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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, 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. They are a strong collaborator on immersive and devised physical theater works with an emphasis in ensemble building. Jess has also worked in facilitating Deaf-hearing blended theatre productions and is fiercely dedicated to accessibility in the Arts. In addition to studies in theatre and fine arts, Jess has a B.A. in English Literature from Brandeis University and is proficient in American Sign Language.
"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
UPCOMING:
Mantis Stream! Like & Subscribe!
SXSW Film & TV Festival, Austin, Texas
March 12-18, 2026
https://schedule.sxsw.com/films/2241641
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. Jess has lead this workshop with Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, Pointless Theater DC, Morgan State University, Community College of Baltimore County, and Single Carrot Theater.
Please inquire if interested!
THEATRE CREDITS, BALTIMORE/DC AREA:
Submersive Productions (Puppetry and Performance):
Voyages Chapter 7: Submerged! In the Company of Fish! (2025)
Project Katalepsis (2023), rECHOllection (2021), See Also: (2020),
MASS/RABBLE (2019), BATS! (2018),
H.T. Darling's Incredible Musaeum (2017, 2018)
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)
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 Director, Production):
Tornkid (2019), Frankenstein (2019), La Llorona/The Orphan Sea (2018), Mr. Burns (2017), Sally McCoy (2017), Men on Boats (2017),
Schoolgirl Figure (2016)
