national puppetry conference

The National Puppetry Conference provides a meeting and creating ground for master artisans to pass their craft and ingenuity to new artists in the field of puppetry.

Application Dates

Pre Conference

2025 Dates Coming Soon!

Main Conference

2025 Dates Coming Soon!

January 23-February 6, 2025

Stay tuned for more information on the
2025 conference!

Each June, puppeteers gather from across the globe to create works that defy the bounds of contemporary theater and the imagination at the National Puppetry Conference. Participants collaborate with renowned directors, puppet artists, and playwrights to develop innovative productions conceived by guest artists, as well as presentations initiated by the Conference participants. The National Puppetry Conference encourages artists to create and communicate through the visual and kinetic form of the puppet, to push beyond preconceived boundaries, and develop new innovative works of puppet theater.

Every year, the National Puppetry Conference begins with a four-day-long Pre Conference, perfect for artists who are new to the world of puppetry or the O’Neill. The Pre Conference is followed by the full ten-day Main Conference, which culminates in a public sharing of the pieces created and skills learned throughout the week. In both the Pre and Main Conference participants elect to a course, or Strand, based on their interests or areas in which they would like to grow as puppeteers. Each Strand is taught by an incredible roster of world-renowned artists who are experts in their field. For more information on our 2025 Strands and faculty please see below.

The 2025 National Puppetry Conference requests the following materials:

Contact and Demographic Information: Name, email address, phone number, and mailing address, as well as information regarding housing and dietary considerations.
Resume (PDF): This must include your contact information, current occupation, work history, education, and contact information for two references saved as a PDF file.
Headshot (JPG): This must be a recent photo saved as a JPEG file.
Artistic Statement (PDF): You will be asked to provide a response to the following three questions: 1) Are you a practicing puppeteer? 2) How do you plan to contribute to the Conference community? 3) In 500 words or less, what is your mini-manifesto on puppetry?
Additional Materials: Some strands require additional information. Please review the application guides below or refer to the directions in the application.
Scholarship Information: If interested and eligible, you will be asked to rank the scholarships in order of applicability and provide some information regarding your current financial situation. If necessary, we highly encourage all applicants to apply. Most applicants are awarded even a small amount of scholarships. Only Main Conference participants are eligible to apply.
Admin Fee: The administrative fee for the National Puppetry Conference is $20. A limited number of fee waivers on a first-come, first-served basis. If you would like to request a fee wavier, please complete this short request form before you begin your application.

Participants of all O'Neill programs, including 2025 National Puppetry Conference participants, guest artists, and faculty, must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with the latest available booster shot prior to arrival on campus. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Company Management team at companymanager@theoneill.org.

If you are interested in applying for the Conference, we welcome you to review our general and strand-specific application guides for preview of the process:

Tuition

Pre-Conference: $700 per strand, including room and board.

Main Conference: $1,350 per strand, including room and board.
- EXCEPTIONS:
  - Tuition is waived for the Emerging Artist strand [room and board is $500].
  - Resident Company strand is $750.
  - Music Composition for Puppetry strand is $500.

Additional Materials Fees

TBA

Refund Policy

Should you not be able to attend the Conference, the O'Neill will refund half of your total paid cost, minus any non-refundable deposits if the request is made prior to May 19, 2025. The O'Neill is unable to offer refunds requested after May 19, 2025.

Scholarships

Please note that only Main Conference participants are eligible for scholarships to help offset the cost of tuition. If you wish to be considered for a scholarship, you will be able to do so through the general application form for the National Puppetry Conference. Please read on for a full description of each scholarship:

Jim Rose Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship honors Jim Rose, one of the great marionette masters, beloved Conference mentor, and son of Margo & Rufus Rose. This scholarship is awarded to puppeteers who have a special interest in marionette construction and manipulation.

Allelu Kurten Generous Spirit Scholarship

Please help us honor the memory of the one and only Allelu Kurten with a donation to the "Generous Spirit Scholarship" that has been created in her memory. All Main Conference participants are eligible.

