Sam LewiS puppetry artist
photo: Matthew Gilson Photography
UPCOMING PERFORMANCS
August 30-31: 2024 National Puppet Slam, Atlanta, GA
Press
Samuel J. Lewis II’s puppetry explores slippery narratives of American Black history.
by Irene Hsiao
February 9, 2023
Selected work
Praiseworthy - An Intelligent and Prompt Negro, A Railroad Disaster Averted
@Links Hall
2023 Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival - Nasty, Brutish, and Short
music by: Hunter Diamond
crankie puppet building and art direction by: Grace Needlman
He Worked Hard, The Story of James "Jim" Lewis
@Green Line Performing Arts Center
D-Composed 5th Anniversary Event on 12/12/2022
puppetry by: Sam Lewis & Noah and Parker Maxen-Lewis
words: Sam Lewis
music by: D-Composed
additional music by: Hunter Diamond
composed by: Ahmed Al Abaca
Where I'm From
@Links Hall
2022 Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival - Nasty, Brutish, and Short
w/ Noah Maxen-Lewis, and Parker Maxen-Lewis
music by: Steve Gaede
lyrics by: Sam Lewis
In a Deep Dark Wood There Lived an Ogre
Created by K*F*C Puppet Partners
Narration by Sam Lewis
Puppet Wonder Wagon
2021 Pivot Arts Festival
Videography: Jonathan Woods
Performers: Hunter Diamond, Cristal Sabbagh, Myles Wakefield J, Felix Mayes, Grace Needlman, Scott Merchant, Sam Lewis
Imagine Working the Land
w/ Noah and Parker Maxen-Lewis
music by: Sam Lewis
Ancestral Kinetics
@Elastic Arts
w/ Noah and Parker Maxen-Lewis
music written and performed by: Dr. Adam Zanolini
Emancipation Blues
w/ Noah and Parker Maxen-Lewis
music written and performed by: Marvin Tate,
and Steve Gaede
A Puppet Day in America
2019 Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival
@Links Hall
w/ Marvin Tate, Time Brickey, Jennifer Ligaya,
and Aquil Charlton (AQ)
music by: Aquil Charlton, and Various artists
Big Head Meets Jus Hambone
Green Line Puppet Slam
@Green Line Performing Arts Center
w/ Brett Swinney
Jus Hambone vs. AQ Freestyle Battle
w/ Aquil Charlton
Snowball Fight
w/ Sawyer Maxen-Lewis
music written and performed by: Sam Lewis
Jus n' Time
Live @Ragdale Foundation
w/ Time Brickey
music written and performed by: James Sanders
Song of Solomon - A Cosmic Love Opera (excerpt)
by Angel Bat Dawid
@Co-Prosperity Sphere
music written and performed by: N.W. Long
Jus Wurks It
@Ragdale Foundation
music created by: Jerome Derradji