Press and Features
Interviews, features, and other kind words people have said about our work.
“Speaking of Simple Mischief’s puppets, they are worth the trip out to see this show all on their own.”
“Some of the [puppet] designs (like the flying monkeys) are terrifying; some (like a murder of musician crows) are delightful. But it’s Toto that steals this show. The old adage says never to work with animals or children, lest actors risk being upstaged. Toto proves that the concept should extend to animal puppets as well.”
— KC STUDIO, KCRep’s “The Wizard of Oz” Is a Marvel
Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Wizard of Oz.
Photo by Don Ipock.
“Already delighting viewers… Bluey Puppets is an inspiring craft series”
2025 Drama Desk Award Nomination: Outstanding Puppetry
Simple Mischief Studio, Small Acts of Daring Invention
“Simple Mischief will be creating smiles for years to come.”
— KANSAS CITY MAGAZINE
Winner of “Best of Kansas City 2024”
“Simple Mischief Studio gets credit for designing and fabricating a few puppets who definitely could secure Tony votes as best supporting inanimate actors.”
— TALKIN’ BROADWAY, Ask for the Moon, Goodspeed Musicals
Jamison Stern in Ask for the Moon, featuring puppetry by Simple Mischief Studio. Photo by Diane Sobolewski.
“[The puppet team] did a fantastic job.”
Featured in Cartoon Brew: A puppet unicorn for IF (John Krasinski, Ryan Reynolds).
“Simple Mischief Studio ... might raise the Kansas City area’s rich puppet heritage to a whole new level.”
Grace Townley and Spencer Lott featured in the Kansas City Star: ‘Mr. Rogers,’ ‘Sesame Street,’ ‘SNL’: KC couple turns puppet love into thriving business
“The people who worked on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood for 40 years saw the puppets and were like, ‘Did you borrow these from us?’ … They couldn’t believe it.”
— Marielle Heller, Director, A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, Marielle Heller on Recreating Mister Rogers’ World with Tom Hanks, Ties, and Vintage Cameras
“With the puppets, we feel like we really captured something and recreated them perfectly.”
— Marielle Heller, Director. A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD Vignette: Building the Neighborhood.
Behind the scenes on the making of “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” including interviews with Tom Hanks, Matthew Rhys, David Newell (the original Mr. McFeely), Director Marielle Heller, and puppet-makers Grace Townley & Spencer Lott.
“The first time I saw Daniel Striped Tiger and King Friday [on set]; it just resonates in the deepest recesses of my childhood.”
— Susan Kelechi Watson, A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD: Dreaming Big, Building Small
Another behind-the-scenes glimpse about Fred Rogers’ puppets, and bringing the puppets to life for “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” including interviews with Susan Kelechi Watson, puppet-maker Spencer Lott, and director Marielle Heller.
PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY, Rights Report: Week of August 4, 2025
THE PITCH, BEST OF KC 2024: Ryan Reynolds flick IF features Simple Mischief Studio’s savoir-faire
STARTLAND NEWS, Married Puppeteers Had a Hand in Reviving Iconic Mr. Rogers Characters for Film; Now They’ve Returned to KC (with their Studio)
KC STUDIO, Arts News: Works of Puppeteers from KC Featured in New ‘Mister Rogers’ Film
KIDSCREEN, Simple Mischief Studio Opens to Offer Custom Puppet-Making Services
TV KIDS DAILY, Sesame Street Puppeteer Establishes New Studio