09/13/2025
On behalf of UNIMA-USA, we extend our warmest congratulations to Dr. John Bell on receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Connecticut. This honor is a testament to his remarkable contributions as a scholar, artist, and mentor in the field of puppetry. John’s dedication has not only advanced academic study but has also enriched the global puppetry community. We celebrate this recognition of his lifelong impact.
John is a puppeteer and theater historian who began working in puppetry with Bread and Puppet Theater in the 1970s, continuing as a company member for more than a decade. He went on to study theater history at Columbia University and has since taught at New York University, Rhode Island School of Design, Emerson College, and the University of Connecticut, where he now serves as Associate Professor of Dramatic Arts and Director of the Ballard Institute & Museum of Puppetry.
As Director, John has made the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry a unique resource for understanding the past, present, and future of puppets and material performance. As part of the University of Connecticut’s School of Fine Arts, the Institute complements UConn’s world-renowned Puppet Arts Program in building and sharing knowledge about puppetry. The Institute presents exhibitions, performances, workshops, forums, and online resources that highlight puppetry around the globe. With a collection of more than 3,000 puppets and extensive archival holdings, it stands as one of the most important centers for scholarship, creativity, and public engagement in the field.
Beyond his leadership at UConn, John is a founding member of the theater company Great Small Works, renowned for its innovative productions that draw on popular theater forms to address contemporary social issues. He is also the author of many books and articles about puppetry, including “Puppets, Masks, and Performing Objects,” “Strings, Hands, Shadows: A Modern Puppet History,” and “ American Puppet Modernism.” Alongside his wife, Trudi Cohen, also a puppeteer and member of Great Small Works, John has made immeasurable contributions to the vitality of the field — including their long-standing service to UNIMA-USA.
John is also a longtime member of UNIMA-USA and has played an invaluable part in our organization for decades. For more than 30 years, he has been a dedicated contributor to Puppetry International, enriching the journal with insight and knowledge. He has served as a Board Member, Councilor, and, together with Trudi, as an active and committed member of our community. His devotion to advancing puppetry both nationally and internationally reflects the highest ideals of UNIMA.
For his artistry, knowledge, creativity, and lifelong service to the puppetry community, we honor Professor John Bell with gratitude and admiration. We look forward to his continuing inspiration in the years ahead.
