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Get to Know the Expert Performers Behind Puppet Art Theater
Art Grueneberger, Artistic Director, Writer, Puppeteer
Art began doing puppet shows for his mom from behind the couch. His mother sat through countless performances and was (and still is) a wonderful audience. With a zany sense of humor and a flair for drama, Art is master at developing marvelous puppet shows that delight audiences of all ages. His company, Puppet Art Theater Co., has eighteen family productions that tour across California and beyond completing over 500 live performances every year.
The pandemic opened up many creative opportunities and now Puppet Art Theater Co. also performs online programs for family audiences around the world that incorporate digital sets, animations with live puppetry. His company also builds and tours fantastic educational shows for government agencies, corporations and other organizations that deliver important educational messages to targeted audiences.
In addition to family shows Grueneberger also produces and directs larger productions with puppets, many for adults. Recent directing credits include Peter and the Wolf (Kimmel Center, Verizon Hall, Philadelphia, PA, with Master Organist Peter Conte), Gian Carlo Menotti’s opera Amahl and the Night Visitors (VITA, Sacramento), and Big Dreams, Small Shoulders, the Story of Ruby Bridges (CAM Theater). He has also been Guest Director at California State University, Sacramento (Avenue Q, winner, Kennedy Center’s Outstanding Ensemble Award) and the University of California, Davis (Man of La Mancha).
He has also directed large scale symphony productions including adaptations of The Red Velvet Violin and Pinocchio and has been a puppetry consultant for Mark Ravenhill (Nursery/School), Messenger Theater Co. (Macbeth), Berkeley Playhouse (Avenue Q), and Consumes River College (Avenue Q). Grueneberger was recently invited back to The National Puppetry Conference this time as a Featured Guest Artist where he workshopped a production of the musical Sweeney Todd featuring life-sized puppets. When not working with puppets Art can be found traveling around the globe, spending time with his Corgi, and scuba diving. His favorite places in the world are Gimmelwald, Switzerland, Venice, Italy and Maui.
Rachel Malin, Puppeteer, Puppet Builder, Creative Consultant
At five years old, Rachel told her mother she wanted to grow up to be a Muppet and at ten years old, she performed onstage for the first time as one of Cinderella’s Stepsisters. She knew then and there that working in the theater was the life for her! Skipping ahead several years, those decisions led her to attend CSU Sacramento where she studied with Master Puppeteer Richard Bay. She first met Art the summer after her first semester and performed under his direction in a summer stock program at the Old Eagle Theater in Old Sacramento.
She began puppeteering for Puppet Art Theater Co. in 1996 and has performed at schools, libraries, and various festivals throughout California, as well as performing at the Great Arizona Puppet Theater in Phoenix and the International Puppet Festival in South Korea. She moved to LA for several years where she ran Puppet Art Theater Co.’s Southern California office. She has assisted in constructing puppets for several projects, including the Sacramento Symphony’s Music Education Program and was the Costume Designer for Art’s production of the musical Sweeney Todd which was workshopped at The National Puppetry Conference. She has also puppeteered and done voice-over work for several of Puppet Art’s projects, including the Emmy nominated video “We’re Gonna Be OK.”
In addition to her work for Puppet Art Theater Co., Rachel is the Associate Director/Costume Designer for Jesuit Drama at Jesuit High School and the Artistic Designer/Production Manager for Broadway Sacramento’s educational summer camps: Camp Music Circus and Showtime. She has been the Costume Designer for several productions at Big Idea Theatre, Capital Stage, CSU Sacramento’s Opera Department, and New Helvetia Theatre. She was Co-designer/Co-director for the drama productions at Emerson Junior High School in Davis from 2004- 2013. She has also done voice-over work on several shows for Fratello Marionettes.
Rachel received her Bachelor of Arts in Drama from CSU Sacramento.
When not puppeteering and costuming Rachel can be found creating delicious desserts that have won many blue ribbons at The California State Fair.
Alex Bartley, Puppeteer
Alex Bartley is a native of New Jersey. She started acting at the age of 7 when she was cast as a rug in Beauty and the Beast. To some, being cast as a rug would be a deterrent, but for her she caught the acting rug-bug. She studied at the University of Hartford’s Conservatory for Musical Theater, during which she was cast in a pre-Broadway workshop of “Come From Away.”
Upon graduating, she moved to Los Angeles. There she studied at Second City, UCB, Anthony Meindl’s Acting Workshop and Impro’s Puppet Improv with former Henson puppeteer Brian Jones. When she’s not performing, she loves to bullet journal, read books, watch movies or listen to true crime podcasts. Her excellent performance skills and deep understanding of movement has made her a natural puppeteer. She’s so thrilled to share this art form with kids all over SoCal as a member of Puppet Art Theater Co.
Ready to Bring an Exciting Puppet School Assembly to Your Students?
Now it’s up to you. Check out our different shows, read the rave reviews from our past shows, and when you’re ready, contact us. Simply fill out the form below. One of our Puppet Arts Theater representatives will respond to your message ASAP.
Before you go, a quick warning…
As full-time school assembly presenters, our schedules fill up fast. More schools across California are discovering our popular school assembly programs. And we’re invited back to the same schools over and over.
Prime dates are often booked months in advance. To avoid disappointment, contact us today while you’re thinking about it.
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