I have worked as a freelance builder for Rick Lyon at his shop for several years now. He designed all of the puppets featured on this page, which I helped build. He is an amazingly talented designer, builder, and performer. For a more detailed listing of the projects listed below please go directly to Rick's very comprehensive site www.lyonpuppets.com
I worked with Rick on Avenue Q during its prenatal days at the BMI Workshop. Later I rejoined his shop for the Avenue Q Las Vegas build. To find out more about Avenue Q the show go to www.avenueq.com
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This was built for the Broadway Bears Auction with all proceeds going to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids. Rick based the Mini-Trekkie on the original puppet design, and made sure that all the details of the original translated to its diminutive doppelganger (it's actually a functional puppet as well). It took a team of four to realize just the puppet. The bears and their costumes were built by Karl A. Ruckdeschel.
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As part of a promo to feature the CBS 2 morning crew, the producers commissioned these portrait puppets of anchors Dave Price, Shon Gables, and Mario Bosquez.
Once again, Rick was asked to design portrait puppets — this time of America's darlings Regis Philbin, Kelly Ripa, as well as the show's producer Michael Gelman.
On the first day of the presidential debates in 2004, Avenue Q staged an all-singing, all-dancing mock puppet debate featuring caricatures of the candidates in puppet portraiture. George Bush was performed by Rick Lyon (off-camera) and John Kerry was performed by Jennifer Barnhart.
