Kenny Warren with Leroy Cool
- Brooklyn, NY
- Ventriloquist
- 8 Verified Bookings
Denisse B. D. said “I received positive feedback. Thank you!”
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Lucky Stars Puppets is a one woman puppet company that has used puppets to entertain, educate, and inspire thousands of children across DC, Maryland, and Virginia since 2013. As of August 2020, Lucky Stars Puppets is closing its doors and donating its fun cast of characters and puppet stage to a wonderful nonprofit in Maryland called Ebony Sonshine, Inc. (ESI). ESI uses puppetry to empower children and youth in the DC Metro area and beyond, with a special focus on outreach to African American communities. To learn more, do a search for Ebony Sonshine Puppets on GigSalad.
Wendy is very talented and was able to build a connection with our son immediately. She involved him in preparing for the show. Wendy arrived well before the start of the birthday party and was flexible when kids arrived late. She also involved all the kids during the show which was great. We seemed to have a different definition of what is scary for three year olds however. She didn’t quite follow our guidance in that respect.
Response from Lucky Stars Puppets:
The parents and birthday boy were very kind and welcoming, and the birthday boy and his friends seemed curious, engaged, and happy during the show. Although I am sorry to hear that the parents felt some of the content was too scary for three year olds, I followed the exact guidance they gave me prior to the show. I did tell the Mother that I had very big animal puppets and that I would perform the Three Little Pigs, and she expressed no concern about that. I also left out the content and puppets that she said might be too scary. I did not include those in my show. She approved the content that we discussed prior to the party. The Mother also assured me that the big animal puppets would be fine. In the hundreds of shows that I’ve done, I’ve never had one client say that my content was too scary for the age of the audience. I rely on clients to tell me what they would like me to include in the shows - prior to the shows. Sometimes, as in this case, parents may provide guidance that is off the mark with their child or the guests they invite. If this happens, it may be due to the fact that some people don’t know how their children will react to puppets.
Wendy was a pleasure to work with. She had useful information up front so that I could make sure this was a good fit, and our house could be set up in the way that worked for her. We talked the day before and she was right on time. She started her show gradually, introducing the puppets to the kids and then creating this delightful interweaving story line between a royal family, then Dragons Love Tacos, then the 3 little pigs, all with master narrator, Ucan Toucan. Kids and parents enjoyed it. I'm still getting comments from parents at school days later. It was definitely the right choice to bring the entertainment into our home, instead of going to it.
Response from Lucky Stars Puppets:
Thank you for the lovely review, Isabella. You have a wonderful family and group of friends - who are creative and fun. Your daughter is precious and lights up the room. Performing at her birthday was a true delight.
Best,
Wendy
We hired Wendy to perform at our son’s birthday party. Our son was turning three and the guests had an age range between 1 and 5. Wendy did an incredible job keeping the kids enthusiastic and engaged with the show. She also did an incredible job performing when there were some kiddos running around distracted. All of the guest were so impressed with the amount of puppets she brought and her voice and story telling talent. She did an amazing job including the birthday boy and making sure it felt like “his special show.” Thank you for an unforgettable event that our little ones are still talking about!
Response from Lucky Stars Puppets:
Dear Margot, Thank you for the great review and for hiring me to perform at your son's birthday. His energy, creative spirit, and sweet nature were clear right from the start and added a huge splash of color to the show. It was a real treat for me to perform for your wonderful son, family, and friends. I had a great time celebrating with you, but the best reward is knowing that all of the kids enjoyed the show. Kind regards, Wendy
One of the best puppet show & Christmas Party .
Response from Lucky Stars Puppets:
Jay, Thanks for your glowing review and for inviting Lucky Stars Puppets to perfom at your community holiday party. What an uplifting, fun, and warm group - and the kids were so creative. It was a real treat to ring in the holidays with all of you. I’m was so impressed by the kindness and rich Christmas spirit that filled the air. Merry Christmas!
Lucky Stars Puppets performed a puppet show for our preschoolers. It was a pleasure working with Lucky Stars Puppets. Wendy is very efficient in her communication (email or phone) and was willing to work with our budget. We were given a variety of shows to choose from (all of which were age appropriate).
