Carole D'Agostino
Leadership experience
Throughout my career, I've had the opportunity to manage both people and projects. In leadership roles, I work to create environments that treat people and resources with respect while delivering high-quality products and performances. I value professionalism, creativity and innovation.
Jim Henson Creature Shop NYC | Builder, Fraggle Rock Live! | 2024
Assisted in updating and innovating comfortable head to body connections for 5 Fraggle body puppets.
CJS Workshop | Soft Goods Lead/Specialist | 2023-2024
Supervised a team of up to 13 full-time workers who built mascot costumes for Sesame Place theme parks. Developed production schedules and assigned work to meet tight deadlines. Provided training and professional development for staff ranging from sewing novices to soft goods specialists. Assisted in workshop relocation: maintained organization and minimized downtime while moving to a new facility.
Center for Puppetry Arts | Puppet Shop Manager | 2013-2022
Managed a team of part-time and contract workers for a nonprofit puppet theater that produces approximately nine shows per year. Collaborated with resident puppet designer to build puppets for one to two new shows annually. Oversaw new puppet builds as well as repairs, maintenance and upgrades to improve functionality for existing puppets in remounted shows. Managed staffing and inventory.
Puppeteers of America | Meet The Artist Host | 2013-2024
Continuing the tradition established by Allelu Kurten, I’ve interviewed featured performers at national and regional puppet festivals. Highlighting their artistic journeys, inspirations and visions for puppetry’s future showcases the breadth, depth and diversity of the community.
Puppeteers of America Southeast Regional Festival | Artistic Director | 2018
Served as Artistic Director, along with Lyon Hill, under Festival Director Keith Shubert.
Puppeteers of America National Festival, Swarthmore, PA | Artistic Director | 2013
Served on the Artistic Direction Committee under Festival Director Robert Smythe.
Jim Henson Creature Shop NYC | Project Manager, World of Coca-Cola polar bear build | 2013
Managed three soft goods workers to modify an existing mascot design for touring use.
Puppet Slam Highlights
I've performed in more than 80 puppet slams since 1998, including a Puppet Slam Network Grant in 2011.
Original pieces include:
Flirty Birdy: cabaret marionette peacock Lady Von Tramp: cabaret burlesque marionette Object Theater Time: Improvised comedy with audience contributed items She Blinded Me With Science: shadow puppets Daedalus’s Myth: shadow puppets Escape: tabletop object theater Shape Shifter: abstract Buckminster Fuller-inspired rod puppet Baby Sloth In Pajamas Celebrates New Years Eve: Body Puppet/Costume
Selected venues:
Wham Bam Puppet Slam, Asheville, NC 2012-2018 National Puppetry Festival, Swarthmore, PA: 2013 – Shadow Puppet Conspiracy with Sea Beast Puppets Take Long Island 2013 – selections from The Hoarding Show Boston Outside the Box Fest 2013 - Flirty Birdy 61st National Puppetry Festival, Atlanta, GA: 2011 – Object Theater Time & Flirty Birdy marionette Connecticut Guild of Puppetry Audience Favorite Award: 2010 – Lady Von Tramp marionette Puppet Co Playhouse, Glen Echo MD: 2010-11 – Object Theater Time Voice4Vision Art Attacks Slam PS122 NYC 2008 Flirty Birdy
Education & Professional Development
University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT - Puppetry BFA Cum Laude: 1997
School of the Art Institute, Chicago, IL - Animation: 1992-1994
Albrecht Roser String Academy: 1998
Held at the University of Connecticut. Learned unique Roser technique of wood carving, marionette construction and performance.
National Puppetry Conference, Eugene O’Neill Theater Center
Marionette Performance with Sarah Frechette: 2024 Costume Builder for Emerging Artist Marsian DeLellis: 2010 Main Conference Participant, Guest Artist: Paul Zaloom, Shadow puppets and object theater: 2009 Emerging Artist Strand: The Hoarding Show: 2008 Marionette Construction with Philip Huber: 2007 Emerging Artist Strand: Zen Parable: 2005, received the Nikki Tilroe Scholarship Flock Theatre Resident Company 2002-2004 Main Conference Guest Artist: Larry Reed, Shadow puppets 2001 Costume Builder for Emerging Artist Bonnie Remsberg: 1997 Marionette Construction and Performance with Margo and Jim Rose: 1996
Meet The Artist Workshops
Continuing the tradition that Allelu Kurten established, since 2013, I've interviewed featured performers at national and regional puppet festivals.
