By Alex Burke
The University of Maryland’s School of Theater, Dance and Performance Studies hosted an event Mar. 12 with Megan Piphus Peace, a trailblazing puppeteer celebrated for her groundbreaking work on “Sesame Street.”
Peace, the first Black female puppeteer to work on the children’s program, spent years carving out a space for herself in the puppetry world. As a self-taught ventriloquist, her journey was anything but conventional.
Peace performed with some of her favorite puppets while sharing her experience growing up in Lincoln Heights, a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio. She said her love of performing began at an early age, primarily through the church.
“Whenever I performed, I made sure I put some kind of message into the scripts about character values,” Peace said.
Peace’s performances, often rooted in the church community, became her first avenue for storytelling, and she found fulfillment in using her puppetry to instill values like perseverance, grace and compassion.
Moderated by the Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, Stephanie Shonekan, the event gave Peace a platform to talk about her experiences as a Black woman in the performing arts field.
“We were so excited to bring you here because, as a Black woman working in this industry, this part of the art world, we imagine that it could be difficult,” Shonekan said.
Peace emphasized how her cultural background shaped her work and her perspective, giving her a unique voice in the puppetry world. Peace said she feels responsible for using her platform to tell stories that resonate with children of all backgrounds.
“There are many kids who don’t get the opportunity to feel that love and embracing of a community for who they are,” Peace said. “I’m able to use my unique experiences and identity to tell stories that speak not just to other little Black girls, but to kids of all races, to understand the perspectives of other people.”
Peace was first offered the role of a puppeteer for “Sesame Street” in 2020, where she played Gabriella, a 6-year-old Black girl. Despite it being a risky prospect to take the job at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Peace said the opportunity played a pivotal role in advancing her career and showing her children the importance of pursuing their dreams.
Peace also had to overcome the hurdle of learning new techniques for the Muppet style of puppetry before beginning her work on Sesame Street.
“It was a humbling experience to realize that I had been performing on my own for 18 years and I had to relearn every step,” Peace said.
Jill Bradbury, director of the School of Theater Dance and Performance Studies, expressed admiration for Megan’s groundbreaking work, as well as gratitude for the support that made the evening possible.
“We’re very grateful to have Megan here tonight, and I have to acknowledge the Jane Henson Foundation, support of the Jim Henson Artist in Residence Fund, which enables us to bring in wonderful puppet artists such as Megan,” Bradbury said.
The Jim Henson Foundation was founded by Muppets creator and UMD alum Jim Henson, class of 1960. This organization works to support grants to artists advancing the art of puppetry. Shonekan reflected on the significance of Megan’s role in expanding the boundaries of the industry, praising her open-arms approach.
“It gives me so much joy to see someone who really embraces all sides of the arts,” Shonekan said.