Lisa Simon Scholarship

On April 4, 2015, we lost a dear friend in Lisa Simon, longtime producer and director on Sesame Street, on her 64th birthday. Winner of 20 Emmys over a career spanning four decades, Lisa started with a summer job as a file clerk and a caretaker for children who appeared on the show during the early days and rose to supervising producer/director of Sesame Street. She directed shows for Between the Lions, Oobi and many humanitarian outreach projects. The Lisa Simon scholarship is awarded to a female director whose work is currently or is growing in the puppet arts.

Jerry Nelson Scholarship

This scholarship honors one of the great character puppeteers, Jerry Nelson, and is awarded to puppeteers who have a special interest in character and vocal development of puppet performances.

Caroll Spinney Scholarship

This scholarship honors Caroll Spinney and Big Bird. It is award to participants or are great at storytelling and endearing performances, as Carroll was.

Eric Engelhardt Memorial Scholarship

The this scholarship honors puppeteer and puppet builder Eric Engelhardt. When Eric first participated in the Puppetry Conference in 1996, he was a sculptor, musician, and new-ish puppet builder at the Jim Henson Company, but did not have much previous puppeteering experience. That year, he performed in guest artist Larry Hunt’s ensemble, created his first participant puppet piece called "Redstone", and created the musical score for and puppeteered in Ronald Binion’s first incarnation of “The Alien Cow Puppet Show.” He returned the following summer to work again as an ensemble member in Jon Ludwig’s “Home” and performed in more participant projects. These two summers at the O’Neill contributed to Eric’s decade-long New York career as a puppet builder and table-top team puppeteer in TV and theater. An individual suitable for the Eric Engelhardt memorial scholarship has professional experience or is well-versed in another or many other art forms, but has had limited or nontraditional exposure and training in the art of puppetry. In addition to his or her original reason for attending the conference, the participant will also be required to create their own participant piece or have a major contributing role in another participant’s project. Flock Theatre is the fiscal sponsor of this award.

Alumni Grants

Alumni Grants are awarded to returning participants who display a desire to retool their thinking about their work in the art of puppetry. These artists display a strong desire to learn new skills or challenge themselves in unconventional ways thus bringing a newly invigorated desire for growth to the conference and to themselves. The Alumni Grants began through the efforts of alumna Honey Goodenough, the Conference indebted to this ardent artist and all who helped her to support this grassroots effort.

Connecticut Guild of Puppetry Scholarship in honor of Margo Rose

Given by the Connecticut Guild of Puppetry. Margo Rose was one of American Puppetry's pioneers, with over 60 years of contributions to the field. In 1931, Margo, with her husband Rufus, started the Rufus Rose Marionettes. They were founding members of the Puppeteers of America and organized the first festival in 1937. Rufus and Margo are perhaps best known for giving life to the marionettes of the popular television program Howdy Doody. The couple went on to win a Peabody Award for the best children's program for their series The Blue Fairy. In addition, Margo was a founding member of the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in 1964 and one of the founders of the National Puppetry Conference at the O'Neill in 1991. All Main Conference participants are eligible.

Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship

The Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship is intended to build and promote the community of historically marginalized puppeteers in this country. Past recipients have gone on to join the casts of many well known television and Broadway shows, as well as create and perform their own small works of puppet theater. All are encouraged to apply with passion.

O'Neill Puppetry Conference Grant, courtesy of National Capital Puppetry Guild

The O'Neill Conference Grant is offered to guild members under the age of thirty who are accepted by the conference for first-time attendance. It is a need-based, partial scholarship designed to offset a participant's expenses while there. Application is open to all members in good standing of the NCPG. Applicants must apply directly to National Capital Puppetry Guild for consideration.

All gifts toward puppetry scholarships are appreciated and go directly to support the next generation of puppetry artists. Click here to make a donation, or contact development@theoneill.org for more information.

Writing for Puppets: A Workshop in Three Acts with Liz Hara

We’re going to run this workshop like a television writers room! Using three act structure, we will develop your ideas from concept to outline. We’ll learn story structure, character development, and why there’s no such thing as a good idea. We’ll also discuss the challenges and opportunities in writing for different styles of puppetry. Come prepared to write, collaborate, and eat snacks (the best part of any writers room).

