About the Show

Word Play uses clowning, puppetry, and live original music to take audiences on an adventure through the alphabet. Words come to life in the hands of Sarah Nolen and Harry LaCoste, who clown around with sounds and letters to create dozens of interactive characters and imaginative scenes. With an array of instruments by his side, Paul Watkins sets the stage with live music for every magical moment. It’s the perfect blend of education and entertainment—a play on words, literally!

Word Play was inspired by creator Honey Goodenough’s experience learning to manage her own dyslexia and literacy challenges. Audiences can make friends with vowels, teach tricks to a “C-A-T” and “D-O-G,” and visit a whole ZOO full of surprises.

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 3-7
Object puppetry, live actors, and original music
Length: 45 minutes

This show was created by Honey Goodenough with support from the 2016 Incubator Program at Puppet Showplace Theater. It will be performed by Sarah Nolen, Harry LaCoste, and Paul Watkins.

About the Artists

Honey Goodenough / Good Hearted Entertainment (Creator) is a puppeteer, educator, and children’s party entertainer. Honey was Puppet Showplace Theater's first resident teaching artist from 2017 to 2022, following years of experience working with diverse student populations in Greater Boston, New York City, Vermont, and Texas. She has taught a wide variety of professional development courses for educators and aspiring puppeteers at Brooklyn College, the University of Utah, and City College CUNY. Honey is also a trained marionette performer and has toured nationally with The National Marionette Theatre and Frisch Marionettes, and she has produced and performed in Puppet Slams across the country. She holds an MA in Educational Theater from New York University, and a BA in Theater Crafts and Technology from the University of Texas, Austin.

Sarah Nolen / Puppet Motion (Clown/Puppeteer) is a puppeteer and filmmaker originally from Austin, Texas. As Puppet Showplace Theater’s resident artist, she performs regularly for youth and family audiences and teaches puppetry in camps, workshops, residencies, and evening adult classes. Her three original productions, The Fairy Tailor, Judy Saves the Day, and Lisa the Wise, are all available to tour. Sarah recently designed puppets for Little Uprisings’s My Night in the Planetarium, Metropolitan Chorale's The Unicorn, the Gorgon, and the Manticore, and for Suffolk University's Loss of Breath: The Death and Life of Edgar Allan Poe. Sarah earned her BFA in film from Southern Methodist University, and an MFA in Puppet Arts from the University of Connecticut.

Harry LaCoste (Clown/Puppeteer) is a performer, teacher, dad, ukulele rockstar. After working behind the scenes on Sesame Street, he was inspired to try his hand at puppeteering. Since then, Harry has performed all over the country with puppets including with NYC-based puppet improv team, Team Lopez. Harry uses puppets, songs, and magic to tell stories and inspire creativity with children of all ages. Harry also performs Puppet Showplace’s program for toddlers and preschoolers, Puppet Playtime.

Paul Watkins (Musician) is a composer and trombonist originally from San Jose, CA. In addition to Word Play, he has created incidental music for a number of puppet shows, including Taking Turns by Margaret Moody and Robin Hood by Brad Shur. Previously he worked at Puppet Showplace Theater as the Box Office Manager, and always enjoys returning to perform or catch a show. Paul holds an MM in Composition from the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA, and a BA in Music and Psychology from UC Davis.