Maiko Kikuchi received her M.F.A in Sculpture from Pratt Institute in 2012. Extensive multi-faceted professional experience in the areas of Illustration, painting, sculpture, animation and performance. Her first performance show Daydream Anthology has shown as a part of Labapalooza! at St. Ann’s warehouse in 2013. Her second piece PINK BUNNY has performed at the same festival in 2014. Her recent object theatre piece No Need For A Night Light On A Light Night Like Tonight has shown at La MaMa First floor theatre 2015. She also performed in performance show, SIX CHARACTERS, directed by Theodora Skipitares at LA MaMa Ellen Stewart Theatre 2016.

Jessica Simon is a recipient of an UNIMA Citation of Excellence and was an Emerging Artist at the O’Neill National Puppetry Conference. Her work has appeared in New York at LaMama, St. Ann’s Warehouse, Puppet Kitchen, Streb Lab, and Puppet Playlist, and regionally at the O’Neill Theatre Center, the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival, the Puppeteers of America National Festival, NerdCon: Stories, Trouble Puppet Theater, Open Eye Figure Theater, Links Hall, and Puppet Showplace Theater. She served on the Artistic Direction Committee for Puppet Festival (r)Evolution and made 3 appearances in the National Puppetry Slam.

Sarah Grace Holcomb is an artist, performer and arts educator working in Brooklyn. Originally from Kentucky, she holds a BFA from Maryland Institute College of Art and a Master of Science in Art and Design Education from Pratt Institute. Sarah has exhibited work throughout New York and has worked for several small theater companies in the Brooklyn area. She has performed under the direction of Theodora Skipitares and recently completed a year-long residency in the Puppet Lab at St. Ann’s Warehouse. She is a frequent collaborator with her partner, Patrick Sandefur.

Brooklyn-based pianist Emile Blondel collaborates regularly with musicians, dancers and artists of all mediums. He received BM and MM degrees from the North Carolina School of the Arts under the guidance of Eric Larsen. In 2001 he moved to France, studying at the Ecole Normale de Musique Alfred Cortot. While in Paris, Emile was awarded a residency at the Cite International des Arts. Orchestral appearances include the Richmond Symphony, the Durham Symphony and the Heritage Chamber Orchestra. He is currently a member of the performance ensemble Artists By Any Other Name, a teaching artist with National Dance Institute and a faculty member of the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music.

Patrick Sandefur is a New York based artist, originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico.  He studied screenwriting at North Carolina School of the Arts.  His photography has been exhibited at the Edward Hopper House, Pochran Studios and recently the cover of Nick Chapman’s Symphony no. 1 in L Major.  He is also a film producer and location manager, working in New York and Italy.  

Aaron Haskell is a puppeteer, puppet designer, director, actor and dancer living and working in NYC since 2000. Puppeteer: War Horse 1st National Tour. Puppet Designer: The Paper Hat Game 2016 at 3LD, The Tempest, (RhinoLeap Productions), Director/Creator Wake Up, You’re Dead!, presented by La MaMa. His company, Second Sister Productions, finished a year -long residency at St. Ann’s Warehouse Puppet Lab as well as performing at Dixon Place while developing a new play, The Pact. Mixing narrative styles of a nature documentary and a mythological story, the play tells the tale of two brother wolves and is continuing development.

Puppet BloK! is made possible in part with funds from The Jim Henson Foundation.