Everything You Wanted to Learn About Mechs and Then Some! with Jim Kroupa

Mechanism class participants will learn all of Jim's secrets. (Both of them!) From hands-on examples of various mechanisms to materials and where to get them, all participants will experience the road to mechanical bliss, using Jim’s “keep it simple” approach. Minimal effort for maximum results! All attending participants should have basic small tool experience. BONUS: Everyone goes home with a working mechanism they built themselves! And stories… lots and lots of stories!

Directing Puppetry with Noel MacNeal

“All the world’s a stage” the Bard stated, and a stage can be anything: a platform, a table, the ground, a tree, your arm; anything. Television has given us a proscenium in our home, which has now evolved into laptops and phones. All the world is quite literally a “stage.”

Directing Puppetry will have Noel MacNeal (Emmy Award winning director of Sesame Street and puppeteer of many characters such as “Bear” of Bear in the Big Blue House) show participants how to adapt, create, and craft scenes for the stage. Noel will show examples, participants will direct their own project, and then be divided up to create short pieces that another participant will direct—that will be shown to the rest of the conference. Directing Puppetry will be an exciting opportunity for attendees to hone their creative vision for others to bring to life.

Working Group to Create Puppetry Access in Your Community! with Chamindika Wanduragala

This workshop will take a deep dive into how you can create access to puppetry in your community, based on Chamindika’s experience with running Monkeybear. We’ll strategize how to bring more people into puppetry where you live. The goal is to come up with a concrete plan of action to work on in your home city. We’ll hone that action plan based on each participant’s needs, so it’s individualized and approachable. We’ll include some accountability tasks within the workshop so that you can actually feel motivated to work on these actions! Please note that this workshop does not include making puppets.

Marionette Construction with Kurt Hunter

The workshop offers a thorough examination of marionette design, layout, and construction methods for the creation of a new marionette. Participants will have the opportunity to design, build and string a complete marionette working from supplied patterns and materials including wood, rigid foam, and paper mache. The patterns will be modified as necessary for each participant’s design. Basic marionette manipulation will also be covered and additional construction and stringing methods will be demonstrated. Participants should bring black performance clothes. Materials and tools will be supplied, but a list of optional tools to bring will be sent out prior to the Conference.

Bipedal Walking in a Crocodile Skin with Maiko Kikuchi

Bipedal Walking in a Crocodile Skin is an innovative object theater performance by Maiko, performed with a team of 12 puppeteers. It uses everyday materials found near the O’Neill to present 3-4 short vignettes. Each story is based on blended and transformed memories, creating a mix of personal and shared experiences. These “daydreams” combine memories, dreams, and stories from others, exploring what happens when our memories become unclear or feel like they don’t fully belong to us.

The performance examines how memories change over time. They fade, merge with dreams, or even become part of someone else’s story. This raises a thought-provoking question: if our identity is shaped by our memories, who are we when those memories blur? Through this lens, the show captures both the beauty and unease of shared experiences.

Participants play a key role in the process—they help shape the story, create props, and even perform in the show. This version marks the beginning of the project, building a foundation for future iterations. The result is a unique, dreamlike theater experience that brings together personal stories and creative expression.

Human Puppets with Alice Laloy

From strand leader Alice Laloy: "I work with human puppets. My work is inspired by the movement and natural state of puppets, and it explores the qualities of animated and inert bodies. In particular, I'm trying to understand what Edward Gordon Craig had in mind when he wrote his theory on "Uber-Marionettes" or super-puppets. In this strand, I propose to share my research with participants and experiment together with principles of play—including body-voice dissociation, hybridized bodies, stylized bodies, animate-inanimate bodies, principles of manipulation, and more. In doing so, we'll explore the human side of the “machine” to create a short, original form. Please note that in this workshop, we will not use real puppets. Rather, we will use flesh-and-blood puppets—hybridized or not—to play at being the puppet ourselves, or being the puppet's breath and voice. This workshop is ideal for participants who are comfortable with movement, rhythm, and embodied performance."

Marionette Performance

Stay tuned for more information!