Wendy arrived promptly on both days she was scheduled to perform for our students. After the first day, she contacted me to see if there was anything that we felt should be altered for the second day's performance. The puppet show was educational and fun entertainment.
The kids enjoyed the interaction they had with the puppets. At the end of the day, they were excited to tell their parents about the puppet show they got to see.
Response from Lucky Stars Puppets:
Thank you so much for the kind words, Karla! Working with you, and performing for your wonderful, creative students was a real delight. Have a happy holiday season! Best wishes, Wendy
We asked Wendy to do a show for our Tot Rosh Hashana service, and she was wonderful, really keeping the children engaged and greatly enhancing the holiday experience for the families.
I booked Wendy to put on a show for our special needs summer camp. I gave her some information about the children and tips on how to sustain their attention. I don't think my tips were needed as the show was interesting, funny, and captivating! The children loved it! Wendy was very professional and communicated extremely well throughout the booking process!
Response from Lucky Stars Puppets:
Thank you for your thoughtful feedback, Nichole. I had a great time performing for your children. They were incredibly sweet, energetic, interactive, creative, and very bright. In fact - they stole show at one point - when one group of campers took it into their own hands to create brand new content that entertained me and had everyone laughing. That was a first - and was a real treat!
We loved having Ms. Wendy perform for our Student Appreciation Day. She did two sessions, back to back, for @ 60 students each. Everyone was engaged and mesmerized!
Response from Lucky Stars Puppets:
Thank you, Amy - for your kind words. The students were a real delight, and I had a great time performing at your school.
Wendy and her puppets put on a fabulous, Hanukkah themed show for our Hanukkah celebration. In addition to the Hanukkah show, Wendy brought amazing hand puppets for an additional interactive show with the children. Cannot rave enough about this program!
I was desperately seeking entertainment for my one year old's birthday party. Lucky stars puppets made his birthday a beautiful memory for our family and friends. The show was engaging for both children and parents. Our guest ranted and raved about the performance, making this one of the best children's parties they have been to in a while. Thank you lucky stars puppet show for the amazing show and the unforgettable experience.
The transaction was seamless and profession. Wendy was very accommodating and help in selecting and creating a show that was suitable and entertaining for all parties involved.
We highly recommend luck stars puppets!!!! I will look upon my son's first birthday with very fond memories!!! Just exceptional!!!
Wendy was awesome. Her stage and sound system makes the show a professional production. The younger kids were entertained the entire time. The older kids (8 and up) were a bit antsy towards the end, but I specifically geared the performance to an audience for 1 to 7 year olds, since it was my sons first birthday party and most kids were on the younger side. Wendy is great with the children, and puts positive reinforcement and safety messages into her shows. She had multiple tigons you could pick from for the puppet shows. Overall, I was very pleased and would highly recommend Wendy and lucky star puppets!
Wendy of Lucky Stars Puppets was wonderful! She was easy to work with, professional and best of all so much FUN! She performed at my sons 1st birthday party for about 20 kids all under the age of 5! She sang, played instruments, and used her friendly puppets to keep the party going.
While my lil guests were not as interactive as we hoped, Wendy "went with the flow" and did her best to engage not only the kids but the parents at the party.
We received great feedback from our guests and highly recommend Wendy!
I found Wendy via an online search, and my husband and I hired Wendy for our son’s 3-year birthday party. We had over 15 kids with majority of them being 2 or 3 years old. Everyone stayed focused on Wendy for the entire performance. We couldn’t be happier with our decision of having her for the party. Wendy was very professional. From her first email responding to my initial inquiry to the phone communications prior to the party, she always gave detailed information upfront. On the day of the birthday party, she arrived two hours in advance with many bags and suitcases of her equipment. She alternated various puppets and distributed music instruments for kids to keep them entertained throughout the show. There was absolutely no short cut. The content was rich even compared to a 45-min show we attended at a puppet theater. I also saw Wendy prepare her materials in a quiet corner right before the performance. That shows how serious she treated a 3-yr old birthday party. During the performance, she was confident and was in total command despite a room full of small children and parents. It is easy to tell she knows her stuff.
Wendy was also flexible and considerate. She worked with me to incorporate elements that are relevant to my boy. I communicated with her about my son’s favorite characters. One is a Chinese kid’s show character – Qiaohu. Wendy went out her way to add this character to the story line and even did research and made sure she pronounced it correctly. The other character my son loves is Thomas the Tank Engine, so Wendy ordered Thomas finger puppets for the party. We even got a cute gift with a personalized birthday ‘certificate’. Needless to say, this created a good memory for us and for my son for many years to come. We had a lot of guests at the party. Many parents raved about Wendy’s performance afterward. One of the child attendees said days later “the party was soooo much fun”
The only thing I would point out is if you plan to do a puppet show for small children, make sure you give sufficient heads up to the child. In our case, even though we had seen puppet show quite a few times, I think it took my son a while to warm up. He was mesmerized by the crowd, so he did not interact or shout loud to his favorite characters and songs as I thought he would. Just something to keep in mind for when you plan a party for a small kid. Wendy engaged my son, but never pushed too much, so this has nothing to do with Wendy as a performer. Great job and Thanks.. Wendy!
This is the first time our private preschool has used Wendy Papier and Lucky Stars Puppets and it won't be the last! When booking with Lucky Stars we were impressed with the numerous options that we could choose from that would work with our curriculum. The puppet show was interactive which was perfect for four year olds. Wendy was very professional and when we had to reschedule because of snow she was able to meet our needs easily. From the moment we booked our program until after the show was completed Wendy provided us with exceptional service.
Wendy’s puppets were bright, colorful and lovable. When planning our event, she was easy to work with and very professional.
Wendy and her puppets made each story come alive. The smile on the children's faces was priceless. Even the parents rediscovered the joy and laughter from their favorite nursery rhymes and sing along songs. All my guest young and old enjoyed the show. Wendy was on time and very welcoming. I will definitely recommend her for any kid's party.
Response from Lucky Stars Puppets:
It was an honor and a delight to perform for your son's first birthday celebration. Your friends and family sparkle - and I was so excited to see them interact with the puppets. I was also entertained, and had a great time. I will always remember the look of wonder and joy on your son's face as he opened the toucan puppet's mouth to investigate. Thank you for calling on Lucky Stars Puppets.
I hired Lucky Stars Puppets to perform at my two daughters' (aged 5 and 3) double birthday party. It was amazing! Wendy did a wonderful job! The children LOVED the show!! It was very interactive and fun. It was so nice to have the children entertained, while the adults relaxed and had lunch. All the children were very engaged, well behaved, and couldn't take their eyes off the show! Wendy was very professional and extremely nice! I would highly recommend her to anyone!
Response from Lucky Stars Puppets:
Jenny: Thank you for the lovely review and for the opportunity to perform at your daughters' birthday party. Your family was so warm and inviting, and both of your daughters sparkle. It was a real treat to work with you, and you provided the perfect atmosphere for a fun, and upbeat puppet program. Best wishes!
Lucky Stars came to Har Shalom Camp. A camps for 2 to 5 year olds. Lucky Star did a wonderful job captivating the attention of the children. The children were dancing about when the Frozen song was played, when Elmo showed up there was excitement and squeals of joy. Lucky stars even did a puppet performance unique to our school Judaic background. It was awesome, I was blown away by the show. Thank you, we were the lucky ones.
Response from Lucky Stars Puppets:
Wow. Thanks for the kind remarks, Patricia. Performing for the Har Shalom campers was a true delight.
Lucky Stars Puppet Show came to our preschool aged 2-5 and preformed two shows that enhanced our summer event schedule.
Wendy inspired the children from the moment they walked in the room with props and music. They were so excited they picked up different instruments from the floor and started playing along. After everyone arrived the children were instantly involved by being a part of the puppet show.
Thought out the show children's faces lit up with excitement and sounds of laughter.
As my colleagues mentioned, the children were still talking about it days later. I would highly recommend Lucky Stars Puppet Show to perform for your children.
Response from Lucky Stars Puppets:
Thanks for your kind words, Michelle. Performing for the JCC campers was a true delight.
