Vicki Veenstra

Vicki Veenstra is a Canadian puppeteer, puppet builder, and wrangler who is known for doing freelance puppet work across Canada. She served as an apprentice puppeteer and key puppet builder for Big and Small, alongside Caitlin O'Reilly. Vicki was also puppet wrangler for Groundling Marsh, Zoboomafoo, and Higglety Pigglety Pop, and puppet builder on Ruffus the Dog and Panda Bear Daycare. Veenstra is probably more experienced with building since she did it more than puppetry. She has however started doing puppetry at the International Puppet Festival back in 2006 and was probably trained to puppeteer on Big and Small afterwards. Even though she hasn't worked with the Henson Company, she worked with several Muppet performers such as Fred Stinson, Karen Valleau, Bob Stutt, and Nina Keogh, just to name a few. It seems Vicki Veenstra spent her puppet building career with The Grogs, Radical Sheep Shop, and 3/Design Studio all of which were responsible for each show she did. Personally, I think she should have worked on Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock which is filmed in Canada and features many Muppet performers, even those who are new to it. If ever another person in the Creature Shop is needed the producers should give her a call and ask for her assistance. Then again, Vicki seems pretty happy in her freelancing career and probably met more puppeteers at the International Puppet Festival. Let's hope Veenstra is still doing puppetry and puppet building today since nobody heard from her since 2010. If so, then she should give Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock a chance. It's not something she has to do, it's just a suggestion for her. Vicki Veenstra, you did wonderful doing freelance work on puppet projects & festivals. I hope wherever you are, you're still doing puppetry whenever you have a chance. Until you get interviewed by a podcast, always remember the shows you did. Great Vicki. Build on Veenstra!

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