Aretta Baumgartner

Description

Aretta Baumgartner (she/her), an Atlanta-based performer/teaching artist specializing in puppetry, mask and movement, has been a professional puppeteer since 1992. She’s presented thousands of workshops all over the country, is an Attending Professional on the Dragon Con Puppetry Track, served as President of the Board of Directors for Puppeteers of America (2019-2022) and creates original puppet works with ONE DOUBLE-O FOUR EIGHT (her puppetry company with partner Thom Stanley). She is a proud member of the Teaching Artist Alliance, UNIMA-USA and the Atlanta Puppetry Guild. A frequent gues ... t artist for the Educational Theatre Association, Aretta sits on the Board of Trustees for ART Station and filled the role of Education and Advocacy Director for the Center for Puppetry Arts for 13 years. She performs regularly as a puppeteer, actor and backing vocalist (currently a core vocalist in A1A). She's a dedicated arts educator, arts advocate and arts administrator with 25 years+ experience in the field. Aretta is dedicated to using puppetry as a tool to unlock potential, passion and story in every human she meets.
She's available for performing, directing, teaching, keynote presentations and more! Read More

Biography

Audience, teacher, student feedback:
“Many of my students participated in Aretta Baumgartner's Puppetry 101 workshop this past weekend at THESCON... They loved it! This is not the first time our students chose her workshop at this event... every time it has impacted them in such a positive way. I just wanted to thank her for being such a bright light for my students.”
“Thank you so much for being able to share your time and shiny brilliance… It was a great shot in the arm to receive such an affirming and empowering injection of theatre joy and magic. You go!”
“She was re ... ally inspirational. I left with self-confidence, body acceptance, and self-love-- plus puppet skills!”
“You are an exciting and talented maestro of the art of puppetry, storytelling, authentic engagement and being completely present in the moment. I was mesmerized. You…brought each and every one into a world of imagination and I believe left everyone touched.”
“You are a legend among the AppCo. We’ve had a lot of workshops, but you are far and away the favorite. They talk about it all the time.”
“10 out of 10: This workshop was the best workshop at Conference! Immediate information and exercises to share with the class—modeled a way of teaching.”
“I cannot tell you the impact you personally and professionally made. I have implemented puppetry into all of my classes. Your impact changed my life! You helped inspire us to continue learning and inspiring young minds about puppets.”
“What a fun workshop! I learned a lot about myself, my abilities, trust, and life! The teacher was such a nice lady and knew how to make us feel positive about ourselves! Fun games too!”
“You are such an inspiring and energetic presenter. You shared so much rich and wonderful material with our group and also took the time to create a warm feeling of community. I am full of excitement, ideas and thoughts of how to share this with my students. Thanks for an excellent presentation. I am so grateful to have been a part of your work.”
“Puppetry 101 was hands-down the best workshop I ever participated in at Thes Con. The lessons extended outside the realm of puppets into my own life.”
“Even the actors who weren’t directly using the puppets still had the opportunity to learn from the workshops she held. She is the liveliest, most energetic and most wonderful person I have ever met… getting to work with a professional like her was a great growing experience for me.”
“Thank you… for that invigorating workshop. Your authenticity and enthusiasm are an inspiration. I really look forward to incorporating some of what we discussed into upcoming units with my students.”
“THIS. TALK!!!! I’m ready to abandon every other project in my life and become a puppeteer. Joyous, celebratory of a wide range of cultures, immersive, and laugh out loud funny. @ArettaB is glorious!”
“There are no words to explain how much we appreciate you as an artist, mentor, and human! We love your work and passion for life… The work you do is LIFE-CHANGING. We thank you so much for that.”
“She is magic… the finest puppetry educator we have in North America. PURE MAGIC.”
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Reviews     (3 Reviews)

Experience

Aretta Baumgartner (Teaching Artist Alliance, www.arettabaumgartner.com) specializes in puppetry, mask and movement. She's been a professional puppeteer since 1992, and has presented many hundreds of workshops, master classes and keynotes at arts/arts education events all over the country. Aretta served multiple terms as President of the Board of Directors for the Puppeteers of America and as Education and Advocacy Director at Atlanta’s Center for Puppetry Arts. She performs regularly as a puppeteer, actor and backing vocalist. Aretta is dedicated to using puppetry as a tool to unlock potent ... ial, passion and story in every human she meets.
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Previous Clients

