Everyone has a story to tell. Whether it’s an old tale or a new one; one that entertains an audience, educates the public or helps the storyteller explore themselves.

Shelby Rickart has been building puppets since the age of six. After teaching middle school for 27 years, she knows how to be silly.  Ms. Rickart has forty years’ experience in performance and ten years as a puppeteer and puppet builder. She also has a MFA in non-profit management, and has written K-12 curriculum for Repertory Dance Theater, and the Utah Museum of Fine Arts.

Ms. Rickart is director and founder of Puppets in the City. She founded the company with the goal to make the art of puppetry available to everyone.  Shelby offers puppets, puppet shows, workshops and general puppetry skills, surrounding the themes of no bullying, multi-cultural tolerance, encouraging/developing literacy, and general silliness. The workshops feature activities that develop creativity, make specific puppets to tell personal stories, and practice puppetry arts. Participants can learn puppet building, script writing, staging a puppet show, using puppetry in the classroom, and team-building skills.