THE TEAM
Heather B. Henson - Founder and President
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Los Angeles Alex U. Griffin - Producer, Handmade Puppet Dreams
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New York Brenna Ross - Associate Producer & General Manager
Tsering Choedron - Education Program Coordinator
Brendan Schweda - Puppet Slam Network Coordinator
Jessica Simon - Facilities Manager & Programs Associate
Contributing Teammates
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Brooke Rodriguez, Desiree Kane, Tecumseh Ceaser, Davey Jordan, Curtiss Mitchell, Joe Quillsong, Jason Gullo, Aimee Jordan
Board of Directors
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Heather Henson (chair), Morgan Jenness, Christine Papalexis, and Elizabeth Richards
Heather B. Henson
Founder and President
Heather Henson is a contemporary puppet artist whose work promotes harmony and healing for the planet through artistic spectacle and discussion. Backed by a degree from Rhode Island School of Design and studies at CalArts in 2000, Heather created a multi-platform production company entitled IBEX Puppetry to honor the creativity in herself and others.
Los Angeles
Alex U. Griffin
Producer, Handmade Puppet Dreams
Alex U. Griffin is an award winning cinematographer, photographer and puppeteer based in Los Angeles. He specializes in puppetry films, and recently filmed the all-puppet feature (and HMPD adaption) “Yamasong: March of The Hollows” for Dark Dunes Productions. Alex is also Vice President of the Los Angeles Guild of Puppetry and President of the Puppeteers of America.
New York
Brenna Ross
Associate Producer & General Manager
Brenna Ross has worked with various institutions focused on the developments of new works including: The 24 Hour Plays, The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, SPACE on Ryder Farm and IBEX Puppetry. Recent projects include: Harmonious Migrations, Crane: on earth, in sky (IBEX Puppetry), The 24 Hour Plays on Broadway (The 24 Hour Plays), and What a Young Girl Ought to Know (Climate Nexus, Art Rising).
TSERING CHOEDRON
Education Program Coordinator
Tsering, aka Ciren Quzhen, of Lhasa, Tibet, has studied at the American University School of International Service. She is the Education Coordinator for IBEX Puppetry and has co-authored the following Tibetan children's books: A Little Frog and A Crow; Little Shepherd,Little Shepherd, What Are You Doing?; Lhomo Trung Trung and Dhondup.
Jessica Simon
Facilities Manager and Programs Associate
Jessica Simon is a recipient of an UNIMA Citation of Excellence, support from the Jim Henson Foundation, and was selected as an Emerging Artist at the O'Neill National Puppetry Conference, and a Catapult Artist at the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival. As a fabricator she has worked with The Jim Henson Company, Rick Lyon Puppets, Puppet Kitchen, Furry Puppet Studio, and Transformed Puppet. She previously served as co-curator of Nasty, Brutish & Short Puppetry Cabaret at Links Hall, on the Artistic Direction Committee for Puppet Festival (r)Evolution, and made 3 appearances in the National Puppetry Slam.
Brendan Schweda
Puppet Slam Network Coordinator
Brendan Schweda is a producer, performer & author, who has a big love of variety arts & a penchant for puppetry. He started producing Puppets Come Home! at Coney Island USA in 2018, in order to celebrate the history of puppetry in Coney Island & welcome in the contemporary puppet community. On stage, he has been seen most recently hosting events as the Coney Island Funny Face, and was a cast member of last summer’s Coney Island Circus Sideshow. His books, The Order of the Days & LYCAON: The Story of the First Werewolf, epitomize his love for mythology and storytelling.