ARETTA BAUMGARTNER:
PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS
representative list
● Appalachian State University Teachers’ Intensive 2017 (workshop leader, 2-day intensive): The
Power of Puppetry
● Ashland University Department of Theatre Inaugural Theatre Gala 2010: Keynote
Presentation: “Work in Progress”
● Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development National Conference 2005: Bring
Literature to Life & Empower Passion in Preschools (Books in Action drama literacy program,
Cincinnati Public Schools
● Association of Theatre in Higher Education/Association of Theatre Movemen ... t Educators
National Conference 2016: “Who’s Animating Whom? The Transformative Power of Puppets in
Production” (with Lewis Magruder, Associate Professor of Theater, Miami University, Oxford,
Ohio)
● Borderlands Conference (National Underground Railroad Freedom Center) 2006: Theatre as
Education/Community Building for Underground Railroad: “WANTED: Freedom, Dead or Alive”
(with Dr. Daryl Harris)
● Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta: Trainer in puppetry and object empathy for chaplains, nurses,
residents/fellows (2012-2023)
● Cincinnati Public Schools Early Childhood Education In-Service 2004: Incorporating Drama
into the Preschool Curriculum
● Council of Media Organizations Georgia State Conference 2013: Puppetry as Storytelling
● Creative Mornings Atlanta 2014: Childhood: Puppetry and the Creative Power of Play
● Creative Problem-Solving Institute 2012: Exploring the Creative Power of Puppetry
● Dragon Con Puppetry Track 2014-2024 (Attending Professional/Guest Artist for the nation’s
largest multi-genre pop culture convention)
● Educational Theatre Association International Thespian Festivals 2009, 2010, 2012-2024:
adjudicator and guest artist
● Educational Theatre Association National Conferences: The Power of Puppet Play; 2018:
Puppetry Playshop for Teachers & Directors and Learn & Create Lab: Collaborative Puppetry,
2016
● Georgia Theatre Educators Conference 2019: Presenter Puppetry 101 and Building
Puppets/Building Ensemble
● Greater Cincinnati Alliance for Arts Education (co-sponsor, Fine Arts Fund) 2010: Arts
Integration Specialist, theatre arts
● Horizon Theatre (Atlanta): Master Class presenter, puppetry
● International Puppet Fringe Festival 2021: Puppetry 101
● International Thespian Society (c/o Educational Theatre Association): workshops, PDIs,
adjudications and keynotes (in-person and/or virtual) for state festivals and conferences in
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New
Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington
● Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region V (KCACTF) 2017: workshop
presenter (Puppetry 101), panelist (Women in Design, Tech & Management), expo responder
(Allied Arts/Poster & Publicity), Irene Ryan Finals adjudicator
● Lincoln’s Era: The Role of Religion in the Underground Railroad (National Underground
Railroad Freedom Ctr) 2008: “WANTED: Freedom, Dead or Alive” (with Dr. Daryl Harris)
● Mississippi Theatre Association Teacher’s Workshop 2019: Puppetry Master Class presenter
● Mississippi Whole Schools Summer Institute 2024: national guest artist, track presenter,
keynote address
● National Capital Puppetry Guild Virtual Festival 2020 & 2021: Puppetry 101, Warm-ups &
Theatre Games for Puppeteers
● Passions: Promises and Perils (Graduate Dept. of Communication, U. of Massachusetts
Amherst) 2009: “WANTED: Freedom, Dead or Alive” (with Dr. Daryl Harris)
● Puppet Power 2020: presenter, Creating Art with Challenging Themes and Puppet POW! For
Puppet Power
● Puppeteers of American Regional and National Conferences 1997 - present: numerous
presentations on various puppetry topics (complete list available upon request—invited
presenter at over 25 events)
● Puppetry in Education and Therapy Professional Days for Teaching Artists and Puppeteers
(Puppeteers of America) 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019
● Southeastern Theatre Conference National Conference (“SETC”) 2016: Teachers Institute
leader, workshop presenter
● SOS Art 2010: WANTED: Freedom, Dead or Alive (with Dr. Daryl Harris)
● Texas Theatre Educators’ Conference 2020 (Jan. 30 – Feb. 1, 2020): Building puppets /
Building Ensemble, Do the “Q”! (a puppetry workshop), Playing Games: Creative Dramatics,
Puppetry Playshop for Teachers & Directors
● Theatre for Young Audiences National Festival & Conference 2019: Breakout Session
Presenter Puppetry Playshop
● University master classes, lectures, and/or residencies: Appalachian State Univ (NC),
Carthage College (WI), Clayton State Univ (GA), Denison Univ (OH), Fresno State Univ (CA),
Idaho State Univ (ID), Miami Univ (OH), Northeast State Community College (TN), Northern
Kentucky Univ (KY), Samford Univ (AL), Univ of Victoria (B.C.), Western Kentucky Univ (KY)
● United States Institute of Theatre Technology (“USITT”) National Conference 2016: presenter,
Becoming the Puppetmaster: Unexpected Journeys to Puppetland Read More

