Michael Latini is an Emmy-nominated designer, puppeteer, fabricator, and co-founder of Monkey Boys Productions who has always played with and taken apart toys. Around the age of 12, he started performing in school shows, doodling during class, and working with his carpenter father. These passions, along with his love of the amazing practical effects films of the 80s & 90s, led him to the puppetry industry after getting his degree in Metals/Jewelry/CAD-CAM from tyler_artandarchitecture. His puppetry career began as “Bear” in the Bear in the Big Blue House Live, national tour in 2001 and he’s been lucky to work with many shows and productions since then. Little Shop of Horrors, Avenue Q, Johnny & the Sprites, Sesame Street, Walking with Dinosaurs LIVE, How to Train Your Dragon LIVE, The Muppets, Helpsters, & Saturday Night Live.