OUR Puppetry ARTISTS
HEIDI RUGG: Director, Lead Puppeteer, Booking Contact, Playwright, Puppet Builder
Heidi founded Barefoot Puppet Theatre in 1997, a company born of her desire to share story-driven, timely works to uplift youth and family audiences. She is a performer, builder, writer, and designer; Heidi has her hand in every aspect of production while inviting collaborators into her process. In 2005, she was awarded an UNIMA Citation of Excellence for her original work, Galapagos George.
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Heidi has worked as a teaching artist with all ages – from preschool classrooms to masterclasses for professional puppeteers. In 2021, she received a Bachelor’s of Interdisciplinary Studies degree in Arts Integration from Virginia Commonwealth University, graduating magna cum laude.
As a puppet builder, Heidi has a passion for eco-friendly processes in puppet-making. In her creative practice, she is on a quest to create biodegradable puppets and works primarily with wool, handmade papers, and recycled materials. Heidi maintains a studio practice from her home on the edge of a swamp in Richmond’s Northside where she lives with her husband (and fellow company member), Sam Rugg, an immortal gecko, a rescue pup, and a host of puppets.​​
​GENNA BETH DAVIDSON: Puppeteer, Puppet Builder, Collaborator
Genna Beth Davidson began working with Barefoot Puppet Theatre in October 2023. Hailing from the banks of the Chesapeake Bay, Genna Beth is an ambitious and down to earth puppet artist who brings her broad and deep set of skills to both the theater industry and service arenas alike. With a penchant for turning everything and anything into a puppet, Genna Beth loves transforming the vitality of materials into imaginary beings.
Genna Beth graduated with Honors from the University of Connecticut’s Puppet Arts program with her M.F.A. in 2022. Prior to graduate school, she lived in Washington, DC where she co-founded Wit’s End Puppets and designed for the likes of Pointless Theatre and Brave Spirits. She especially loves designing and building large theatrical puppets and most recently created an octopus, a seahorse, and a mermaid for Nehprii Amenii's 2024 production of HUMAN at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, Georgia.
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SAM RUGG: Carpenter/Set Builder, Technical Director
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Sam Rugg is the Technical Director for Barefoot Puppet Theatre, a position he has held since 2001. Sam has a passion for good quality tools and equipment. As Technical Director, he keeps the touring vehicle running and oversees sound, lighting, and set construction. He consults on puppet mechanisms and designed a simple way to trigger sound cues remotely by foot pedal, before that type of system was commercially available. He also has designed amazing scene changes for a number of company productions.
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Sam enjoys spending time tinkering with small engines, pinball machines, and just about anything mechanical. He is active with the local maker scene in Richmond and is an Emeritus Board Member of the Build Forward Foundation which operates Build RVA, a community makerspace. Sam lives in Richmond, Virginia on the edge of a growing swamp with his wife, Heidi, and their dog, Naia.
Music collaborators
Coming Soon!
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