The Company: JGPP has an extensive repertoire of original state-of-the-art productions, each with its own set of unique puppet characters. Several productions have been duplicated completely, allowing use by JGPP puppeters in different locations simlutaneously. All shows are designed to travel by commercial air or van and the JGPP staffkeeps puppets and equipment in a constant state of good repair.

Marionette and rod-pupet performance requires a high degree of skill. Each puppeteer maintains proficiency by performing several productions through an active schedule of shows. Constant rehearsal and performance insures the high quality performance required by the company as well as presenters of our work. With the support staff of a half-dozen individuals, our five primary performing artsts stay well rehearsed through frequent school assembly performances. Each puppeteer maintains currency on more than one production.

Borrowing from a 'black theater' lighting technique developed in Eastern Europe, normally too large for a small touring group, we have developed an compact, innovative, self-contained system. The technique allows our artists to tour economically. Our design of controllers for marionettes and rod puppets too is inventive resulting in much more refined control over the puppet figures for greater characterization.

JGPP has been touring for more than 20 years and are well equipped for realistic analysis of travel costs. All productions are designed for relatively simple, fast set-up and strike times, allowing for multiple venues on a single day.

Since 1980: Developed 24 marionette and rod-puppet productions. With nine performing puppeteers and total staff of 15, JGPP presents over 2200 live performance annually. School assembly programs account for 30%, and consistenly receive critical acclaim from educators and reviewer alike.

	Jim Gamble, Director & Master Puppeteer, B.S., M.S., 37 years performing credits. Extensive touring, teaching and management experience. Performance History: Jim Gamble has been a professional puppeteer since 1956.
	Greg Ballora, B.A., Theatre Arts, UCLA 1986, Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude, studied with Dr. Mel Helstein. An experienced actor, dancer and singer, puppet builder and manipulator, he has performed the lead in "Pippin," manipulated a number of plants in "Little Shop of Horrors" and created puppets for many network TV shows. Ballora worked many of the special effects in Robocop II, Gremlins, Batman Returns, D. C. Follies While a student at UCLA won the Robert Reed Shakespeare Award for acting. His co-produced home video won Parent's Choice Award. He has recently built puppets and performed six episodes for the Jewish television network, as well as manipulating dinosaurs for the "Flintstones" movie. Greg is a member of SAG and AFTRA. Ballora has been a principle puppeteer for JGPP for 8 years, and is an approved performer for all the listed Touring Rosters. Many of the reviews and Arts Presenters Reports are based on performances by Greg Ballora.
	John Chambers, is an instructor at Art Center College of Design, Pasadena. He has been a puppeteer for 26 years and has extensive credits performing in TV commercials and touring shows. A member of SAG, Chambers has worked for Leo Bernett USA, General Mills and the Smiley Group for commercials, and since 1982 has created visual effects for various touring shows. In addition to his well-honed skills as a performing puppeteer John is a helicopter pilot and expert in advanced Macintosh computer systems. With JGPP 5 years.
	Keith Wassmuth, a seasoned actor, has logged years of experience performing in dozens of plays for children's theater. For several years he has performed as stunt man for various Universal Studios productions. Two seasons performing in Disneyland's Fantasmic and another season at Magic Mountain have helped hone his professional skills. Wassmuth has acted in over 30 plays, several videos and commercial infomercials. When Keith is not acting, juggling, making balloon animals or puppeteering, he is usually found training for the Ironman competitions. He has been with JGPP as puppeteer for 9 years.
	Tait Hill , B.A. Studio Art, San Jose State Univ. is a master craftsman, sculptor and puppet builder. He has built displays and animated creatures. Hill has manipulated marionettes for several JGPP puppet videos. With JGPP 4 years as builder and performing puppeteer.
	Ivana Tomaier earned her University degree in Theatre with a Puppetry Major from Karlova University in Prague Czechoslovakia. She was associated with the Pilzen Children's Theatre, Pilzen. Her escape to this country with her husband and two children allowed her to bring much of the European tradition to JGPP both as puppet builder and performer. Her performances for JGPP are for mostly private and smaller venues. With JGPP 5 years.

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STAFF RESOURCES:

Hobey Ford, Jackee Marks and Barbara Poznik continue to provide their artistic talents to JGPP. In addition, other skilled individuals such as Barbara Leonard (Artistic Director for the Los Angeles Music Center on Tour), Gail Haley, (Caldecott Award Winning author) Mark Larson (Award winning set designer), Phyllis Hofberg (Emmy-winning Art Director) and others are employed as directors, writers, and puppet builders for JGPP programs. Ellen Schulze, Mark Robertson and Rosemary Tyrrell are additional JGPP staff puppeteers who perform for smaller venues and give workshops for students.

In addition, Marty Gamble provides office and booking management, promotion and direction for the company, assisted by secretary, Kay Kasperik.

Tours

California

Open House at Hollywood Bowl (6)
LA Natural History Museum (8)
Santa Monica College (8)
LA Jr. Programs (8)
San Diego Children's Festival (5)
Encino Community Theatre (5)
La Jolla Chamber Music Festival (3)
Saddleback College (3)
Cerritos College (5)
Theater Arts Festival for Youth (6)
Fontana Performing Arts (6)
Sacramento Children's Festival


National

Kennedy Theater, Honolulu (12)
Maui Philharmonic Society (4)
Univ. of Hawaii, Hilo (4)
Kahilu Theatre (2)
Fairfield University, CT (3)
Detroit Institute of Art (5)
Evanston, Ill Arts Council
Tahoe Arts Project
Oregon Bach Festival
Kentucky Derby Festival, Louisville, KY
Denver Art Museum
Pittsburg, (PA) Children's Museum
Greater Arizona Puppet Theater (3)
National Puppetry Festivals (10)
Stanwood-Camano Is. Fair (25)
Magic Convention-Las Vegas, New Orleans
Fairfield University, CT
Villa Montalvo, CA
Missoula Valleyoop Festival

International Tours

Korea: EXPO'93 & '92 for Arts Festival
Japan: 1988, 1989, & 1994
Mexico: 1992
Micronesia: 1975 & 1977
Australia: 1977
Fijian Hotel: 1973
Europe & Middle East: 1964-65
South America: 1958

(numbers indicate number of years of repeat performances for venue)