Puppetry Audition Notice
Roxanna Myhrum
Library Lion Puppeteer Audition Form for January 2026
Adam Theater is excited to announce Puppeteer auditions for their run of Library Lion. Written by Eli Bijaoui, and based on the book Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen, with music by Yoni Rechter and directed by Ran Bechor. Lion Puppet built by Jim Henson's Creature Shop. Kate Brehm, Puppet Movement Director. Performances will take place in the Wimberly Theater in the Calderwood Pavilion at the Huntington Theater Company in January 2026.
AUDITION INFORMATION:
Dates: June 27 and 28, 2025
Show Dates:
Rehearsals Dec 8th 2025 to Jan 4th 2026
Tech Week Jan 6-9 2026
Performances Jan 10th through Jan 25th 2026.
Compensation: $500 per week. This position is non-equity. Adam Theater is not able to offer housing for this contract. Out-of-town puppeteers with housing in the Boston area are also welcome to submit.
Performer Info:
Adam Theater is seeking Boston-based, strong and nimble performers to operate a full-sized, three-person lion puppet. Prior puppetry experience is preferred, but dancers and physically expressive actors are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants must be physically agile, collaborative, and capable of sustaining the manipulation of a 40-pound puppet during a 70-minute performance.
We are casting for the following three puppeteer roles:
Head of the Lion (Focus and Expression) This role requires upper body strength and dexterity. The puppeteer operates the lion’s head, supporting its weight while manipulating bicycle handlebar-style controls to animate the eyes and ears. As the lion’s point of focus, this performer must have a strong sense of timing and storytelling, knowing when to engage with the audience and when to recede, allowing the lion to appear fully alive and independent.
Heart of the Lion (Breath and Power) This physically demanding role requires strong core and leg muscles. The puppeteer wears the lion’s torso like a backpack, with secure attachments at the shoulders and legs, and controls the front limbs using arm stilts. With limited visibility, this performer must rely on floor markings and spatial awareness to navigate the stage. There may be some height limitations for this role in order to fit the existing harness system. They must be agile—capable of quick movement, lying down, and occasionally carrying another performer. Most importantly, they bring the lion’s presence to life through full-body movement that expresses breath, weight, and emotional intention.
Tail and Back Legs (Instinct and Reaction) This role calls for a nimble, responsive performer with strong wrists and body awareness. The puppeteer manipulates the back legs and tail while staying low to the ground, using crouching and kneeling positions. This performer represents the lion’s instinctual responses and must be highly attuned to the movements of the Head and Heart puppeteers. This role is essential to the lion’s believability and requires the puppeteer to maintain stage presence while seamlessly disappearing behind the lion onstage.
Auditions will begin with a puppetry workshop designed to establish a shared working language, foster collaboration, and cultivate a culture of play. This will be followed by ensemble work in small groups and short, devised movement presentations based on provided prompts, which will be presented in front of Library Lion director Ran Bechor.
THE PLAY:
In the library, there are books. But also very clear rules: no shouting, no running, no eating or drinking. But what happens when one day a lion enters the library? He doesn't roar or rampage, and contrary to expectations, he peacefully joins storytelling hour. Not everyone is okay with this, after all, he doesn't abide by the rules. (A lion? In the library? – that's completely out of order!) It will be revealed that rules are important to follow, but not only that: That it is also very important, here and there, to dust off some of these rule books as well.
Please fill out the following form and be sure to include a resume or bio of performance experience including puppetry in general, full body puppets, bunraku-style puppetry, dance, circus, athletics, etc.
Link to apply: https://forms.gle/XxXYniBcbBQTuAX3A
Adam Theater provides equal employment opportunities and prohibits discrimination of any type because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, the status of being transgender, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship or veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment. We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply