On October 26th, 2015, I performed in a private viewing of Puppet Up! Uncensored on the Charlie Chaplin Sound Stage at the Jim Henson Company Lot in Los Angeles.
The performance was the culmination of 5 years studying improv and television-style puppetry techniques at the Jim Henson Company (from 2010-2015) under the mentorship of Patrick Bristow and Alan Trautman. During that time I also worked with Patrick at Improvatorium on a variety of non-puppet improv techniques and styles.
CAST
Chris Sheets
Jess McKay
Nicolette Santino
Sarah Oh
David Skelly
Ben Siemon
Sarah McChesney
Greg Ballora
Candice Brown
Candice Brown
April Warren
Jennifer Skelly
Kenny Stevenson
Patrick Bristow
Created by legendary puppeteer and award-winning director Brian Henson, Puppet Up! – Uncensored is never the same show twice. Based on suggestions from the audience, Patrick Bristow and his team of expert puppeteers create a hilarious two-shows-in-one: the improvised puppet action projected live on screens above the stage, with the puppeteers racing around below in full view of the audience.
Puppet Up! Uncensored‘s host and co-creator, Patrick Bristow has made numerous television appearances including, Ellen, Mad About You, Shameless, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld, Friends, Whose Line…, and CSI. He has voiced characters for King Of The Hill, Family Guy and The Cleveland Show. Film credits include Pain And Gain, Transformers 4, Austin Powers, and the accidental comedy, Showgirls. He has provided improv and comedy consulting for WB, Bravo, Disneyland, Fox, and Nickelodeon.
The Jim Henson Company has remained an established leader in family entertainment for 60 years and is recognized worldwide as an innovator in puppetry, animatronics and digital animation. Best known as creators of the world famous Muppets, Henson has received over 50 Emmy Awards and nine Grammy Awards. Recent credits include the Emmy® nominated Sid the Science Kid, Dinosaur Train, and Pajanimals, as well as the CG-animated preschool series Doozers, the upcoming digital citizenship series for preschoolers Dot., an the Netflix series for young preschoolers Word Party.
Top titles currently in production include the groundbreaking marine biology series Splash and Bubbles for PBS KIDS® and the Netflix Original preschool show Julie’s Greenroom, starring award-winning actress Julie Andrews. Features include Disney’s Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, as well as The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, and MirrorMask. Television productions include Fraggle Rock, the sci-fi cult series Farscape, Henson Alternative’s No, You Shut Up! and the TV film Jim Henson’s Turkey Hollow.
With additional locations in New York and London, The Jim Henson Company is headquartered in Los Angeles on the historic Charlie Chaplin lot, complete with soundstage and postproduction facilities. The Company is home to Jim Henson’s Creature Shop™, a pre-eminent character-building and visual effects group with international film, television, theme park and advertising clients, as well as Henson Recording Studios, one of the music industry’s top recording facilities known for its world-class blend of state-of-the-art and vintage equipment. The Company’s Henson Alternative brand is currently touring Puppet-Up! – Uncensored, a live puppet improvisational show.