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Jess Rassp (she/they) is a puppet maker and puppeteer who works independently in theatre and film as a producer, performer, designer, and puppet creator. Inspired by nature, culture, and mythology, their work fuels environmentally-centered narratives, emphasizes 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, Jess has a B.A. in English Literature from Brandeis University and is proficient in American Sign Language.
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Jess is a member of the Submersive Collective:
"I am a zookeeper.
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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:
Voyages Chapter 7: Submerged! In the Company of Fish!
Submersive Productions in partnership with
The National Aquarium
July 17, 2025
https://aqua.org/visit/special-events/2025-07-17-voyages-chapter-7
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OFFERINGS:
Jess Rassp leads puppetry workshops 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!
THEATRE CREDITS:
Vital Matters (Producer and Performance):
All Good Things Must Begin (2023), Winter Seeds (2021)
Interrobang Theatre Company (Production):
I Will Eat You Alive (2024), Here We Are (2019)
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)
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 (Artistic Direction, Production):
Tornkid (2019), Frankenstein (2019), La Llorona/The Orphan Sea (2018),
Mr. Burns (2017), Sally McCoy (2017), Men on Boats (2017),
Schoolgirl Figure (2016)