Music Composition for Puppetry with William Wright

The National Puppetry Conference offers an unparalleled creative experience for composers, merging the worlds of music, storytelling, and puppetry. Over an immersive week, music participants will collaborate directly with puppeteers and theater makers, crafting soundtracks, scores, or musical accents—either live or recorded—for original performances developed during the conference. Composers will dive into the heart of collaboration, working closely with individual artists to shape and enhance their storytelling through music. This workshop is ideal for composers interested in scoring for theater or film, particularly those with a strong background in performance and improvisation, as well as an openness to exploring diverse musical styles and genres. Throughout the week, participants will refine their skills in live performance and improvisation, experiment with innovative recording and production techniques, and gain valuable insights into the art of composing in a professional theater setting. Beyond the creative challenges, the conference provides a unique opportunity to network with an international community of puppetry artists, composers, and theater professionals. Whether you’re looking to expand your compositional toolkit, explore new modes of storytelling, or forge meaningful professional connections, this workshop is designed to transform your approach to Music Composition, collaboration and performance.

Emerging Artist Strand with Richard Termine & Marsian De Lellis

The Emerging Artist strand identifies participants who are at a critical juncture in their careers as puppet artists; who are at a place in their lives where working intensely on a particular project or aspect of their work could lead to important breakthroughs. Those artists may apply to the program, describing in detail what their work during the Conference is likely to be and how they will work with mentors in writing and directing, as well as other artists from the Conference staff as needed, to achieve their project goals. Emerging Artists are given the option of showing the results of their work during the public performances that conclude the Conference. Please note that only alumni of the National Puppetry Conference are eligible to apply.

Resident Company with Jane Martineau

Resident Company members will be supporting the work of the Emerging Artists to develop their projects by working under their direction for the majority of the main conference day. Resident Company Members will also be allowed to create Participant Projects in the evening. While this role takes place during the main conference, you may also attend the pre-conference as a participant.

Pam Arciero, Artistic Director of the National Puppetry Conference

Pam Arciero is a principal puppeteer with Sesame Street, performing numerous characters, most notably Grundgetta Grouch. She has worked on many adult and children's programs including Between the Lions, Blue's Clues Blue's Room, Chappell's Show, Allegra's Window, The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss, TV Funhouse, Oobi, Eureeka's Castle and The Great Space Coaster. She has performed in many commercials and films, including Zappos, Fuze, Angel Soft, Sundance Myths, Sundance Film Festival; Extreme Measures, Little Monsters, and Follow That Bird.

As a stage director, she directed Iftah Ya Simsim-Sesame Street Saudi Arabia, Sesame Live Shows for Sesame Place, Beaches Turks and Caicos, Beaches Jamaica, Port Adventura, Barcelona, Spain; Sea World Orlando; Play with Me Sesame Live, US tours; and Disney's Wahoo Wagon at the El Capitan Theater in Los Angeles. Pam directed the film Whiskey Neat, and she has also directed Between the Lions and Oobi for television.

She has taught for the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, the University of Hawaii, Sesame Street International; South Africa; remotely for Afghanistan and Bangladesh, Taipei National University of the Arts, the University of Connecticut, and California State University, Fresno. Pam holds a BA in Dance and Drama from the University of Hawaii and a MA in Puppetry from the University of Connecticut.

Pam Arciero, Artistic Director
Jean Marie Keevins, Artistic Producer
Jim Kroupa, Pre Conference Guest Artist
Liz Hara, Pre Conference Guest Artist
Noel MacNeal, Pre Conference Guest Artist
Chamindika Wanduragala, Pre Conference Guest Artist
John Cody, Pre Conference Mechanism Assistant/Shop Supervisor/Pub Host
Kurt Hunter, Main Conference Guest Artist
Maiko Kikuchi, Main Conference Guest Artist
Alice Laloy, Main Conference Guest Artist
William Wright, Main Conference Guest Artist
Richard Termine, Director of Emerging Artists/Participant Projects Mentor/Conference Co-Founder
Marsian De Lellis, Participant Advisor
Tyler Bunch, Resident Company & Emerging Artist Mentor/Participant Project Mentor/Pub Host
Jane Martineau, Director of the Resident Company and Participants Project Director
Bobbi Nidzgorski, Mentor, Participants Projects and Co-Founder
Kalob Martinez, Advisor, Emerging Artist and Participant
Claude LaPointe, Counselor
Ulysses Jones, Master Craftsperson

We’ve provided a list of frequently asked questions for your convenience. If your question isn’t answered here, please reach out to the literary office us at litoffice@theoneill.org.

