Puppetry Pathways
Why Rough House Puppet Arts Created The Puppetry Pathways Project.
Puppetry is a wide and wondrous art form, but for many artists—whether they are just beginning or have years of experience—it can be difficult to know where to start, how to grow, or what opportunities exist to share their work. Rough House Puppet Arts has created the Puppetry Pathways project to help bridge that gap.
This project maps out the many routes an artist can take in puppetry, connecting Rough House’s programs—like Nasty, Brutish, and Short: A Puppet Cabaret, Puppets in Progress (PiPs), and our hands-on workshops—with other key opportunities in Chicago’s vibrant puppetry community. By showing how performances, training, collaborations, and festivals connect, we aim to give artists a clearer picture of the creative possibilities ahead of them.
Our goal is to make the puppetry world more navigable, equitable, and inspiring—so that no matter where someone is in their artistic journey, they can see a path forward, find collaborators, and keep building their craft.
Entry Points (Beginner / Early Career/ Development of New Work)
Hands-on training in performance, fabrication, and storytelling.
Ideal for beginners or cross-disciplinary artists entering puppetry.
Build foundational skills and relationships.
Informal, in-process showings for works-in-progress.
Feedback-centered; encourages experimentation.
Entry point for both performers and builders to test ideas.
** Denotes Rough House Program
Sea Beast Puppetry Presents “Puppet Meltdown”
Collaboration with Chicago Puppet Studios / Manual Cinema / Etc.
Shoestring’s Insane Puppet Posse Cabaret
** Denotes Rough House Program
Development & Visibility (Emerging Artists)
**Nasty, Brutish & Short: A Puppet Cabaret
Curated performances of short-form adult puppetry.
Great for debuting polished short works or new aesthetics.
Can lead to press exposure, future commissions, and connections.
**House of The Exquisite Corpse
Collaborative Creation – Work alongside a diverse group of puppet artists, builders, and performers in a highly creative and experimental environment.
Skill Development – Gain hands-on experience in puppetry design, construction, and performance techniques from peers and seasoned mentors.
Artistic Freedom – Contribute your artistic voice to a collective project that thrives on imagination and unconventional storytelling.
Exposure & Networking – Build relationships with fellow artists, directors, and theater-makers within Chicago’s vibrant puppet community.
Portfolio Expansion—Showcase your original work in a professionally produced, multi-artist installation, which will enhance your artistic résumé.
Audience Engagement – Present your creations to diverse audiences in an immersive, interactive gallery-style format.
Creative Challenge – Push your artistic boundaries by responding to thematic prompts and integrating your work into a collaborative whole.
Professional Recognition – Participate in a project with an established reputation for innovation and high-quality puppetry in Chicago and beyond.
Community Building – Contribute to a supportive environment that values shared ideas, collective problem-solving, and mutual inspiration.
Artistic Play – Embrace the surreal, experimental, and joyful spirit of the “Exquisite Corpse” tradition in a safe and encouraging space.
Professional / Career Advancement
Build a Touring Show
Artists who gain traction from **NBS or other Slams can build evening-length works.
Touring options: colleges, art festivals, puppet-specific venues.
Examples: Artists who began at NBS have gone on to national tours.
Apply for Puppet Residency Programs
National: La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club (NYC), Puppet Showplace Theater (Boston), Heather Henson’s IBEX puppetry initiatives.
Chicago-based collaborations: collaborations with other puppet groups.
Get Your Name and Work Out There