About the show
Hello and thank you for coming to Bill's 44th birthday party! Bill has been waiting a long time for this (it’s his first trip abroad!), and he is so thrilled you could make it.
Bill's 44th was originally conceived in 2016 as a 5 minute slam-piece for Puppet Homecomings. The prompt “They are coming” inspired us to throw a birthday party where no one ever shows up. Due to scheduling conflicts, however, we were unable to attend the slam and so Bill’s head was stuffed (lovingly) into a box on a shelf for another time. Two years later, we were invited to participate in Puppet Blok, an evening of work-in-progress showings of new puppet theatre at Dixon Place in NYC. We dusted off that head, gave it a moustache and a sweater, and (10 minutes of) Bill’s 44th was born!
What followed was another, longer workshop in 2019, being commissioned by Dixon Place to turn Bill’s 44th into a full-length production in 2020, receiving a 2020 Production Grant from the Jim Henson Foundation, joining the 2020 Puppet Lab at St Ann’s Warehouse to continue development, and planning a final workshop performance at the New York State Puppet Festival before readying for the premiere at Dixon Place in the fall of 2020.
You’ll notice that’s a lot of “2020.” Obviously, things did not go quite as planned.
While many of our ideas came to a screeching halt, Bill's journey continued. As we continued to develop this show about loneliness and isolation and waiting and waiting and waiting, our own–now unavoidable–experiences of loneliness and isolation and waiting and waiting and waiting encouraged us to find moments of joy, wonder, and even horror in our story that we might not have otherwise. Thanks to the New York State Puppet Festival in October of 2020 we were able to create Bill's 44th (A Zoom Birthday), a 30 minute version of our show performed live in our apartment and streamed over Zoom. And finally, in June of 2021 with an expanded team of three puppeteers, Bill found his way to his premiere at Dixon Place.
We want to take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate all of our collaborators and colleagues through the years who helped transform Bill's 44th into what it has become. Our process is a devised one –– the thoughts, gags, and reality-checks moulded Bill into who he is today, and without everyone's input, Bill would probably still just be a head in a box on a shelf.
About the company
Andy Manjuck and Dorothy James have been working as professional puppeteers for over ten years, with Bill’s 44th marking their first endeavour as co-creators. Andy and Dorothy strive to produce innovative puppet theatre that pushes the boundaries of the medium, creating narratives that are simultaneously grounded and fantastical, serious and silly. Through a devised process, they experiment with different combinations of objects, materials, and methods of manipulation to best communicate the story they wish to tell, resulting in surprising and magical moments of visual theatre. The artists care deeply about the audience making significant connections with simple objects that are thoughtfully realized and thoroughly explored.
About the London International Mime Festival
London International Mime Festival (LIMF) promotes contemporary visual theatre. Its productions have been nominated for, and won, Olivier Awards, and in 2017 the festival was honoured with the Empty Space - Peter Brook Special Achievement Award for its work over four decades. Founded in 1977, LIMF is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.
'The brilliant annual festival of visual theatre, dance, circus and puppetry’ The Guardian
Creative team
Performers and Creative Team
Created by Dorothy James and Andy Manjuck
Performed by Dorothy James, Andy Manjuck, and Jon Riddleberger
Original Score Composed by Eamon Fogarty
Lighting Design by M. Jordan Wiggins
Sound Design by Andy Manjuck
Creative Collaborator Jon Riddleberger
Dramaturg Helena Pennington
Additional Set/Prop Construction by Peter Russo, Joseph Silovsky, and Taryn Uhe
Production Coordinator Taryn Uhe
Consulting Director for NYC Premiere Nick O’Leary
Creative Producer for NYC Premiere Leigh Walter
Presented by the Barbican in association with London International Mime Festival
Bill's 44th is represented by Elsie Management:
President Laura Colby
Vice President Anna Amadei
Contracts Manager Jimena Alviar
www.elsieman.org
Biographies
Andy Manjuck (Co-creator and Puppeteer) is a Brooklyn-based artist. He is a company member of Wakka Wakka (Baby Universe, Saga, Made in China, The Immortal Jellyfish Girl), and has worked with Robin Frohardt (The Pigeoning, The Plastic Bag Store), Nick Lehane (Chimpanzee, and "Fly Away" – a collaboration with Derek Fordjour's SELF MUST DIE exhibition, Petzel Gallery), Unknown Mortal Orchestra (“That Life,” Double Solitaire), Doug Fitch (Petrushka with the NY Philharmonic Orchestra, and Oregon Symphony), Apple TV+ (Hello Tomorrow!), BYUtv (9 Years to Neptune), and Betty Productions ("4th Islamic Solidarity Games Opening Ceremonies," Baku, Azerbaijan, "48th National Day Celebration," Abu Dhabi, UAE). He co-founded the arts collective Eat Drink Tell Your Friends (Lectures, Photo & Supply). He has also taught and designed at the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University.
