RICK LYON

Originally from Rochester, NY, and now based in the New York City area, I studied theatre at Penn State University, and puppetry at the Institute of Professional Puppetry Arts in Connecticut and the Institut Internationale de la Marionnette in France. It is while I was studying in Connecticut in 1986 that I first met the late Jim Henson, which later led to my working for him as a puppeteer with the Muppets, and Jim Henson's Creature Shop. I've also worked independently and with other companies on television and film projects for Columbia Pictures, New Line Cinema, ABC, CBS, PBS, The Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, VH1, and Fox.

In addition to performing, I also design and build custom puppets, including the puppets for the Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q on Broadway, in London, and on tour nationally. Other projects have included puppets for Comedy Central's CRANK YANKERS, puppets and props for Nickelodeon's STICK STICKLY, television pilots for VH1, Nickelodeon, PBS, numerous industrials and home videos, and the live national tour of PBS's THE MAGIC SCHOOLBUS.

When time permits, I perform live shows with my own troupe, The Lyon Puppets. Performances by The Lyon Puppets feature a colorful cast of bright, eye-catching puppets, which I design and build myself. I also write my own scripts, and compose the music for my shows. I arrange, perform, and record the music with collaborators John Lynch and Jim Ream in the guise of the band "The Ripmeisters."