November 8th, 7:00pm  RAYGUN Mezzanine 505 E Grand Ave.

The Uplifting Puppet Company proudly presents Little Slam on the Prairie, the first-ever puppet slam in central Iowa, taking place Saturday, November 8 at 7:00 PM in the mezzanine of RAYGUN, located at 505 E Grand Ave, Ste 103, Des Moines, IA 50309.

Presented as part of Heather Henson’s Puppet Slam Network, this one-night-only showcase features a dynamic lineup of short puppet performances created for audiences ages 13 and up. The evening will highlight a variety of puppetry forms—including shadow, rod, object, and experimental puppetry—brought to life by artists from across Iowa and the Midwest.

Featured Artists Include:

• Brant Bollman – Uplifting Puppet Company

• Monica Leo – Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre Company

• Rachel Buse – Junior Art Team

• Stephanie Vallez – Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre Company

• Alyson O’Hara & Brittny Rebhuhn – Lemonade Studio

• Maddie Hamilton – Independent Artist

• Gwendolyn Neal – Emerging Puppeteer

“Little Slam on the Prairie celebrates the incredible diversity and creativity within modern puppetry,” said Brant Bollman, Creative Director of the Uplifting Puppet Company. “From funny and surreal to poetic and thought-provoking, this event showcases just how expressive and unexpected puppetry can be.”

The Puppet Slam Network, founded by Heather Henson (daughter of legendary puppeteer Jim Henson), supports independent puppeteers and small-scale performances across the United States, fostering artistic experimentation and collaboration.