Kicking off our first season with a WHIZ BANG is Bill Barretta, Emmy-award winning actor, puppeteer, and ineffable and effectual creator! Thomas and Bill talk about what to expect from professional conservatory theatre training, as Thomas enters The Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City with the Fall 2024 cohort, Bill's alma mater; how to create lively characters from our instincts and observations of the world around us; and why The Muppets continue to hold staying power in American culture and entertainment. If nothing else, you don't want to miss Bill's impression of Sanford Meisner, the story of how he created Pepe the King Prawn, and so many other little quips and whips throughout this hilarious roller-coaster ride through Bill's beautiful, untamable brain. If you love creativity, you'll absolutely love Bill and Thomas' exchanges throughout this episode! For more "Bill" in your life, subscribe to his podcast, The Baretta Brothers, available on all major platforms, and find even more content at https://www.thebarrettabrothers.com.

About Bill: Bill Barretta is an Emmy-award actor and long-time Muppets puppeteer. He began performing with The Jim Henson Company in 1991, landing the lead character of Earl Sinclair on the ABC hit television series Dinosaurs and would soon become one of the leading Core Muppet performers. His characters include Pepe the King Prawn, Johnny Fiama, Big Mean Carl and Bobo the Bear, to name a few. In addition, Barretta is honored to carry on several of Jim Henson's iconic and beloved creations: Rowlf the Dog, The Swedish Chef and Dr. Teeth.

Over the last thirty years Barretta has also directed, executive produced, written and coordinated for many Muppet projects to name a few; Muppet Treasure Island, Muppets Tonight, Muppets From Space, The Muppets 2011 feature, The Muppets 2015 ABC series, the 2021 Disney+ Halloween special Muppets Haunted Mansion and countless appearances, talk shows, commercials, social media content and live shows including Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, James Corden, Long John Silvers, Pizza Hut,

Subway, Lipton, Toyota, PAM, Adidas, Geico, MuppetFest’s Muppet Show Live, The Muppets Take the Hollywood Bowl, The Muppets Take the O2.

Most recently for Disney+, Bill served as a Co-creator, Writer, Director, Muppet Performer and Executive Producer of The Muppets Mayhem.…Oh, and he’s a nice Italian boy.