.

Jason Sharp, The Right Honorable Ruth Monster Ginsberg and Jayson Potter.
Photo by Ian Johnston, Dangerpants Photography

The hardest part about the whole thing was keeping it a secret. But somehow, we managed it. We had The Right Honorable Ruth Monster Ginsberg hidden in a box on the ceremony platform and after the Processional, I did the Welcome/Invocation and then paused and said it was now my privilege to introduce the actual Officiant and then, yeah, I brought out the puppet. We had no idea what that moment was going to be like, by the way. I think we were all a little afraid someone was going to storm out or something. But no, everyone totally embraced it.

Jayson and Jason were fully commited to the idea too, it wasn’t just tacked on. They had me work in a bit where they asked if this was even legal, so that Ruth could recite all the states where same-sex marriage has been legalized; they asked for me to have her linger awkwardly close to them after she gave them permission to kiss…and I constructed the part of the ceremony where you define marriage as “The ABCs of Marriage,” so it all made tons of sense…in a crazy geek way, of course.

I really don’t think this would ever have happened if we hadn’t spent three years working together on a superhero play.

New for 2014: Singing Telegrams

Don't know what to get that special someone for Valentine's Day? Live in the Seattle Area? How about a romantic Singing Puppet-Gram?

Dr. Lennie, Doctor of Puppetology and Love, will be dispatched (with puppeteer escort) to a destination of your choosing to surprise your valentine with a singing telegram. After serenading them, he will read them your special message and give them a valentine as a memento of his visit.

To book your Puppet-Gram, or learn more, click here (or use the menu tab above).

Creepy Cute? Or Just Creepy?

My friend Daimon did a mini-documentary on me for one of his graduate classes last semester. Here's hoping he got at least a B minus!

Puppet Passion from Daimon Eklund on Vimeo.

An AMERICAN WEE-PIE Cupcake Review with Rachel Jackson & Dr. Lennie

Blogging from the WayBack Machine: Me at The Dark Cabaret

Hey, sorry it's been awhile, you guys. After Bumbershoot, I was embroiled in a couple of secret projects, so I didn't have much I could talk about. Fortunately, the secret stuff is all done being secret, so I can share:

photo by Lou Daprile

I've performed at a couple of La Petite Mort's Dark Cabarets, which I always enjoy, so when she came to me saying she had an idea for a puppet act, I was already pretty ready to say "Yes." And then she said:

"I'd like some creepy puppets telling a story of a Nosferatu-type vampire who falls in love with the sun, while we sing 'You Are My Sunshine'."

Creepy and sweet. Totally my wheelhouse. I said "Hell yes."

Audrey & Nelson at BUMBERSHOOT

Yes, everyone's favourite Puppet Sex Musical returns for 2 shows only at this weekend's Bumbershoot!

We made half of the puppets for this bad boy, and Rachel is in it, so we're feeling pretty darn proud.

Come see us in action (Sunday, Sept 1 at 5:15 and Monday, Sept 2 at 6pm), but leave the kiddies at home please.....otherwise you'll have a lot of explaining to do when you get home.

Get Your MANOS on some tickets

Tickets for our production of MANOS - The Hands of Felt are now on sale! Click here to get yours today.

We definitely advise pre-buying because a) you save a little money and b) this show tends to sell out. (Also, the obvious c) pre-sales make us happy.)

See you in August!