Puppet Homecoming, Ithaca, NY (Northeast Regional Festival), 2024 66th National Puppetry Festival, College Park, MD: 2023 Left Coast Puppet Love Fest, Seattle WA (Northwest Regional Festival): 2022 65th National Puppetry Festival, Minneapolis, MN: 2019 Puppet Paradise Festival (Southeast Regional Festival), Asheville, NC: 2018 64th National Puppetry Festival, St. Paul, MN: 2017 63rd National Puppetry Festival, Storrs, CT: 2015 62nd National Puppetry Festival, Swarthmore, PA: 2013
Production
Skills: costume design / detail work / draping / features / gluing & assembly / marionette stringing & controls / millinery / molding & casting / patterning / painting / props rigging / power tools / sewing (hand & machine) / sculpture / wig styling
Materials: fabric & textiles / foam / wood / metal / plastics & thermoplastic / cardboard & paper / leather / feathers / sequins / sprays / adhesives
Film, TV & Web
Wondermore Kids, InTouch Media: Puppet Wrangler/Props Master (2020-2022) HomestarRunner.com, Chapman Brothers/Jason Hines: Puppet Build Assist (2014) The Muppets: Most Wanted, Puppet Heap: Hand/Rod Muppet Builder (2013) Sesame Street Season 45, Jim Henson Company: Costume Builder/Wig Styling (2013) Sesame Street Season 44, Jim Henson Company: Costume Builder, Cookie Monster’s Crumby Pictures (2012) Pajanimals on Sprout, Jim Henson Company: Mascot Maintenance (2010-2011) No Strings: Syria, Michael Frith/Kathy Mullen: Hand/Rod Puppet Builder & Wrangler (2013) Glen Martin, DDS, Charged Studios, Nick-At-Nite: Costume Builder/Wig Styling (2009) Crank Yankers Season 4, MTV2: Hand/Rod Puppet Builder (2007) The Tomatos, Charged Studios, MTV2: Costume Builder/Shopper (2007) Smoking Gun TV, Charged Studios, Court TV: Costume Builder/Wig Styling (2006) Greg the Bunny on IFC, The Lyon Puppets: Hand Puppet Costumes (2005-2006) The Upside Down Show, Nickelodeon/Puppet Heap: Hand/Rod Puppet Builder (2006)
Live Puppet Theater
Fraggle Rock Live! Jim Henson Creature Shop NYC: Puppet Builder, Mascot Pattern Revision (2024) Sesame Place Parks and Resorts, CJS Workshop: Soft Goods Lead/Specialist (2023-2024) Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! Kennedy Center/HBOMax: Puppet Designer/Fabricator (2019) Harold and the Purple Crayon, Center for Puppetry Arts: Puppet Builder (2019) The Ghastly Dreadfuls, Center for Puppetry Arts: Costumer/Puppet Builder (2015-2022) Pete the Cat, Center for Puppetry Arts: Puppet Builder (2017, 2022) Click, Clack, Moo! Center for Puppetry Arts: Puppet Builder (2018, 2022) Play the Play with Cat the Cat, Alliance Theater/Mo Willems: Puppet Designer/Builder (2016) World of Coca Cola: Atlanta/Vegas, Jim Henson Company: Mascot Designer/Builder/Maintenance (2009-2013) The Snowflake Man, PuppetKabob/Sarah Frechette: Marionette Builder: Czech style (2009) A Boy and His Dog on the High Seas, Mum Puppet Theater: Hand Puppet Builder (2001) Disney Cruise Line, Mystic Scenic Studios: Rod Puppet Builder (1997)
Theater