www.andymanjuck.com
Dorothy James (Co-creator and Puppeteer) is a Brooklyn based puppeteer and maker of tiny things. She has puppeteered for Wakka Wakka (Made in China, The Immortal Jellyfish Girl, 59E59 Theaters & FigurTeatret i Nordland; Nick Lehane and Derek Fordjour (SELF MUST DIE: “Fly Away”, Petzel Gallery), Basil Twist (Hansel & Gretel, Michigan Opera Theatre), Molly Smith (Snow Child, Arena Stage), AchesonWalsh & Radio City (The New York Spectacular…) Unknown Mortal Orchestra (“That Life”), BBC (Moon and Me), Amazon (Patriot), and Apple TV+ (Hello Tomorrow!). As a creator, Dorothy uses table top, shadow, rod, and paper cut puppetry to create otherworldly narratives that meld the grotesque with a sense of innocence. Her paper cut stop-motion film Lethologica was an official selection of Chicago’s Big Teeth Small Shorts Film Festival, the Upstate NY Horror Festival, and Shockfest Film Festival.
www.dorothy-james.com
Eamon Fogarty (Original Score) is a composer, songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist from New Hampshire, currently living in Austin TX. He’s released several albums of songs under his own name, most recently 2019’s Blue Values. His work is informed by a winding path through jazz, choral music, free improvisation, and folk song.
www.eamonfogarty.com
Jon Riddleberger (Creative Collaborator and Puppeteer) is a NYC-based actor, puppeteer, filmmaker and teacher. His work can be seen on-screen in the Clifford the Big Red Dog feature film, the BAFTA-nominated television show Moon and Me, and as puppeteer and puppet captain in the new Apple TV show Hello Tomorrow! Jon puppeteered the horses in the North American and Japanese tour of War Horse and continues to work with The Handspring Puppet Company on their production of Il Ritorno D'Ulisse directed by William Kentridge. He has worked many times with Dead Puppet Society most notably performing Laser Beak Man at the Sydney Opera House. Jon performed in Derek Fordjour and Nick Lehane’s collaborative piece, Fly Away, which has been turned into a film. His award-winning film The Memory Trade was produced by Heather Henson’s Handmade Puppet Dreams and has been seen in festivals around the country. He is currently in development for a new puppet series titled friend. Jon recently served as director of puppetry for Keelay Gipson’s new play demons. in a development workshop at New York Stage and Film and will be continuing his work on the full production at The Bushwick Starr this spring. Jon is an adjunct teacher at NYU Tisch where he teaches puppetry to the drama students. You can find out more at:
www.jonriddleberger.com
M. Jordan Wiggins (Lighting Design) is a lighting designer, programmer, and production manager for all areas of live entertainment. Recent works include: lighting design for Ballet Pensacola’s The Nutcracker, Fei Tian School of Dance at Middletown College, and Lincoln Center Education. Jordan has worked internationally designing for corporate events, dance, live music, cultural showcases, themed entertainment and acrobats. He is an alumni of the Savannah College of Art and Design and is the alumni chair for the Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas. Selected works at:
www.mjordanwiggins.com
Taryn Uhe (Production Coordinator) is a New York based stage manager, director and writer. Recently she has worked with Page 73, Radio City, Cherry Lane Theatre, Trusty Sidekick, Pip’s Island, Abrons Arts Center and more. Her work gravitates toward new and developing plays but has also included musicals, puppetry, immersive children’s theatre, burlesque, and fashion. BFA Nebraska Wesleyan University.
tarynuhe.weebly.com
Helena Pennington (Dramaturg) is a new play dramaturg and literary administrator. Her work gravitates towards the intersection of theatre and other live performance styles, including puppet arts, music theatre, and immersive or environmental work. She is currently a member of the artistic development staff at Manhattan Theatre Club. Helena’s literary and dramaturgical work has also been seen at Playwrights Horizons, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Actors Theatre of Louisville, the O’Neill National Playwrights Conference and National Music Theater Conference, HERE Arts Center, and more.
www.helenapennington.com
Discover
Watch: An introduction to Bill's 44th
In this short video, Helen Lannaghan and Joseph Seelig, the directors of the London International Mime Festival, introduce Dorothy James & Andy Manjuck's Bill's 44th.
