PUPPETRY PROGRAM

from 2023 Gen Con Program Book

JOIN THE EVENT TEAM IN 2024!

For a full schedule of puppet events happening this year, scan this QR code!

GEN CON’S PUPPETRY PROGRAM RETURNS WITH WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, AND PERFORMANCES!

Puppetry is an ancient art form that has been used to educate, entertain, and inspire audiences of adults and children for centuries. Whether you’re already a puppeteer, interested in the art form, or you just want to be entertained, there’s puppetry programming at Gen Con that is sure to captivate you.

GUESTS OF HONOR KRISTEN CHARNEY & GREG BALLORA

Kristin and Greg are a dynamic duo of puppetry from Los Angeles! After first meeting while building puppets on a friend’s patio over 25 years ago, they have been creating and performing puppets ever since! Working together and separately, they have built, performed, taught, and directed well over 100 projects involving puppets in Southern California and across the globe. Working in both the biggest of films and the smallest of theaters, they have gained a reputation as innovators and creative problem solvers, bringing their background in acting to the technical art of puppetry. Both have worked with companies such as the Jim Henson Company, Muppets, Disney, Netflix, Hulu, Paramount, Warner Media, LucasFilm, and Legacy Effects, to name a few. They are also experienced teaching artists, both inside and outside the classroom. Greg and Kristin have created their own boutique studio where they continue to build the highly praised Mr. World puppets for Eyeglass World, custom marionettes for shows such as Ratched, Fargo and others, as well as hand puppets and rod puppets for film, television and theater. Using techniques such as wood carving, foam and fabric patterning, cable and servo driven mechanisms, 3D printing and laser cutting, they continually strive to keep moving the artform of puppetry forward. Come learn from Kristin and Greg in this year’s Puppetry Program!