In a world dominated by AI-generated content, live art is becoming increasingly rare. But one company, in partnership with the local Theatre Off Jackson, is resisting this change—one puppet at a time. 

On the nights of Oct. 3 and 4, that something was an adult puppet show hosted by a Seattle-based organization called Fussy Cloud Puppet Slam. Called “It’s Aliiive,” the show kicked off Halloween season with a (literal) bang, featuring tiny pyrotechnics, singing zombies and a host of other spooky performances. 

“We’re Seattle’s longest-running puppet slam,” Co-Producer Zane Exactly said. “It’s one of the only opportunities that focuses exclusively on puppetry, so we want to make sure that we give a wide range of folks the chance to come see and be in the show.” 

Fussy Cloud, founded in 2011, partners with Theatre Off Jackson to host three of these puppet slams annually, each one aimed at highlighting puppeteers from a variety of walks of life. 

Fussy Cloud’s most recent show fit all those criteria: in addition to being free for those who wished, “It’s Aliive!” brought together performers both seasoned and new, from as close as Seattle and as far away as Atlanta, Ga. 

While many acts chose to use more familiar forms of puppetry, like hand puppets or marionettes, many others strayed from that path. 

“There’s a wide, wide array of puppetry genres that you’ll see in our shows,” Co-Producer Cass Bray said. “And there’s different tones as well. We have campy, we have a little bit of horror, and there’s even some really poignant acts in there.” 

They were not exaggerating: performers utilized dancing shadows, elaborate costumes and custom music to create their own unique performances, and two acts even included burlesque. 

Still, each performance shared a common thread: a deep appreciation and love for the art of puppetry.

“I’ve found that it’s really easy with puppets to get emotionally attached to objects, which is something that’s pretty rare for a theater experience. You find yourself moved by something that isn’t even alive. To me, that is pretty magical,” Bray said.

It is often seen as a genre for children, but in truth, puppeteering provides an opportunity for people to share stories in a uniquely engaging way. During “It’s Aliiive,” performers explored ideas about life, self-love, forgiveness, girlhood and even pharmaceutical commercials. 

These themes resonate with many, and that resonance is part of why people like Exactly hold puppetry so close to their hearts. 

“I probably wouldn’t be doing puppetry without Fussy Cloud, and so I know that that’s probably true for a number of other people too,” they said. “I just fell in love with this genre and all it can do.” 

To Fussy Cloud, performing and viewing hold equal importance: they’ve made their tickets “pay what you want.” Attendees are politely suggested to pay roughly $15-20 for tickets, but that price isn’t set in stone. If you aren’t in a position to spend money on entertainment, it’s possible to attend a show for no cost at all.

“It’s just really important to us to create an affordable experience for folks,” Bray said. 

Theatre Off Jackson Operations Director Tim Crist—and the Theatre Off Jackson staff as a whole—shares Fussy Cloud’s mentality when it comes to making theatre accessible. 

“The cost of both attending and producing these productions can get very high,” Crist said. 

Ultimately, pricing is up to the theatre’s production partners—a host of organizations that utilize the theatre’s space to rehearse and perform shows throughout the year. Still, tickets for shows in October range from $20 to $60, with most landing at roughly $30. True to its goals, the Theatre Off Jackson offers a lot of opportunities for those looking for affordable and unique entertainment.

If you missed the magic of this month’s show, don’t be too disappointed. Fussy Cloud plans to host the 30th volume of their puppet slam this spring, but if that’s too long to wait, Theatre Off Jackson has tickets available for shows all throughout the month.