The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County seeks a part-time puppeteer to work with their Education and Programs department. The Performing Artist/Puppeteer works collaboratively within the Performing Arts Program to operate a full-suit Triceratops and Saber-toothed cat puppet for their on-going Encounters Program. Performing Artists/Puppeteers work with the Performing Arts Program Manager and other Education staff to present performances for Museum programs, special events, and school groups. Puppeteers interact with Museum guests and are expected to maintain a friendly and approachable demeanor at all times.
This position has the following requirements:
- 3 or more years as a dancer, actor, acrobat, puppeteer, and/or performing artist.
- 3 or more years of physical and movement-based training.
- 1 or more years of theatre training.
- Audition required.
- Available to work weekends.
- Height and lifting requirements based on puppet as described below.
Quadrupedal Puppet Requirements: Height, 5’1” to 5’7”, Women’s shoe size 6-11 or Men’s size 4-9. Small to Medium athletic build. Must be able to lift and carry up to 85 pounds on back in bending and crouching positions for limited periods of time. All weight on wrists, shoulders, and back. Extremely hot, claustrophobic full suit puppet with limited sight range. Job requires wearing a Triceratops and Saber-toothed cat full-suit puppet with internal mechanisms for movement and sound amplification.
- Requires wearing a Triceratops and Saber-toothed Cat full-suit puppet with internal mechanisms for movement and sound amplification.
- Extended periods of standing and bending within costume; holding physically challenging positions for lengthy periods of time, in a confined space.
- Stilt walking and light gymnastic activity required for some of the museum characters.
- Work schedule may also include weekdays and some evenings.
- Performing Artists/Puppeteers must pass a physical examination from a medical doctor provided by the Museum.
- Willingness and ability to learn about natural history content, including paleontology, to create authentic character studies for the Dinosaur Encounters program.
- Willingness to assimilate and creatively interpret content from NHM’s exhibits, collections and halls, and collaborate with museum interpretive staff and education department policies to create performing arts-based programming.
- Ability to work well in an ensemble and proactively assist your colleagues as needed.
- Acting and hosting abilities required.
- Willingness to learn and perform minor tech board and remote control operation.
- Comfort interacting with all ages of the public while in or out of costume.
- Experience in education strongly preferred.
- Completion of a physical is required prior to beginning employment.
A cover letter, current resume, and list of 3-4 references are required for all applicants. Review of applications begins immediately and continues until position is filled. Interested candidates please visit www.nhm.org/jobs and click the link of the position for which you are interested.