The Dancing Granny, Alliance Theater: Puppet Designer (2017) Three Penny Opera, Atlanta Opera: Puppet Builder (2021) The Magic Flute, Atlanta Opera, Puppet Builder, (2017) Pippin: Broadway, Transformed Puppet: Magic Prop Build Assistant (2013) Disney’s Aladdin: Broadway, Killer Productions: Puppet/Costume Builder (2013) Avenue Q: Broadway / Off Broadway, Rick Lyon: Hand/Rod Puppet/Costume Builder/Wigs (2002-2013) Arias with a Twist: Off Broadway, Basil Twist: Puppet/Set Builder – Devils/Jungle (2011) The Little Prince: Off Broadway, Puppet Kitchen: Rod Puppet Builder – Fox (2010) Shrek! The Musical: Broadway, Killer/Marian Jean Hose: Puppet Builder - Rats, Humpty Dumpty (2008) Walt Disney World EPCOT, CostumeWorks: Crafts/Stitcher - Millennium Man (1999) La Boheme, Glimmerglass Opera: Crafts/Millinery (1999) The Mikado, Huntington Theater Company: Crafts/Millinery (1998) Man of LaMancha, Connecticut Repertory Theater: Crafts/Stitcher/Wardrobe (1997)
Performance
Styles: hand/rod, tabletop, shadow, marionettes, object theater, black light and green screen.
Film, TV & Web
Lilypad Library, Big Howl Productions: Hand/rod puppeteer – Lotsa Axolotl (2025) Bunker School, The Pint Sized Project/Tiff Gravel: Hand/rod puppeteer – Nora (2024) Cherry Berry Chiller commercial, McDonald’s: Hand puppeteer, voice over (2012) Escape Plan 2: Hades, Lionsgate: Rod puppeteer – Robot (2018) RadioActive Music Video, Imagine Dragons: Hand/rod puppeteer (2012) Weekly Daily News, NewsCorp/Rick Lyon, Hand/rod puppeteer – Leslie SmokinHot (2012) SeeMore’s Playhouse, S4Kids/Hearst Entertainment: Wrangler, puppeteer – Barb Porcupine (2006-2008) Altabax sales enablement video, GlaxoSmithKline: Hand/rod puppeteer, voice over (2007) Thief II: The Metal Age, Looking Glass Studios: Voice actor – Guard, Zombies (2000)
Live Puppet Theater
Original shows include The Hoarding Show, a three-part show including shadow puppets, tabletop puppets and object theater and Helix of Fire, rod puppets developed at the Center for Puppetry Arts 2017 XPT Program with support from a project grant.
The Hoarding Show select appearances:
Featured performer at the National Puppetry Festival, Minneapolis MN 2019 Nashville International Puppet Festival 2016 Center for Puppetry Arts, Atlanta GA 2014 SeaBeast Puppetry Oddities Festival, Chicago 2014 Puppet Showplace Theater Brookline, MA 2012 Perishable Theater, Providence RI, 2012 ClockWorks Puppet Theater, Brooklyn NY 2011
Helix of Fire:
Center for Puppetry Arts, Atlanta GA 2017
Lake Eden Arts Festival 2016-17
Additional perfomances
Under Night Sky by PuppetKabob/Sarah Frechette: Shadow puppeteer (2013) * Toured various venues in VT, NH, MA, CT, and NY Tucker John’s Best Birthday Ever by Liz Hara: Puppeteer (tabletop) – Birthday Fairy & Pimp * National Puppetry Festival 2011 * Edinburgh Comedy Festival 2011 ImaginOcean! Off Broadway, John Tartaglia: Rod puppeteer – Jellyfish (2010) * Originated the role of Baby JellyFish - show was Drama Desk nominated Nosferatu by Deborah Hertzberg: Hand puppet * National Puppet Festival St Paul, MN 2005 * O’Neill Puppetry Conference 2002 El Californio by Larry Reed, O’Neill Puppetry Conference 2001: Shadow puppeteer 74th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Jamaican Tourist Board: Rod puppeteer – Anansi (2000) 73rd Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Jamaican Tourist Board: Rod puppeteer – Water (1999)