About Us
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is a creative studio founded and led by master puppet builder, performer, and designer Jackie Smook. Known for her imaginative craftsmanship, expressive characters, and bold artistic vision, Jackie has built a company that blends traditional puppet-making techniques with modern storytelling and design.
Jackie Smook and her sardine puppet. Carlin Stiehl, LA Times
What began as a personal passion for character creation has evolved into a full-service puppet production studio specializing in custom puppet builds, puppet design for film and stage, character fabrication, Production design and prop fabrication. Each piece crafted by Jackie Smook Company is handmade with meticulous attention to detail, personality, and purpose—combining artistry, engineering, and a deep understanding of how puppets move, feel, and connect with an audience.
Beyond her workshop, Jackie is known for bringing humor, heart, and creative flair to every project. She collaborates with theaters, filmmakers, content creators, educators, and brands, helping them bring unforgettable characters to life.
Beyond her workshop, Jackie is known for bringing humor, heart, and creative flair to every project. She collaborates with theaters, filmmakers, content creators, educators, and brands, helping them bring unforgettable characters to life.
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continues to grow as a hub for playful innovation and expressive design—celebrating the power of puppetry to spark imagination and tell meaningful stories.
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ABOUT THE FOUNDER
Jackie Smookis a multi talented creator, writer/director, actor, singer, comedian, producer and puppet master
who blends heart, humor, and spectacle in everything she does. As the founder of Jackie Smook Company LLC, she has spent years building a thriving production company centered on handcrafted puppets, original content, and meaningful creative collaboration. Jackie's art spans stage and screen. She's performed in national commercials, appeared on TV shows like Chicago Fire, and even brought her puppetry to American Idol - where her puppets shared the spotlight. She writes and performs original theater works, such as The Jackie Smook Program of De-Dumbification and Under Your Skin, earning recognition (including the Best Emerging Artist Award) and performing in NYC and in festivals like United Solo. During the pandemic, Jackie turned her creative focus to puppetry in a bigger way - designing, building, and shipping unique puppets across the U.S., while also launching the concept for Dilly's World, a family-friendly TV show that nods to classics like Pee-wee's Playhouse and The Big Comfy Couch. Her work prioritizes female, queer, and non-binary artists and seeks to bring art, education, joy, and the freedom to be weird into the world. Jackie's mission? To keep creativity alive,especially in communities that need it. |
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She builds puppets, builds stories, and builds spaces - so that art isn't just something people consume, but something people make, feel, and share.
