08/31/2026
Today, in light of Dr. John Bell’s upcoming retirement from the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry, Puppet Showplace Theater would like to thank Dr. Bell for his incredible contribution to the field of puppetry arts with some words from our Executive Artistic Director Veronica Barron:
“I met John circa 2006, when I was an undergrad theater student with a budding interest in puppetry and a paper to write about Bread and Puppet Theater. John was kind enough to sit down to talk with me about puppets, serve me tea, and animate a tea saucer — a simple moment of puppetry that I've never forgotten!
“Years later, in my role at Puppet Showplace, it's been a pleasure and an honor to count him as a colleague. In his role at the Ballard Institute, Dr. Bell has partnered with Puppet Showplace, Sandglass Theater, Mayo Street Arts, and the New England Foundation for the Arts to bring world class puppeteers to New England; curated an exhibit about the life and work of Puppet Showplace's original Resident Artist Paul Vincent Davis; and so much more.
“Puppet Showplace honored Dr. Bell as a duo with his wife and creative partner Trudi Cohen at our 40th anniversary gala, and the two of them graced our stage at our 50th anniversary celebratory slam.
“I am sure that John will continue to make magical, creative things happen in his ‘retirement’ and I can't wait to see what they are. Here's hoping we get to have him back on our stage sooner than later!”
Read more about Dr. Bell in the Connecticut Mirror here: https://ctmirror.org/2026/08/23/ct-uconn-puppetry-john-bell-retiring/
📸: 1️⃣ Dr. John Bell and Paul Vincent Davis with a display at the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry circa 2020; 2️⃣ 3️⃣ Photos of Dr. Bell and Trudi Cohen being honored at Puppet Showplace’s 40th Anniversary Gala with Paul Vincent Davis and former Puppet Showplace Artistic Director Roxanna Myhrum; 4️⃣ Dr. Bell and Trudi Cohen bowing with other performers at Puppet Showplace’s 50th Anniversary Puppet Slam.
