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Jess Rassp (she/they) is a Puppetry Artist and Producer who has worked independently with various theatre companies as a performer, designer, leader, and puppet creator. Inspired by nature, culture, and mythology, her work fuels environmentally-centered narratives, inspires storytelling through the subtleties of creature expression, and encourages audiences to connect with our natural world. In addition to intensive studies in theatre and fine arts, she received her B.A. in English Literature from Brandeis University. 

Jess is a member of the Submersive Collective:

 http://submersiveproductions.com 

- I am a zookeeper.

 

I sculpt and construct puppet creatures with animal qualities that capture natural forms and movements through a tension between realism and abstraction. I give life to these creature puppets using intense focus to transfer enigmatic energy through my hands.

 

This allows me to disappear behind the puppet to become a visible- invisible puppeteer.

 

My endearing puppets emotionally connect to audiences, like

Lucy the Ice-Picker Bird plucking a delicate feather to reach out for interaction.

 

It is in that moment, when the puppet is authentically alive that we discover true magic! ~Jess

CURRENTLY:

I Will Eat You Alive by Katie Hileman

Interrobang Theatre

January 25-February 11, 2024

@ The Voxel

https://voxel.org/current-event 

https://interrobangbaltimore.org/iwilleatyoualive-baltimore

UPCOMING:

Look out for more info on future events with Vital Matters!

https://vitalmatters.net/

OFFERINGS

Jess Rassp leads puppetry workshop intensives for professional actors, students, and children. These lessons are in the abstract practice of puppetry as well as fabrication of puppets. She has lead this workshop with Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, Morgan State University, Community College Baltimore County, and Single Carrot Theatre Summer Camp. Please inquire if interested! 

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OTHER CREDITS

Vital Matters (Producer and Performance): 

All Good Things Must Begin (2023), Winter Seeds (2021)

Funktopia Nation (Production): Dark Tower (2023)

Truepenny Projects (Puppetry Performance): Squidsbury (2022)

Submersive Productions (Puppetry and Performance):

Project Katalepsis (2023), rECHOllection (2021), See Also: (2020),

MASS/RABBLE (2019)BATS! (2018)

H.T. Darling's Incredible Musaeum (2017, 2018)

Chesapeake Shakespeare Company (Props and Puppetry):

As You Like It (2023), A Raisin in the Sun (2022), Dracula (2019), 

Alice in Wonderland (2018), The Winter's Tale (2018), Othello (2017)

Interrobang Theatre Company (Production):

I Will Eat You Alive (2024), Here We Are (2019)

Pointless Theatre (Masks and Puppetry): Rhinocéros (2022)

Single Carrot Theatre (Production): Covid Monologues (2021),

Savage/Love (2016), Midlife (2016), Year of the Rooster (2015)

Cohesion Theatre Company (Production): 

Tornkid (2019), Frankenstein (2019)La Llorona / The Orphan Sea (2018), Mr. Burns (2017), Sally McCoy (2017), Men on Boats (2017),

Schoolgirl Figure (2016)

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