Rising Stars: Meet Shaun Michael McNamara

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shaun Michael McNamara.

Hi Shaun, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself. 
My name is Shaun Michael McNamara, and I am a 42-year-old Valley native. I own what I believe is the coolest independent live theater company in town. We are called The All Puppet Players. Hard to imagine a COOL puppet show? Well, imagine a world in which the Muppets grow up and start doing live pop-culture shows for sold-out audiences in Midtown Phoenix.

Imagine their saccharine smiling faces saying unspeakable things in front of an adult audience, laughing wildly at a felted thespian cracking wise. That’s what I am now. But that’s not always what I’ve been, and honestly, I’m not sure I can even trace back all of the decisions that have led me to this point. So, I’ve dug through a few old journals to see if I can piece together my story in a nutshell.

It’s 1996: I am sixteen and wearing an ill-fitting black suit in my high school production of Anything Goes. I play a tough, funny gangster in the show; however, my awkward high school boy body, bowl cut, and squeaky, pre-pubescent voice undercut the image of a street-wise gangster that I am trying to portray. Despite my limitations in high school, I am doing my darndest to play my part.

In this scene, my gangster character is trying to con someone. I am shuffling a deck of cards, saying my lines with all the believability of a church mouse exclaiming he’s a lion. Then it happens. I say a line that’s supposed to get a laugh. But it doesn’t. The laugh does not land. I watch my face drop all acting pretense, and my sixteen-year-old self is fully present. My boyish face stares straight out into the audience, shuffling the deck to enhance my dismay.

I retort, “These are the jokes, folks. If you didn’t like that one, you’re gonna hate the next one.” Huge laugh. My smile is large. It’s real. It’s in the moment. Backstage, I remember no smiles. No congrats. My high school drama teacher lectured me on destroying a pillar on which the theater stands. You NEVER EVER break character.

It’s 2002: I moved to California to pursue a career in acting. I find all sorts of acting jobs that bring me no closer to my main goal – yet somehow inform my life’s work at the same time. I work jobs at theme parks for Disneyland and Universal Studios. I become a puppeteer, a Jungle Cruise Skipper; I become The Grinch! These jobs are near an industry I am desperately seeking access to.

For ten years, I fog up the glass outside of Hollywood. I am constantly looking in on an industry that doesn’t need me, doesn’t want me, and quite frankly, I’m not sure I belong in. At this time, I am acting pretty regularly in small theaters around Orange County. I work closely with Brian Newell, the owner of The Maverick Theater in Fullerton. His vision is staged cinema. I love his ideas and his style, and I’m inspired. I start working on my original idea.

2010: My wife closes the box office and tells me, “Break a leg.” My wife and I have spent all of our savings on a bizarre puppet show called Hamlet Has No Legs. It’s about to have its World Premiere in a 45-seat black box theater in Santa Ana, California. With a truly gifted and talented cast and crew, we create lightning in a bottle. We form this symbiotic relationship with the audience. It’s the first time I feel like I’m doing something special. Something wholly weird and wild and original.

It’s 2012: My wife and I moved (back) to Arizona. She’s gotten a job offer, and although my little puppet shows are popular, they are not profitable in California. I’m 30 years old. I’m about to be a father, and I feel like a failure. This is not the “acting” career I had in mind.

It’s 2013: With complete hubris, I manage to talk three theaters into letting me produce originals. Chris Hamby, Damon Dering, and Mesa Encore Theater all take a chance, and I produce three shows in five months to varying degrees of success. The Arizona Republic calls us The Best New Theater, and that gets us in front of Vincent Van Vleet. He tells me The Playhouse on the Park is available, and I should look at it. I balk. “It has almost 200 seats,” I tell him smugly. “I’m never gonna be able to fill this place.”

2024: I’m 42 years old. Our 13th season has just closed, and it was our biggest. We sell out regularly to our rabidly beautiful fans who dress up for shows, join us for movie nights, watch us live on our Patreon page, and even drop off cookies to the cast and crew to congratulate them after a performance. The people I work with are family now.

I don’t feel like a failure anymore. I feel grateful. Grateful to my wife for joining me in this nonsense. Grateful to the people who helped build this along the way. Grateful to the critics and the “can’t-be-doners” because they helped me pivot, grow, and survive. No one road led to here. No road COULD lead to here. It’s never been a road before.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think it’s important to remember you can’t keep lightning in a bottle forever. There is a finite amount of time that I get to spend with THIS audience, in this place, at this time. I don’t take that for granted. The biggest hurdle is making your best work while you still have the energy to give it your all.

I need to do as much cool shit as I can before I’m too tired to go on or too stupid to see I’m irrelevant. Miles Davis said, “It takes a long time to sound like yourself.” I hope that means I’m still a few years away from hitting my stride.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
This seemed to be self-indulgent so I will let ChatGPT describe my work: Shaun Michael McNamara’s work with the All Puppet Players is characterized by its creativity, humor, and irreverence. He brings puppetry to adult audiences in a way that’s both entertaining and thought-provoking. His productions often feature clever adaptations of well-known stories or satirical takes on popular culture, using puppets as the medium for storytelling.

McNamara’s shows are known for their attention to detail in puppet design and manipulation, as well as their sharp wit and comedic timing. He explores a wide range of themes and subjects, injecting his performances with a sense of whimsy and absurdity that resonates with audiences.

Through his work, McNamara challenges traditional notions of puppetry and theater, pushing boundaries and creating memorable experiences for theatergoers. His dedication to his craft and his willingness to experiment with new ideas have made him a prominent figure in the world of puppet theater. WHOA! I’m blushing.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
The exceptional cast and crew of All Puppet Players, including two legendary individuals who have been with me for 10 years, Zach Funk and JennAfer Spruell. My high school drama teacher, Susan Thompson, played a crucial role in igniting my passion for the creation of a show. The rehearsal process, trying new things, experimenting—she instilled in me a deep appreciation for the relationship between audience and performer. We still spend Thanksgiving together and maintain regular contact.

Dr. Crae Wilson from Eastern Arizona College empowered me to create. He entrusted me with the keys to the theater, allowing me to explore my creativity freely. His hands-off approach bridged the gap between what I thought I could and couldn’t do. I built sets, designed costumes, broke down scripts, and created marketing materials using the college’s resources, all under his watchful eye but without his interference. His guidance was invaluable.

Brian Newell from The Maverick Theater provided invaluable insight into the blueprint of a successful small theater. His encouragement and expertise have blossomed into a great friendship and a resource so specific that it’s akin to having a cheat code for our profession.

My family’s unwavering support means the world to me. Every time I perform a show, they’re there—Grandma June, aunts, uncles, cousins—they all make time to attend, and their presence fills me with gratitude. Last but certainly not least, my wife and child keep me grounded and remind me to enjoy the world’s beauty and light. They are my true source of joy and inspiration.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.allpuppetplayers.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/allpuppetplayers
• Facebook: facebook.com/allpuppetplayers
• Twitter: @PuppetAnarchy
• Youtube: youtube.com/allpuppetplayers 

Image Credits
Jason Walz