A professional who originates puppet shows, designs and constructs puppets and moves controls of puppets to animate them for entertainment of audience. Responsibilities include:

• Studies media for ideas that relate to fads, stories, plays, and seasonal themes and confers with other staff to develop ideas for new show.
• Writes or adapts script for use in puppet theater.
• Sketches designs for puppets based on script.
• Constructs hand, string, rod, and shadow puppets from materials, such as wood, papier mache, styrofoam, wires, metal, and rubber, using handtools and machine tools.
• Sews clothing for puppets by hand or machine.
• Animates puppets, using string, wire, rod, fingers or hand from position above, below, or at level with stage.
• Talks or sings during performance to give illusion of voice to puppets.
• May operate audio equipment, such as tape deck, during performance and simultaneously move puppet's mouth in synchronization with music to create illusion of singing.