It was 1990, and the world was mourning the untimely death of iconic puppet master Jim Henson. A 16-year-old aspiring puppeteer in Chester, New Hampshire, Rob Saunders \u201996 (SFA) had long admired Henson\u2019s artistry and aesthetic, the way he blended otherworldly elements and realism on children\u2019s television shows like \u201cThe Muppets\u201d and \u201cSesame Street,\u201d and in fantasy cinematic visions like \u201cLabyrinth\u201d and \u201cThe Dark Crystal.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor a young person his passing was like a call to arms, to take up the mantle. It sparked a sense of purpose for me and other puppeteers that came out of that time, we felt compelled to carry on his legacy. I felt I gotta do this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sitting in his high school counselor\u2019s office, Saunders discovered that answering the call could mean earning $13,000 a year. \u201cTo my teenage mind, that figure sounded amazing. In that moment, it was clear to me where I was heading.\u201d<\/p>\n
Saunders set his sights on, and gained admittance to, UConn\u2019s School of Fine Arts, renowned for its illustrious puppetry program, and in so doing became the first of his family to attend college. Almost immediately, he found himself working with the esteemed, longtime head of UConn\u2019s puppetry program, Bart Roccoberton Jr., on a production of \u201cA Christmas Carol.\u201d<\/p>\n
Off and running, Saunders immersed himself in courses for performance, directing, design, and fabrication, and created lifelong friendships with fellow puppeteers including David Regan \u201995 (SFA), \u201901 MFA; Tim Legasse \u201992 (SFA); Jennifer Barnhart \u201994 (SFA); and Jim Napolitano \u201993 (SFA). \u201cThey\u2019re all UConn grads who went on to do well commercially,\u201d he says, citing some of their collective work with entertainment giants The Jim Henson Co., The Walt Disney Co., PBS, and Nickelodeon.<\/p>\n