Who We Are
Puppet Sunny sitting on our stage.
Founded in 2003, I’m Your Puppet Productions is a puppet theater ensemble. But it’s the puppets, not the humans, who are really the stars of the show. They are fearless, joyous and totally uninhibited. They make people laugh. They make people think and they make people move. Versatile and up for any challenge, the IYPP puppets do comedy and drama. They educate and inform. They sing, rap, dance and connect with audiences, large or small. Their appeal is ageless, timeless and palpable. You never know what those puppets are going to say or do. And that’s all part of the fun. We perform our plays using our life-like 28-inch puppets. Children and adults like love these very special IYP cast members. We also provide our own stage and sound system.
Why Puppets?
Puppets are incredibly fun to work with and are super versatile. But I’d have to say that having three children sealed the deal for me. I wanted our children to see themselves as the hero or the heroine, not always as the sidekick. I wanted them to know that Black is beautiful and to see aspects of our culture in our shows. My talented and supportive husband Phillip encouraged me to make this dream a reality. - Lolita Cusic
Our Repertoire
We perform modern-day fables, which teach values and life lessons in a fun, easy-to-digest manner. In short, to reach our target audience, we opt for teaching not preaching.
"Little Lying Leroy," an audience favorite, "A Big Disease With A Little Name," "It’s Not Easy Being Green," “Kwanzaa,” “Coretta Remembers,” "Intervention" “It Can, Oh Yes It Can” are a few choice titles from our ever growing repertoire.
We also have a fun fairy tale trilogy called "Once Upon A Time - The Remix” that we perform. We add our own twist to family favorites such as "The Three Little Pigs," "The Princess as the Pea" and "The Emperor's New Clothes." In one part of the show, we invite audience participation as we test their fairy tale trivia knowledge.
We can also create customized shows, if given sufficient notice.
BLACk HISTORY
Looking for a play that celebrates Black history? Look no further. Our plays are a fun way to teach history, instill pride and remind young people that ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things. We don't just relegate these important pieces to February. We believe in celebrating Black History Month all year long.
WORK AND PLAY
We also offer plays unique to the workplace covering topics such as discrimination and diversity, safety and teamwork. We can customize our production to suit your needs.
FOR ADULTS
Admit it. Adults love puppets just as much as children. That's why we offer plays that appeal to a more mature audience. "The Love Referee," "Class and Color - The Black American Princess" and "He's Just Not That Into You are three of our more popular offerings. They explore the humor and nuances of modern-day relationships.
SACRED
Our "A Christ For All Seasons" productions give audiences a sense of how God works and moves in the here and now. We believe in making God accessible. We believe in the healing and restorative power of laughter, so liberal doses of humor are sprinkled throughout our pieces. In short, we believe in laughing, learning and having fun.