Puppet Tears, ep 055 — Fran Brill

Puppet Tears: Puppetry Shop Talk

Our Cheers to Puppeteers series kicks off with the legendary Muppet performer Fran Brill. Fran was the first female puppeteer hired for Sesame Street who brought life to characters such as Prairie Dawn, Zoe, Countess von Backwards, Roxie Marie, and so many more. Other puppetry roles include Saturday Nigh Live, The Muppet Show, and The Jim Henson Hour. She also had an acclaimed acting career away from puppetry, including television appearances on All My Children and Law & Order, and off-Broadway roles, which earned her two Drama Desk Award nominations. We talk with Fran about how her acting career made her a perfect candidate for joining Jim Henson's team, what impact her being a female had on the characters she developed, and the experience of passing on Prairie Dawn and Zoe to a new generation of performers. Don't miss her incredible insights into the art of performance and helpful tools for aspiring puppeteers. For mentions and episode highlights, visit PuppetTears.com/FranBrill Release date: September 2, 2020 Edited by Matt Bowen Hosted by Adam Kreutinger & Cameron Garrity