My daughter loves puppets so Lucky Stars Puppets was a perfect fit.Wendy was extremely professional we had several points of contact prior to the event,she arrived early to set up. She engaged all of the children prior to starting the show. She had several stages to the show as well as various puppet to engage the children. Even though it was my daughters first birthday we had children with a range of ages and Wendy engage them all. I would definitely recommend Wendy!
Wendy was amazing from beginning to end. My daughters party consisted of 13 children ranging from 1-5 with a couple pre teens sprinkled in. My dilemma was how to entertain all ages with various attention spans. My daughter had not experienced puppets yet so after much research I found Lucky Stars. Wendy was quick in response to my many questions (it was my first rodeo) and walked me through all of her options. On the day of the party Wendy showed up prior to guests arrival to set up and meet Kai. The entertainment lasted almost an hour and the kids were captivated! Our show was full of finger puppets, sign alongs, TWO staged skits plus a great toucan ventriloquist set! All I can say is AMAZING! Everyone raved about what a great idea and success this was. Wendy was a huge part of making my daughters first birthday the best!!
Price Range: $125-$400
Gig Length: 30 - 60 minutes
Languages: English
Insurance: Yes
Wendy performs puppet theatre and conducts interactive puppet circle times for toddlers and for children who are in pre-K through third grade. She travels to you to perform interactive puppet programs or puppet theatre. She has a professional puppet stage that she can bring to your location.
Her shows include group interaction, movement, and song, and she can customize the show to meet your needs, be it for a birthday party, school program, camp, library, festival, or other venue. In addition to providing non-stop entertainment, Lucky Stars Puppets offers programming to get youngsters thinking about key topics, such as teasing, understanding disabilities, health and fitness, safety, diversity, and the environment. Audience members will walk away with imaginations soaring and smiles on their faces.
Wendy brings unique experience to Lucky Stars Puppets. She has a strong background in TV and radio production, communications, and psychology, and has experience creating and directing theatrical productions.
She served on the production team for The New Explorers TV series (PBS), which received the George Foster Peabody Award in 1994. She went on to co-produce a one hour documentary for The New Explorers (1997), called Taming the Wild Horses, which received a positive review in The New York Times. Wendy has produced for national and local TV news (ABC & NBC) as well as for entertainment TV (EXTRA). During her career in Washington D.C., Wendy directed a Concert of Hope (1999), featuring Archbishop Desmond Tutu, for the Washington National Cathedral's millennium celebration. Later, while managing a national grass roots effort in D.C., Wendy produced and directed a theatrical program for children on nuclear arms control (2002). This interactive program was based on a Dr. Seuss story, and was performed in both Maryland and New York. Wendy has continued to produce video and radio over the years - creating content to entertain and educate audiences.
In addition to doing puppet theatre, Wendy offers fun interactive workshops - to provide children with a hands-on opportunity to create puppets, assume different roles, learn about important topics, and express themselves.
With a little help from her puppets - Wendy encourages your children to expand their horizons and reach for their lucky stars.
Photo: Toucan puppet by Axtell Expressions
Set-up for Stage Puppet Shows - Wendy will arrive 1.5 hours early to set up her puppet stage. The stage is roughly 8 feet wide, and when possible should be positioned in the corner of a room that has a door (to keep out noise from the outside). The spot for the stage should be at least 10 feet wide. The room should be large enough that children can sit five feet away from the front of the stage - for a good view. While chairs for the audience are okay, floor seating is best. Wendy can also stage her shows in outdoor venues, as long as there is a pavilion, covering, or awning to shield the stage from sun and rain.
Set-up for Interactive Finger Puppet Shows: Wendy will arrive 1/2 hour early to bring her materials and to prepare puppets and props. Finger puppet shows include circle time, so your location needs to be large enough for all attendees to sit in a circle. The finger puppet show does not require a puppet stage.
The Muppets & Sesame Street, Steve Axtell, Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss), Terry Fator, Mallory Lewis & Lamb Chop, Leslie Madeline Fleming
A private room with a door and space for a puppet stage.
Denisse B. D. said “I received positive feedback. Thank you!”
Daniel N. said “Dennis & his daughters were a great addition to our 3yr old birthday party”
Sarah S. said “Mlanjeni Magical Theater always brings the laughter!”
Cynthia B. said “Great stories about childbirth. Historical and entertaining”