Hoopla Puppetry is about joy. It’s about making memories. It’s about laughter and maybe some tender moments. It’s about having fun!

Hoopla Puppetry is for everyone! From toddlers to preteens, millennials to boomers! Hoopla Puppetry is a great addition for birthday parties, events or special occasions.

We have “shows in the box” ready to go, but we can also customize a show to fit your needs. We also create fully custom shows. I have created custom performances and pieces for weddings, housewarmings, educational settings, corporate parties and event kickoffs. Hoopla Puppetry is also available for television or film projects.

Hoopla Puppetry is based out of Wilmington, NC. Contact to discuss booking in other locations or for custom video pieces.

I have been fascinated by puppetry ever since I can remember. As a child I had a cadre of puppets that I played with and loved. I never lost that passion and at the University of Connecticut I was fortunate to study at the prestigious Puppetry Arts Program with the man who founded it – Dr. Frank Ballard (yes – you can get a doctorate in puppetry!) I was also a puppeteer in the final show Dr. Ballard directed, a 2-hour puppet production of the H.M.S Pinafore.

After a traditional desk job post college, I returned to puppetry and toured with the Bennington Marionettes for several seasons, performing in schools across the northeast. Following that I began creating and performing original pieces both as a solo artist and in collaborative efforts. My credits include performing original puppetry pieces at the Hippodrome Theatre in Gainesville, FL, the Florida Department of Education, the Orlando Puppets from the Edge Festival, the Mass Arts American Dream Show, Riverine Reunion Festival, and the Puppeteers of America Puppet Paradise SouthEast Regional Festival curated Festival Slam in Asheville, NC. I have led puppetry workshops and created and performed private commissioned puppetry pieces. I am also the recipient of a 2024 grant from the Arts Council of Wilmington/New Hanover County.

I work with various puppetry styles including hand and rod, marionette, object and shadow. I am also a professional musician and often incorporate music into my puppetry work.

Puppetry has a rich tradition, going back thousands of years and encompassing myriad formats, spanning countries, continents and cultures. Many people have limited exposure to puppetry and I hope to expand that.