Nesting Instincts. A short object puppetry piece created as an audition example for students. Cutlery play anthropomorphic versions of themselves.

The Rocky Horror Show A re-creation of the Janet-Frank-Brad bedroom scenes using Barbie-type dolls in shadow with some surprising twists. VO: Janet- Anne Bond, Frank- Josie Aderhold, Brad- Ammon Underhill. Red Rocks Community College. Video by El Armstrong.

The King of Corona I wrote, designed, built and performed this toy theater piece which is part political satire, part pandemic PSA.

CUCO Shadow cranky for the Puppets & Prose online event hosted by the Rogue Artist Ensemble and LA Puppetry Guild. Written and read by Marytza Rubio, Designed and performed by Penny Benson.

Lessons Learned (aka The Star Student). Conceived, built and performed by Penny Benson. Performed at various Puppet Slams. A teacher wrangles young students for a talent show. Who’s being schooled is anyone’s guess!

Eni1 & Us. Choreographed by Wanda Strukus. Puppet by Penny Benson. Performed by Penny and Wanda. Festival of Us, Cambridge, MA. Eni1 can feel like “other.” This puppet was built originally built for a community engagement piece. The puppet represents “other” and encourages people to embrace those who are different and to see similarities with themselves.

For a Nickel I’d Do It Again. Performing my shadow puppetry with Wanda Strukus and Rob Kilburn.

Black Birds, Red Hills. I performed Georgia O’Keefe in this stage production I designed and built, inspired by music by Libby Larsen.

The Flower Girls Performing glove puppets for Allelu Kurten’s original play.

Busking in Chengdu, China during the UNIMA Puppetry festival with Justin, my toddler marionette.

Peter & the Wolf I performed the right hand and feet of Peter in this University of Connecticut production. Also pictured is Seth Schaffer who was the lead puppeteer on Peter.

The Woman Jane. An adaptation of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story “The Yellow Wallpaper,” adapted & directed by Sarah Nolen. Puppet by Sarah Nolen. Puppeteers: Penny Benson (in the title role,) John Cody, Krista Weltner, and Gavin Cummins. University of Connecticut.

MopBeth.Directed by Christopher and Justin Swader at the O’Neill Theater Center, Waterford, CT

The Pedagogical Puppet, a film by Sally Smart. Contemporary Art Gallery, University of CT. Puppetry and Mask performance

The Keeper of Clark Street Rehearsing the title role for Nicole Graziano’s and Sara Hall’s original MFA production.

StarSisters. A Tagish First Nations story passed down by storyteller Angela Sidney. Written, performed, designed and built by Faye Dupras and me, co-authored and directed by Julie Goell, original music written and performed by Dave Noyes, costumes by Shima Ushiba.

3 Cats of Venice. That’s me behind the mask, in a Behind the Mask Theater production directed by Vincent Ernest Siders. Mask by Eric Bornstein.