James Wojtal Jr wojtaljr@aol.com 973 220 6409
Designer, Puppet Performer, Puppet and Prop
Designer and Builder, Set Wrangler,
Jack-of-All-Trades
I have been working as a designer, and puppet builder, as well as
Performer for the last 10 years during my career, I have been proud to be
a part of such projects as “AVENUE Q”, “BEAR IN THE BIG BLUE HOUSE”,
“CRANK YANKERS”, ”SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE” and ”SESAME STREET”.
In addition to these programs, I have worked with the classic “MUPPET” characters
in a series of shorts, as well as being the lead puppet designer and
Builder for numerous smaller projects for individuals through the United
States, and Canada..
2006 /2007Freelance work
“Evil Dead The Musical” Off BRoadway
Talking Moose Puppet ,Talking Beaver Puppet
“Go Diego GO” Stage Tour
8’ 4” Elephant Flat/Puppet
Macy’s Puppet Theatre
2 Hand Puppets for new show
“King Hedley II “, Broadway Play
Dead Cat Puppet/Prop
“Ruby Tuesday”, Commercial Spots.
Designed and built 3 Chicken Puppets
Performed Puppets for Commercial spots,
“Diggy” Traffic Cone Puppet
“Big ,Big ,World“, TV show
Puppet Wrangler
“Diddy Doodle Works”, TV Show
Wardrobe, Puppet Wrangler
“Olde English Comedy”
Talking Dirty Dishes
For comedy short ,webcast.
“The Adventure of Young Thomas Edison"
Designed and Built Puppet for
Nightstand Creations,
Pitch Pilot for TV
Monkey Boys Productions.
2006-2007
"SONY BRAVIA"Dancing Animal Puppets,Tv commercial
Working with MonkeyBoysProductions.Com and CINECONCEPTO.COM,
I designed seven animal Puppets in a Combination of
Traditional Hand Mouth puppets (Muppet style),and Bunraku puppetry,
the puppets were built by Myself, and the rest of the company,(Russel J Tucker,
Marc Petrosino,Mike Latini, Scott Hitz and Paul Mcginess),
Build was supervised by Russel J Tucker.
the add was produced by CINECONCEPTO, for Sony.Directed by Fredd Clapp.
you can see a sample of the puppets in action on my YOUTUBE.COM link.
The six of us also Performed the puppets for the Film Shoot,in Mexico City,Mexico.
“GO DIEGO GO” Stage Tour
9 foot Giraffe
“PLANET CAMP (JAM)” TV Pilot
“Tiki Island” TV Pilot
The Jim Henson Company
1998-2002
'Bear In The Big Blue House'
'Play House Disney’, live shows
P.R. 'Bear'
'Mop-a-Top's Shop'
'Classic Muppet'
'Plaza Sesamo'
'Sesame Street-Germany'
'Sesame Street-Egypt'
'Kermit's Swamp years'
'Telling Stories With Tommie DePola'
'Animal Jam'
'Smart Heads' Research and Design Project, 'GONZO'
'Set Work, Puppet Wrangling'
'A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Special' NBC (non-credited)
Puppet builder, Designer, Wrangler,
Den Design
2002-2003
“Crank Yankers” Comedy Central
“Dave Chappelle Show”.
'Wicked'-Broadway musical
'Saturday Night Live' –
The Lyon Puppets
2003-2006
Avenue Q, London
Shop Manager, Puppet Builder
'Avenue Q 'Las Vegas,
Tony Award Winning Musical,” AVENUE Q'
Puppet Builder/Designer
'CBS 2 AND AVENUE Q'
'AL BLOOD'
' Nickelodeon'
Macy’s Parade Studio,
Fall 2005
Puppet fabricator, Sculpture, Float Construction
'Animal Planet Float' 'HIHI PUFI AMI YUMI Float'
Macy’s Trolley Tour
Puppet Builder/Designer
“THE SMOKING GUN TV”
Court TV, Summer 2005
Art Department, Puppet Wrangler, Puppeteer August 2005
The Puppetworks Inc. Theatre
1996 to present,
Puppeteer, Puppet Designer, Puppet Builder,
Freelance Puppet Designing, and Building
2002-2006
“The Reluctant Dragon”
Co-Writer, Designer, Puppet Builder, New Show
For Puppetworks Inc., Park Slope Brooklyn,
Custom Puppet build,
For Author Tony Diterlizzi
Book Character “ONSIE”
Central Park zoo, Queens Zoo, Prospect park zoo
'WILDLIFE THEATRE'
Designed and built, puppets and props
'Igby Gets a Job’, short film, L.A.,
Puppet Builder/Designer
'United States, Marine Corps. Educational video '
Puppet Designer/Builder, Lead Performer, Wrangler
'Dog, Bear, Frog and Pig, Video Series Canadian Production'
Puppet Builder/Designer
'Greg the Bunny', New IMC interstitials
Assisted designer in building the Puppet Character “Wumbus”.
“Ollie”
“Sports car, shopping cart” puppet-H.I.T. Entertainment
Puppet Builder/Designer, Pilot TV Show,
EDUCATION
FASHION INSTITUE of TECHNOLOGY 1993-1995
Associates Degree, General Illustration,
NEW SCHOOL, for SOCIAL RESEARCH 1995-1996
Continuing Education, Sculpture, Puppetry,
•INTERNSHIP
1995
Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre
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