The Art of Puppetry: A Weekend Festival
August 8-9
A fun, interactive family experience
Learn about the history of puppetry
Manipulate puppets from the Portland Puppet Museum
Enjoy live puppet performances
Make your own puppet to take home!
Learn about the history of puppetry
Manipulate puppets from the Portland Puppet Museum
Enjoy live puppet performances
Make your own puppet to take home!
Meet the professional puppeteers, performers, builders, filmmakers, and educators bringing this weekend of creativity to life.
Nina Oberlin
Shadow Streak Productions
Nina Oberlin is an animator, filmmaker, and puppeteer from Lafayette, Oregon. She is pursuing a Ph.D. in Art Theory and Philosophy at IDSVA and holds degrees in Animation and Cinematography. Founder of Shadow Streak Productions, Nina creates original animation and puppet projects while sharing her passion for puppetry through education, film, and live performance.
Steve Overton
Portland Puppet Museum
Steve Overton has devoted more than 55 years to the art of puppetry. His work has appeared in film, television, theater, and advertising, with credits including George Lucas productions, Grimm, Frank and Zed, and Avenue Q. He is the founder and curator of the Portland Puppet Museum, one of the few U.S. museums dedicated entirely to puppetry.
Jason Ropp
Dragon Theater Puppets
Jason Ropp is founder of Dragon Theater Puppets, celebrating 30 years of original puppet entertainment. He writes, designs, builds, and performs original productions for libraries, schools, festivals, and theaters throughout the United States. Jason has also created puppets for television, film, and commercial productions while mentoring the next generation of puppeteers.
Doug Stephens
Snephets Studio Puppetry
Doug Stephens is a Pacific Northwest puppeteer, performer, and educator whose career has included work as a National Park Ranger, videographer, audiovisual producer, and university instructor. A longtime leader in the puppetry community, he served as Pacific Northwest Regional Director for the Puppeteers of America and continues to inspire audiences through performance, education, and storytelling.
Rob H. D'Arc
Pike Place Puppeteer
Rob H. D'Arc has entertained audiences as a professional puppeteer for more than 45 years. Founder of Kidstuff Puppet Theatre, he is widely recognized for advancing the Pop-Up Puppet format through performances, publications, and workshops. His work ranges from Seattle Opera productions to giant parade puppets, and his creations are featured at Seattle's Pike Place Market.
Shadow Streak Productions
Nina Oberlin is an animator, filmmaker, and puppeteer from Lafayette, Oregon. She is pursuing a Ph.D. in Art Theory and Philosophy at IDSVA and holds degrees in Animation and Cinematography. Founder of Shadow Streak Productions, Nina creates original animation and puppet projects while sharing her passion for puppetry through education, film, and live performance.
Steve Overton
Portland Puppet Museum
Steve Overton has devoted more than 55 years to the art of puppetry. His work has appeared in film, television, theater, and advertising, with credits including George Lucas productions, Grimm, Frank and Zed, and Avenue Q. He is the founder and curator of the Portland Puppet Museum, one of the few U.S. museums dedicated entirely to puppetry.
Jason Ropp
Dragon Theater Puppets
Jason Ropp is founder of Dragon Theater Puppets, celebrating 30 years of original puppet entertainment. He writes, designs, builds, and performs original productions for libraries, schools, festivals, and theaters throughout the United States. Jason has also created puppets for television, film, and commercial productions while mentoring the next generation of puppeteers.
Doug Stephens
Snephets Studio Puppetry
Doug Stephens is a Pacific Northwest puppeteer, performer, and educator whose career has included work as a National Park Ranger, videographer, audiovisual producer, and university instructor. A longtime leader in the puppetry community, he served as Pacific Northwest Regional Director for the Puppeteers of America and continues to inspire audiences through performance, education, and storytelling.
Rob H. D'Arc
Pike Place Puppeteer
Rob H. D'Arc has entertained audiences as a professional puppeteer for more than 45 years. Founder of Kidstuff Puppet Theatre, he is widely recognized for advancing the Pop-Up Puppet format through performances, publications, and workshops. His work ranges from Seattle Opera productions to giant parade puppets, and his creations are featured at Seattle's Pike Place Market.