Director's Note:

I remember the day Perfect Christmas Cookies was born. It was November 1, 2022, I was on the second floor of the Digital Media & Design building at UConn, and I had waited until the last second to do my Plays for Puppet Theatre homework assignment. The prompt was simple: using a puppet script we’d analyzed in class as inspiration, write your own original puppet scene. I chose Franz von Pocci’s Hansel and Gretel, a hand puppet play, but had zero ideas regarding what my scene should be about. I tried several writing prompt generators online and wasn’t intrigued by any of them, until I landed on “holidays.” Anyone who’s interacted with me during the month of December knows my love of Hallmark Christmas movies, so I decided to proceed in that direction. Hallmark movies and hand puppetry share a lot in common: they’re pure, and they feel emotions deeply. Darla was conceived rather quickly, and, like all hand puppet shows, she needed someone to argue with, giving us the character Oven. Hand puppet tradition largely includes the character Mr. Punch (or Kasperl in the Pocci text), and who better to serve as the over-the-top brutish Mr. Punch than Ebenezer Scrooge? Perfect Christmas Cookies’ opening scene and musical number flowed naturally and were completed in only an hour.

Perfect Christmas Cookies has had quite the journey already. It was originally developed and performed at the University of Connecticut in January 2024 as part of the inaugural Jerry Rojo Fest. The original company included myself in the Darla/Oven track, Alyson Doyle in the Scrooge/Santa track, and Tessa Beck Fey as our “Stage Manager, Etc.” In December 2024 it was presented with original company member Alyson Doyle in two boroughs of New York City: at Tootles & French in Astoria, Queens, and Don’t Tell Mama in Times Square, Manhattan. I am thrilled to bring Perfect Christmas Cookies to my home state of Kentucky this year, and I am delighted at its continued development. Perfect Christmas Cookies will be brought back year after year and will only continue to grow.  

I believe Perfect Christmas Cookies is the most perfect representation of not only my artistry, but of myself as a person. It is full of happiness and excitement and whimsy; it’s fun and high-energy; it is a Christmas puppet musical for goodness’ sake; it touches you deep in your heart; and ultimately it is a story of openness, forgiveness, changing your mind, and finding love and family anywhere. I hope this story brings you as much joy and Christmas spirit as it has for me. Thank you so much for being here, and God bless us, every one.