The People and Puppets of BBMT

STAFF

Alex Evans, Co-Executive Director and Head Puppeteer: Alex is honored to pull the strings of family fun for the past decade. After discovering Bob Baker through a curious Google search for "Los Angeles Puppetry,” he has been enamored from his first visit. He spends his days at the Theater doing whatever Happy the Birthday Dog tells him to do.

Mary Fagot, Co-Executive Director: Mary Fagot is a Los Angeles-based cultural interlocutor and creative director who has collaborated on innovative programs, events, campaigns, and installations with museums, foundations, bands and brands  for over 20 years. Her service on the BBMT board for the past 5 years, combined with her creative leadership experience will help us build the future of the theater, with a focus on development and fundraising as well as long-term strategy.  

Winona Bechtle, Director of Partnerships: Winona works to fulfill our many fundraising needs and helps to establish relationships with organizations and businesses outside of the Theater’s physical space. She has been coming to the Bob Baker Marionette Theater since she was 5 years old and has been an integral part in helping it flourish as a sustainable and historic nonprofit organization.

Caleb Codding, Director of Operations: Caleb first fell in love with puppeteering after a stint as a mean, green, man-eating plant in Little Shop of Horrors over a decade ago. Since then, Caleb decided being nice was more fun. Reach out to see for yourself, or catch Caleb in action behind-the-scenes, chauffeuring puppets across LA county, booking road shows, and making sure everyone in the Theater has what they need to make each show even more magical than the last!

Kevin Beltz, Technical Director and Head of Puppet Fabrication: After working as a specialty prop maker for film and TV for more than a decade, Kevin came to the Theater, saw a show, and never really left. Most reliably found in the Puppet Workshop, Kevin designs, builds, and maintains the Theater’s sets, lighting, and sound as well as leads maintenance and restoration of more than 2,000 marionettes while fabricating new puppets for various film and television productions and future BBMT performances.

Mary Thompson, Director of Communications: Like so many others, Mary first came to the Theater to see a show as a small child with her family. She was immediately enchanted by the joy and artistry she found there, and has remained so every since. As Director of Communications, she’s delighted to help get the word out about the Theater and continue to spread the joy.

Daisy Hernandez, Production Manager: Daisy grew up next door to the Theater’s original location in Downtown LA, and met Bob Baker while playing in the Theater’s parking lot. Over the years, she started filling Theater positions as needed (everything from spotlight operator to puppeteer!), and has been our Stage Manager since May 2021. 

Jules O'Malley, Office Manager: Jules, an LA native, discovered the magic of the Theater through an online posting for a job fair in the summer of 2021. Jules had just completed her degree from the University of Oregon in Political Science, and was excited for the opportunity to become involved in such an important community space. Since then, Jules has spent her days at the Theater answering countless calls, managing the box office, welcoming thousands of fans to the theater and so much more! 

Rick Orner, Senior Puppet Builder

Karina De La Cruz, Puppet Builder

Nancy Wong, Project Manager & Volunteer Coordinator

Adrian Sheen, Project Manager

Molly Perez, Special Events Manager

Ginger Duncan, Marketing Coordinator

Julien Fannon, Store Clerk

Roseanna Grello, Front of House

Megan Librizzi, Front of House

Rustin Zam-Zam Madadi, Front of House

Brisa Sisk, Front of House

Benny Wayne Sully, Front of House

Victor Davey, Stagehand

Jessica Gonzalez, Stagehand

Edward Torres, Organist

Puppeteers

Our puppeteers pull the strings on the Bob Baker puppet family and ensure that every performance is sprinkled with stardust.

Board

Board members of BBMT are professionals with skill sets focusing on fundraising, publicity, business, financial planning, law, creative and artistic partnerships and programs, sponsorships, and more. If you’re interested in joining our ranks in this capacity, please contact Mary Fagot!

Fred Beshid: Fred is a novelist, artist, and filmmaker. In his free time he’s an arts advocate. In the past he has served on the board of directors for the Foundation for Art Resources (FAR) and Phoneme Media, 826LA’s Development Board, and the Machine Project advisory board. Currently, he serves on the Vidiots Foundation advisory board. His well-known collection of thrift store paintings can be viewed at his online museum, the Museum of Fred.

Vivian Gueler (Board Chair): Vivian Gueler is a Managing Partner and the Chief Financial Officer at Pacific Trust Group, a boutique mortgage bank/brokerage in Larchmont Village, CA.  She has been with the firm since 2002, prior to which time she ran the International Marketing Department for Virgin Records.  Vivian has a solid foundation in both commercial and residential lending, and as a prolific real estate developer, she maintains a strong understanding of the Los Angeles real estate market. She holds a bachelor’s degree in International Politics / Political Science from UCLA, is a graduate of the Executive Master’s program at The UCLA Anderson School of Management, and previously held a tax preparer license in the state of California. Vivian is active within the community, serving as a board member to the Third Street Elementary PTA and the Larchmont Boulevard Association.

Alicia Maria Houtrouw (Board Secretary): Senior project manager at the Getty Research Institute.

Julia Sherman: Julia Sherman is a Los Angeles-based artist, writer, cook and photographer who runs Salad for President, an evolving publishing project that draws a meaningful connection between food, art and everyday obsessions. This online platform serves as a springboard for events, collaborations and public programming, including MoMA PS1 and the Getty Museum. Sherman worked as the Creative Director at Chopt Creative Salad Company from 2015 to 2020, and her photography and writing have been featured in Vogue, The New York Times, T Mag, Domino, Bon Appetit, amongst others. She is currently working as a travel writer and photographer for Departures and T Magazine while creating content with brands like Kate Spade and Marie Veronique. She is the author of books Salad for President (2017) and Arty Parties (2021).

Marissa Smith: Marissa is the Brand Management Lifestyle Manager at Vans. She relocated to California from New Jersey 4 years ago, where she worked in the fashion editorial industry at magazines like NYLON, Glamour and GQ. Upon moving to Long Beach, Marissa has transitioned into the marketing industry and worked at OBEY Clothing and now Vans. In her spare time she can either be found at Disneyland or photographing old motel signs around Southern California.

Thas Naseemuddeen (Board Treasurer): Thas Naseemuddeen is the CEO of Omelet, an independently-owned advertising firm, current Board member at Creative Ladder, a member of Goldhouse Co., and huge Muppet and puppet fan!

Christina Winkelmann: Christina is a Creative living in Los Angeles. She has over a decade of Brand + Digital Marketing experience and has held Director positions at ban.do + Ace Hotel, where she also served on the DEI Board. She's passionate about bringing folks together, sustainable tourism, and hibiscus selfies. Her favorite puppet is BIRTHDAY CAKE.

Puppets

Our puppet family consists of more than 2,000 members with many old timers dating back to Bob Baker’s earliest puppetry days in the 1940s. Our puppets represent decades of hand-crafted imagination, creative storytelling, and endless delight.

Consider adopting-a-puppet today to help support their care and maintenance for years to come!