Suitable for

Awards Ceremony Community Event Concerts / Tours Conference / Meeting Corporate Event Cruise Ships Festival / Outdoor Event Grand Opening Party Holiday / Theme Parks School Event Theaters / Stage University / College Event

Acting Experience

Theatre / Musical Theatre /Puppetry Performance
Knickers! Terri ART STATION THEATRE (May/June 2025)
Doctor De Soto puppeteer/actor ALLIANCE THEATRE
TaDAda! creator/performer ASHEVILLE, BORDERLIGHT, TUCSON, ATLANTA FRINGES
The Paisley Sisters’ Christmas Special Lonnie ART STATION THEATRE
Honky Tonk Angels Holiday Spectacular Angela ART STATION THEATRE
Shadow Realm: Down the Rabbit Hole Alice/puppeteer ATLANTA, BORDERLIGHT FRINGES; GP PUPPET FEST
Cinnamon GRITS Virginia ART STATION THEATRE
Continuum: Shadow Paradox puppeteer/actor CINCINNATI FRINGE FEST
...
The Twelve Dates of Christmas (solo play) ART STATION THEATRE
Out of the Box puppeteer OBJECT MOVEMENT FESTIVAL
Dreamland: Shadow Realm Alice / puppeteer CREATIVE CITY IMMERSE ORLANDO
learning to fly Trisha (actor/puppeteer) ORLANDO FRINGE FEST
The Bikinis Annie ART STATION THEATRE
The Woman in Black puppeteer GRASSROOTS THEATRE COLLECTIVE
Me & Jezebel Liz Fuller ART STATION THEATRE
Two Rooms Ellen van Oss OUT OF BOX THEATRE
In a Forest, Dark and Deep Betty OUT OF BOX THEATRE
The Dixie Swim Club Vernadette Simms ART STATION THEATRE WANTED: Freedom, Dead or Alive co-creator/performer SELF-PRODUCED W/ DR. DARYL HARRIS
Christmas Survival Guide Vocalist/Woman 1 ART STATION THEATRE
Heart Throbs II: Pole Boy LuDell FLYING CAT PRODUCTIONS
Tapas: Birds of a Feather Greta ACADEMY THEATRE
Christmas Wishes Betty ART STATION THEATRE
The Rocky Horror Puppet Show Magenta / puppeteer THE BASEMENT THEATRE
The Man Who Came to Dinner Mrs. McCutcheon GEORGIA ENSEMBLE THEATRE
Opal Opus Joline TANGLED LEAVES THEATRE COLLECTIVE
A Midsummer Night’s Dream Titania/Helena CARNEGIE CENTER FOR THE ARTS (KY)
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Muriel Eubanks LA COMEDIA THEATRE (OH) & CARNEGIE CTR
Cotton Patch Gospel Mary/Ensemble SHOWBOAT MAJESTIC (OH)
Sophie’s Dream Laurel TANGLED LEAVES THEATRE COLLECTIVE
Add1ng Mach1ne: A Mus1cal Mrs. Zero KNOW THEATRE OF CINCINNATI
Equus Hesther Salomon NEW EDGECLIFF THEATRE (OH)
Dead City Rosalind/A.A.M. NEW STAGE COLLECTIVE (OH)
The Price Esther Franz BLUE CHIP PLAYERS (OH)
Fiction Linda Waterman THE DRAMA WORKSHOP (OH)
Caroline, or Change Rose Stopnick-Gellman NEW STAGE COLLECTIVE
Power Failure Lead Female NEW EDGECLIFF THEATRE
Lord of the Rings Trilogy Gollum/ Sméagol CLEAR STAGE/OVATION THEATRES (OH)
Schoolhouse Rock Live! Lead Vocalist/Ensemble COVEDALE CTR FOR PERF ARTS (OH)
Little Shop of Horrors Audrey II (Puppeteer) RISING PHOENIX THEATRE (OH)
A Grand Night for Singing Lead Vocalist/Ensemble NKU SUMMER DINNER THEATRE (KY)
