Alex and Olmsted: Original Puppet Works (puppets, puppetry, theater)

Performance, Theatre

Awards Received

Individual Artist

2020

Our core belief as a company is to tell stories of magic and wonder. Our philosophy is rooted in the pursuit of Puppet Theater; the thrilling point at which an inanimate object comes to life (magic), and the greater phenomenon of an audience readily suspending their disbelief (wonder). Through puppetry, physical theater, and innovative machines, we strive to make work that awakens the imagination and is accessible to all audiences.

About the Artist

Alex and Olmsted (Alex Vernon and Sarah Olmsted Thomas) is an internationally acclaimed puppet theater and filmmaking company based in Maryland. They have toured at festivals in Denmark, South Korea, and Canada, and have performed at numerous venues within the United States. Alex and Olmsted was awarded the 2020 State Independent Artist Award for Performing Arts from the Maryland State Arts Council, the highest honor for performing artists in the State of Maryland; their works have been supported by the Jim Henson Foundation and Greenbelt Community Foundation, recognized by the New York Times, and named an official selection of the Maryland Film Festival, Paris Art Film, and others. Alex and Olmsted is a resident company at Baltimore Theatre Project. Vernon and Thomas are also proud company members of Happenstance Theater, with whom they have created 11 productions since 2012.

Alex and Olmsted: Original Puppet Works (puppets, puppetry, theater) website Alex and Olmsted Website Alex and Olmsted: Original Puppet Works (puppets, puppetry, theater) website Alex and Olmsted YouTube

Artist's Statement

Our primary focus is to create innovative works of theater that are accessible to all. As theater artists, we infuse our own life experiences into our imaginings of the lives and experiences of others; people, animals, objects, and archetypes. We are invested in sparking a dialogue with the audience that encourages participation; the audience engages their imagination and empathy when relating to the puppets and by doing so broadens their perception of the world.   

Featured Work