Lecture: Tony Sarg: Father of Modern American Puppetry with Darin Johnson

Darin Johnson – founding CEO/Artistic Director of the American Theater of Puppetry Arts and a Tony Sarg historian and collector – will give an in-depth talk on Tony Sarg’s celebrated career as a creator, producer and marketer of transformative marionette theater in America. Considered to be the “Father of American Puppetry,” Sarg introduced high-quality, story-based marionette theater to millions of American families over two decades, as well as both inspired and trained a new generation of puppeteers in the United States. Johnson will provide an overview of Sarg’s storied puppetry career, highlight iconic American puppeteers inspired or trained by Sarg, and present some of Sarg’s original marionettes and puppet theater ephemera.

Darin Johnson is the founding CEE/Artistic Director of the American Theater for Puppetry Arts (ATFPA) – a new nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing puppetry in the United States by introducing the art form and vocation of puppetry to broader and more diverse individuals, audiences and communities Johnson has a wide range of experience with museums across the northeast as well as in theater and business. He holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Millikin University and an MA in Government Affairs and Issues Management from George Washington University. We are so excited to host Johnson’s lecture this summer and have the chance to spotlight his expertise and passion for puppetry and Sarg.