Once on This Island Mama Euralie FALCON THEATRE
Same Time, Next Year Doris NKU SUMMER DINNER THEATRE (KY)
The Fantasticks The Mute SUNSET PLAYERS
PERFORMANCE GALLERY (Cincinnati, OH): original theatre pieces including TaDAda!, A Migration of Crones, Word of Mouth, The Body Speaks, Continuum (Cincinnati Fringe June 2021 – Producer’s Pick and Young-Howze Theatre Journal Long-Form Zoom Play of the Year 2021), the council, Deadlines, fricative, Gilgamesh In Uruk: G.I. in Iraq, girlfight, godsplay:, Halcyon Days, Nuclear Winter Circus, kaz/m, The Killer Whispers & Prays, Woyzek (2000 – present)
ONE DOUBLE-O FOUR EIGHT (Atlanta, GA): original puppet theatre pieces including Shadow Realm: Down the Rabbit Hole, Out of the Box, learning to fly, Deus Ex machina, Torn, On Tiptoe, Little Tommy, Continuum: Shadow Paradox – puppetry styles include large-scale shadow/body silhouette, overhead shadow, lambe lambe, single-operator tabletop, collaborative tabletop, rod, object, press-screen shadow (2014-present)
XPERIMENTAL PUPPETRY THEATRE (Center for Puppetry Arts, Atlanta, GA): original puppet theatre pieces including Deus Ex Machina, Forgotten Love, In Stall, learning to fly, leukos, Mean Spirited, On Tiptoe, Transmission Project – puppetry styles include rod, finger, overhead shadow, press-screen shadow, tabletop, object (2012 - 2022)
MADCAP PUPPETS (Cincinnati, OH): touring puppet theatre pieces including Magical Traveling Storyman, Grandma’s House, A Renaissance Rumplestiltskin, Two Crumby Kids, Fantastic Fairy Tales, The Firebird, Down from the Mountain, Winter Wonderland. Large-scale symphony orchestra pieces with Atlanta Symphony, Cincinnati Pops, Dayton Philharmonic, DuPage Symphony, Lima Symphony, Lincoln Symphony and Winnipeg Symphony including Carnival of the Animals, Master Peter’s Puppet Show, Peter and the Wolf, Phantom of the Music Hall. puppetry styles include hand-in-mouth/rod, backpack/parade, press-screen shadow (1992 - 2022)
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Physical Characteristics

Virtual Services Offer

private lessons and coaching

Private Lessons
Private lessons are available in puppetry, theatre movement and character development.

Coaching / Consulting / Directing
Customized in-depth support is available for puppet design, puppet blocking, puppet manipulation, theatre and actor movement, theatre devising, character development and audition prep.

workshops and presentations

All workshop are available in live, recorded or hybrid (video + live talkback) format. Length: 30 mins – all-day master class lengths possible. Happy to create curriculum for an after-school program, present a series of classes, devise a guest artist residency for a university, support your festival or conference, and more! Let's talk!