If I’ve been to the National Puppetry Conference before, do I have to apply again?

Yes! A completed online universal application is always required.

Can I apply for both Pre Conference and Main Conference strands?

Yes!

If I've previously participated in a strand, am I eligible to apply for it again this year? (Or: Can I take "Mechs with Jim Kroupa" again?)

Absolutely. We're happy to confirm that there is no limit on the number of times you can participate in a strand. Please note, however, that you must reapply with a complete application each year.

Is there a fee to apply for the conference?

Yes. The administrative fee for the 2024 National Puppetry Conference is $20.00 USD.

You will be guided through the payment process step-by-step as you finalize your online application. We are glad to accept both debit and credit cards, but we are no longer able to accept checks by mail.

A limited number of fee waivers on a first-come, first-served basis. If you would like to request a fee wavier, please complete this short request form before you begin your application.

How do I apply for scholarships?

Scholarship application details are included on the general application form for the National Puppetry Conference. Please note that only MAIN CONFERENCE participants are eligible for scholarships. If you are only attending the Pre Conference, you are ineligible for scholarships.

If I'm selected to attend the conference, will the O'Neill provide housing?

Yes. Conference participants will be provided with dormitory-style housing in double or single rooms. All rooms include beds, desks, dressers, and closets. Community bathrooms, private bathrooms, and shower rooms are available.

Are meals provided? And can dietary restrictions be accommodated?

Yes. Three meals a day are served on-site by our resident chefs. Special consideration is given to accommodate dietary restrictions, and all applicants are asked to provide their dietary restrictions in our application form. The O'Neill cafeteria offers continual access to snacks and beverages throughout the day and into the evening.

Does the O'Neill cover travel or provide transportation to the National Puppetry Conference?

The O'Neill is unable to cover the cost of your travel to the National Puppetry Conference.

Where are the nearest airports to the O'Neill?

The O'Neill campus is located in Waterford, CT. If you are flying into the area, the nearest airports are Providence International Airport (PVD) and Hartford-Bradley Airport (BDL). We are able to arrange transportation from the airport to the O'Neill. Please reach out to the Company Management team at companymanager@theoneill.org to schedule a pickup.

If I'm selected to attend, could I drive to the O'Neill campus? Is parking available on-site?

Yes. Please reach out to our Company Management team at companymanager@theoneill.org. They will provide you with a parking pass upon arrival.

What have previous Conference participants gone on to achieve in the field?

Past conference participants have gone on to work in such venues as HERE Arts Center, Dixon Place, La MaMa, Redmoon, The Puppet Showplace, The Sandglass Theatre, Trouble Puppet, The Center for Puppetry Arts, Zeum, Automata Theater. Their work has also been seen in commercials; in films such as Being John Malkovich, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and The Muppets; and on television, including Sesame Street, Between the Lions, Saturday Night Live, and Bear in the Big Blue House. On the global stage, our puppeteers have gone on to produce and perform in shows in Afghanistan, Iran, Australia, Scotland, India, Uganda, and China.

Puppetry has been woven into the very fabric of the O’Neill since its founding in 1964. The O’Neill's National Puppetry Conference was established in by key founding members Jane Henson, George Latshaw, Richard Termine, Bobbi Nidzgorski, Bart P. Roccoberton Jr., and Jim and Margo Rose and is dedicated to the legacies of Bill Baird, Jim Henson, Rufus and Margo Rose, Don Sahlin, Martin Stevens, Burr Tillstrom, Brad Williams, Nikki Tilroe, and George Latshaw in the spirit with which they shared their artistry and themselves.

Please scroll down to the bottom of this page for a comprehensive timeline of puppetry at the O’Neill.

Funding for the National Puppetry Conference is provided by the Jane Henson Foundation.