Allan Trautman

Independent entertainment professional with over 35 years of experience as an actor, puppeteer, director and teacher. My ongoing activities include:
• Teaching a class in and directing performances of the advanced improvisation class at College of the Canyons;
• Directing selected episodes of the Emmy-nominated PBS series "Sid the Science Kid";
• Performing monthly in the improv show "Puppet Up - Uncensored" to sold out audiences at the Avalon in Hollywood;
• Pursuing on-camera and on-stage acting opportunities.
Interested in academic opportunities; directing assignments.

Allan Trautman’s Specialties:

• Improvisation
• On-camera puppetry, including animatronics and real-time CG characters
• Filemaker and Applescript development
• Voiceovers and character animation voices

Allan Trautman’s Experience

Director

The Jim Henson Company

(Privately Held; Entertainment industry)

February 2008 — Present (1 year 11 months)

• Directed episodes of the Emmy-nominated PBS program Sid the Science Kid
• Delivered half-hour episodes while working with engineers, designers, production personnel and business stake holders
• Edited scripts
• Ensured that the look and feel of the show exceeded audience and stake holder expectations
Theatre Instructor

College of the Canyons

(Educational Institution; Higher Education industry)

August 2007 — Present (2 years 5 months)

• Directed and hosted the school’s advanced improvisational performance group, which rehearsed in the evenings and performed on the weekends
• Built up improv program, doubling the number of sections of basic improv class and successfully moving many of those students into the performance class
• Built audiences for the campus performing group, which played to standing-room-only crowds and served as a recruitment tool for the improv classes and the theatre department in general
• Executed all departmental duties and responsibilities, including professional development
• Fulfilled all classroom obligations, such as syllabus creation and grade reporting
• Assured that professional and academic standards were maintained.
Puppeteer

The Jim Henson Company

(Privately Held; Entertainment industry)

1990 — Present (19 years )

Longtime lead puppeteer with the world-renowned Jim Henson Company. Performed lead characters in TV series such as "Dinosaurs" and movies such as "Dr. Dolittle."

• Performed in numerous television and film projects with the Muppets, as well as non-Muppet productions for film, television, the Internet and live appearances
• Original member of the improvisational performance group, Puppet Up! - Uncensored, which performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, the Improv in West Hollywood, and, currently, at the Avalon Hollywood
• One of perhaps two dozen people worldwide with extensive experience performing computer-generated characters in real-time, using advanced puppetry and motion-capture technology
• One of only a half-dozen people with experience both performing and directing with such technology
• Developed and wrote the user manual for the Jim Henson Company’s Academy-Award-winning performance system
Actor/Puppeteer/Director

No-Company

(Entertainment industry)

January 1973 — Present (37 years )

I am an independent performing arts professional, with extensive experience as an actor, puppeteer and director. See my full resume at nowcasting.com/allantrautman or at allantrautman.com.
• Performed in over 165 television episodes as a series regular on two different series
• Performed in numerous other professional theatre, film, television and commercial projects
• Nominated for two prime-time Emmy Awards for Individual Performance in a Music, Variety or Comedy Show
• Member, Actors Equity Association, SAG, AFTRA
Puppeteer

Amblin Entertainment; Columbia Pictures

(Public Company; Entertainment industry)

April 2001 — July 2001 (4 months)

"MEN IN BLACK II"
Puppeteer

The Jim Henson Company

(Privately Held; Entertainment industry)

September 1996 — March 1998 (1 year 7 months)

"MUPPETS TONIGHT"
Puppeteer; series regular

Touchstone Television; Warner Bros. Television

(Public Company; Entertainment industry)

September 1995 — March 1998 (2 years 7 months)

"UNHAPPILY EVER AFTER" Lead puppeteer for character of Mr. Floppy.
Lead puppeteer; performance coordinator

20th Century Fox

(Public Company; NWS; Entertainment industry)

March 1997 — June 1997 (4 months)

"DR. DOLITTLE" Functioning essentially as director of puppetry for the animatronic creatures, I coordinated rehearsals, assigned puppeteers, oversaw programming of the characters' lip-sync, and worked with the director to achieve the shots she desired. I was the lead puppeteer for the characters of Lucky the dog, the tiger, one of the rats, one of the pigeons.
Puppeteer

Amblin Entertainment & Columbia Pictures

(Public Company; Entertainment industry)

April 1996 — August 1996 (5 months)

"MEN IN BLACK"
Puppeteer; character lead

Kennedy Miller Productions & Universal Pictures

(Public Company; GE; Entertainment industry)

February 1994 — June 1994 (5 months)

'BABE" I was the sole American puppeteer on this Australian production. I was the lead performer for the characters of Ferdinand the duck, Rex the dog (voiced by Hugo Weaving) and Duchess, the Hoggett's spoiled cat. I also assisted with various sheep and mice.
Series regular

The Jim Henson Company & Walt Disney Television

(Privately Held; Entertainment industry)

November 1991 — March 1993 (1 year 5 months)

"DINOSAURS" Animatronic performance puppeteer for the lead character of Fran Sinclair, as well as puppeteer for numerous other characters.
Actor

Hemdale Film

(Entertainment industry)

April 1984 — September 1984 (6 months)

Tarman in "RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD"

Allan Trautman’s Education

California Institute of the Arts

MFA , Theatre (Acting) , 1976 — 1978
Washington University in St. Louis

BA , Drama and Physics , 1972 — 1976

Activities and Societies:

Phi Beta Kappa
Graduated Summa Cum Laude