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Updated 3/23/2025

Puppet Motion (Sarah Nolen)

  • M

    MA

Institution/Business Type: Artist / Creative (Individual)

Sarah Nolen is a professional puppeteer, director, and puppet builder. Originally from Austin, Texas, she runs her own company Puppet Motion, and is currently the third-ever resident artist at Puppet Showplace Theater in Boston, Massachusetts. Sarah tours original and collaborative puppet shows; teaches workshops and residencies; and builds puppets for both stage and screen. Sarah's puppet work has been presented at the Chicago International Puppetry Festival, the Puppets in the Green Mountains international Festival, Puppets Up! Festival in Canada, as well as puppet slams around the United States. 

As a teaching artist, Sarah has worked with ages pre-K through adult, teaching everything from simple crafts to advanced production labs. With a masters degree in Puppet Arts, Sarah has built puppets for productions around New England, including the American Repertory Theater, The Boston Pops Orchestra, as well as the Netflix film, DON'T LOOK UP (2022).

 

Find Me

Sarah Nolen (She/Her)
Job Title: Puppeteer & Director
Phone: 512-789-9892
Address:
144 Moody Street
Building 4
Waltham, MA 02453
Website

Social Media:

Facebook
Twitter

Additional Content:

About

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Artist / Creative (Individual)

Legal Status:

Commercial / For profit - Sole proprietorship

Year Founded:

2012

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Artist / Creative (Individual)

Legal Status:

Commercial / For profit - Sole proprietorship

Year Founded:

2012

Disciplines

Primary Discipline:

Theater - Puppet

Additional Disciplines:

  • Media - Screenwriting
  • Theater - Children's
  • Theater - Devised / Artist-Led
  • Theater - Improv
  • Media - Film
  • Media - Television
  • Theater - Puppet
  • Media - Video
  • Theater - Solo / One-Person Show
  • Multi-Disciplinary

Activities and Services

Activities and Services:

  • Arts Instruction / Lessons
  • Community Arts
  • Creation of a Work of Art (Including Commissions)
  • Design Services
  • Public Art Projects (In Free, Public Spaces)
  • Residency - Community
  • Residency - In School
  • Residency - Production / Development
  • Virtual Events
  • Workshops / Demonstrations / Master Class
Seasons Active: spring, summer, fall, winter
Events Per Year: 100

Communities

Populations Engaged:

  • Adults
  • Elders
  • Families
  • General Public
  • Immigrant Populations
  • Nonprofits
  • School Groups
  • Teens
  • Youth-At-Risk

Languages Available:

  • English

Geographic Reach:

  • Town / City
  • County
  • Multi-County Region
  • State
  • Multi-State Region
  • National
  • International

Accessibility of Services

Accessibility of Services:

  • Access accommodations for people who use a wheelchair and have limited mobility

Enjoyed teaching a marionette workshop with the artists of Gateway Arts in Brookline, Massachusetts, a creative community dedicated to advancing the careers of artists with disabilities.

Media Gallery

I Have Worked With

Affiliations and Accomplishments

Professional Associations

Professional Associations:

  • Union Internationale de la Marionnette (UNIMA-USA), world puppetry organization
  • Puppeteers of America
  • Boston Area Guild of Puppetry (Treasurer)
  • Women in Film New England
  • Children's Media Association
  • Artists West Association of the Waltham Mills Artists Association in Waltham

Professional Associations

Professional Associations:

  • Union Internationale de la Marionnette (UNIMA-USA), world puppetry organization
  • Puppeteers of America
  • Boston Area Guild of Puppetry (Treasurer)
  • Women in Film New England
  • Children's Media Association
  • Artists West Association of the Waltham Mills Artists Association in Waltham

Awards

Awards:

  • Fred Rogers Memorial Scholarship, 2015
  • Drama Desk Award Nomination, 2018
  • 2023 Kidscreen Award for "Feel Your Best Self" (Directed by Sarah Nolen, produced by Puppet Motion)
  • 2025 Creative Entrepreneurship Fellowship from the Boston Arts and Business Council

Education

Education:

  • BFA in Film from Southern Methodist University, Dallas
  • MFA in Puppet Arts from University of Connecticut, Storrs
  • National Puppetry Conference at the O'Neill Theater Center - Multiple Conferences for Training in Puppetry
  • Dallas Comedy House - Yearlong Improvisational Comedy Training Program

Artist Info

Teaching Artist

Teaching Settings:

  • Afterschool Program
  • Arts and Cultural Center / Venue
  • Community Site / Center
  • Corporate Business
  • Private Studio
  • School / University
  • Virtual / Remote

Ages Served:

  • Pre-Kindergarten-age
  • Elementary School-age
  • Middle School-age
  • High School-age
  • College-age
  • Adults
  • Seniors

Subject Areas:

  • Arts Integration - Communications
  • Arts Integration - Physical Education
  • Arts Integration - Science / Technology / Engineering
  • Design
  • Media
  • Theater
  • Visual/Crafts

Fee range:

$75 - $5,000

Teaching Artist

Teaching Settings:

  • Afterschool Program
  • Arts and Cultural Center / Venue
  • Community Site / Center
  • Corporate Business
  • Private Studio
  • School / University
  • Virtual / Remote

Ages Served:

  • Pre-Kindergarten-age
  • Elementary School-age
  • Middle School-age
  • High School-age
  • College-age
  • Adults
  • Seniors

Subject Areas:

  • Arts Integration - Communications
  • Arts Integration - Physical Education
  • Arts Integration - Science / Technology / Engineering
  • Design
  • Media
  • Theater
  • Visual/Crafts

Fee range:

$75 - $5,000

Touring Artist

NEST Eligible Artist

Technical Requirements:

  • Varies Depending on the Show. Contact for More Information.

Fee Range:

$575.00 - $1,300.00 for a single show, depending on the show and travel.

State of Residence:

Massachusetts

Minimum Number of Performers:

1

Maximum Number of Performers:

2