For the Barbican
Barbican Centre Board
Chair
Tom Sleigh
Deputy Chair
Sir William Anthony Bowater Russell
Deputy Chair
Tobi Ruth Adebekun
Board Members
Munsur Ali, Randall Anderson, Michael 'Mikey J' Asante, Farmida Bi, Tijs Broeke, Zulum Elumogo, Gerard Grech, Ann Holmes, Wendy Hyde, Charles Edward Lord, Wendy Mead, Graham Packham, Mark Page, Jens Riegelsberger, Jane Roscoe, Despina Tsatsas and Irem Yerdelen
Clerk to the Board
Ben Dunleavy
Barbican Centre Trust
Farmida Bi CBE
Chair
Robert Glick OBE
Vice Chair
Trustees
Tom Bloxham MBE, Stephanie Camu , Tony Chambers , Cas Donald, Tracey Harrison , Jeff Holland , David Kapur, Ann Kenrick, Kendall Langford, Alasdair Nisbet, Tom Sleigh and Sian Westerman
Directors
Chief Executive Officer
Claire Spencer
Artistic Director
Will Gompertz
Director of Operations and Buildings
Jonathon Poyner
Director of Development
Natasha Harris
Director of People, Inclusion and Culture
Ali Mirza
Senior Executive Assistant to Claire Spencer and Will Gompertz
Jo Daly
Theatre Department
Head of Theatre and Dance
Toni Racklin
Senior Production Manager
Simon Bourne
Producers
Leanne Cosby, Jill Shelley, Fiona Stewart
Assistant Producers
Anna Dominian, Saxon Mudge, Mali Siloko
Production Managers
Jamie Maisey, Lee Tasker
Technical Managers
Steve Daly, Jane Dickerson, Nik Kennedy, Martin Morgan, Stevie Porter
Stage Managers
Lucinda Hamlin, Charlotte Oliver
Technical Supervisors
James Breedon, John Gilroy, Jamie Massey, Adam Parrott, Tom Salmon, Lawrence Sills, Chris Wilby
PA to Head of Theatre
David Green
Production Administrator
Caroline Hall
Production Assistant
Andrew Pellett
Technicians
Eleanor Foster, Kendell Foster, Burcham Johnson, Christian Lyons, Charlie Mann, Josh Massey, Matt Nelson
Stage Door
Julian Fox, aLbi Gravener
Creative Learning
Senior Producer
Lauren Monaghan-Pisano
Creative Learning Producer
Lauren Brown
Creative Learning Assistant Producer
Rikky Onefeli
Marketing Department
Acting Head of Marketing
Ben Jefferies
Marketing Manager (Theatre and Dance)
Kyle Bradshaw
Marketing Assistant (Theatre and Dance)
Rebecca Moore
Communications Department
Head of Communications
James Tringham
Communications Manager (Theatre and Dance)
HBL
Communications Assistant (Theatre, Dance and Cinema)
Sumayyah Sheikh
Audience Experience
Deputy Head of Audience Experience & Operations
Sheree Miller
Ticket Sales Managers
Lucy Allen, Oliver Robinson, Ben Skinner, Jane Thomas
Operations Managers
Seán Carter, Richard Long, Rob Norris, Elizabeth Davies-Sadd, Samantha Teatheredge
Operations Manager (Health & Safety)
Mo Reideman
Audience Event & Planning Manager
Freda Pouflis
Venue Managers
Scott Davies, Tilly Devine, Gary Hunt, Nicola Lake, Tabitha Goble
Assistant Venue Managers
Suman Cheema, Giovana Lorensatto, Maria Pateli, Joanna Quilty, Cherry Xi, Daniel Young
Crew Management
Dave Magwood, Rob Magwood, James Towell
Access and Licensing Manager
Rebecca Oliver
Security Operations Manager
James Cocklin
Registered charity no. 294282
With thanks
The Barbican is London’s creative catalyst for arts, curiosity and enterprise. We spark creative possibilities and transformation for artists, audiences and communities – to inspire, connect, and provoke debate.
We’re committed to making a difference locally, nationally and internationally by showcasing some of the most inspiring and visionary work by artists and communities. We’re not-for-profit. Each year we need to raise 65% of our income through fundraising, ticket sales, and commercial activities. Our supporters play a vital role in keeping our programme accessible to everyone, which includes our work with local schools; development opportunities for emerging creatives; and access to discounted and subsidised tickets.
Barbican supporters enjoy behind the scenes access across the centre and see first-hand what their gift enables through enhanced priority booking, as well as access to tickets for sold-out performances and exclusive events. For more information please visit www.barbican.org.uk/join-support/support-us or contact [email protected]
With thanks
Founder and Principal Funder
The City of London Corporation
Major Supporters
Arts Council England
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (UK Branch)
SHM Foundation
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Leading Supporters
Lonti Ebers
Trevor Fenwick and Jane Hindley
Marcus Margulies
Programme Supporters
Marie-Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre (Spirit Now London)
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Sayeh Ghanbari
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Pat and Pierre Maugüé
The Clare McKeon Charitable Trust
Hugh Monk
Romilly Walton Masters Award
The Rudge Shipley Charitable Trust
Director’s Circle
Farmida Bi CBE
Tom and Jo Bloxham MBE
Philippe & Stephanie Camu
Cas Donald
Trevor Fenwick and Jane Hindley
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Trusts & Grantmakers
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Swiss Cultural Fund
We also want to thank the Barbican Patrons, donors to Name a Seat, and the many thousands who made a donation when purchasing tickets or contribute to the Barbican Fund.
If you’re interested in supporting the Barbican Centre Trust, visit barbican.org.uk/supportus or contact us on 0207 382 6185 or [email protected]
The Barbican Centre Trust, registered charity no. 294282
Key production sponsors
This engagement is supported in part by Mid Atlantic Arts through USArtists International, a program in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the Trust for Mutual Understanding. It is also made possible by The Jim Henson Foundation’s 2023 Allelu Award. Bill’s 44th was originally commissioned by Dixon Place in NYC and was developed with support from the New York State Puppet Festival, The Jim Henson Foundation, Cheryl Henson, and the Puppet Lab at St. Ann’s Warehouse.
