CAST
Penny Sue - (aka Merissa Morin) is co-creator of Penny & the Puppettes and a graduate of New York University's Musical Theater program at Tisch School of the Arts. Her adult acting career includes: co-starring in the film One Night with Melissa Leo, a brief role on The Sopranos, and most recently starring in the independent film Tackle Girl. Penny also writes music on both the guitar and piano, and gigs out in Manhattan music venues. She is the third generation in a family of children's entertainers (see more about her grandfather, Bob Munstedt and mother Jane Stratten, below), and is thrilled to be continuing in the family tradition. Her vocals are featured on Jane's album, Uh Oh, There's Something Underneath My Bed, in the songs "Stand" and "Get that Big Beak Outta My Face!"
"Growing up, there was always music. We loved going to mom's shows and watching the audience from backstage, and going into the studio with her to record background vocals for an album. It really shaped what I wanted to do with my life."
Benny Sue - (aka Nikita Burdein) is also a co-creator of Penny & the Puppettes and a graduate of New York University's Film program at Tisch School of the Arts. Benny, Penny, and Lenny all met while at school, and started their collaboration from there. Benny has previously worked at the CBBC (Children's British Broadcasting Corporation) & wrote for the children's show. "XChange" (1998-2006), a live studio kids show that encouraged the youth of England to get out and get active. Benny directs, writes, edits, and co-stars in Penny & the Puppettes videos and episodes, including the ones on the MEDIA page. He is currently working on the pilot episode of Penny & the Puppettes!
"For many kids, Penny & the Puppettes is their first exposure to live theater, and that's so exciting for me. They get the chance not only to see the puppets, but to engage with them, to learn how a puppet works. It's hands on. It's minds-on."
Jane Stratten is not only co-creator of Penny & the Puppettes, but most importantly Penny, Wenny, and Zenny's mother. Having been a legend for over a decade in South Florida, Jane's move to New York after popular demand allowed the expansion of her one-woman show, "Jane Stratten's Musical Puppets," to become the one to three person show that is Penny & the Puppettes! Jane is a graduate of Syracuse University and an accomplished musician who has performed as a cabaret singer and band leader. Her bands performed in New England and South Florida and opened for Richie Havens and the Pointer Sisters. Strongly influenced by her father, Jane picked up where he left off with writing and starring in her own children's show.
In 2004, Jane took the children's music world by storm with her critically acclaimed album, Uh Oh, There's Something Underneath My Bed. ** She just finished recording her second album. To learn more about Jane and hear samples of her songs, visit janestratten.com. Her CD is also available on iTunes, Rhapsody, and Napster.
** CD available in hundreds of libraries nationwide.
Lenny Sue - (aka James Larosa) also graduated from New York University's Musical Theater program at Tisch School of the Arts, where he studied in class with Penny Sue and quickly became close friends. His adult acting career includes appearing in HMS Pinafore at New York's City Center and performing at Alice Tully Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, The Metropolitan Room and Rose's Turn. His credits include; Off Broadway: Dial 'N' for Negress (Clurman Theatre), Sleeping Beauty & the Beast (York Theatre). Select Regional: Altar Boyz (FST), The Scarlet Pimpernel (Barter), Gypsy (Arkansas Rep), West Side Story (Allenberry), and Working (Di Capo). Film / Television: The Fugitive Chronicles, Drama Queenz : The Series and Honor.
"I love looking out and finding the parents enjoying themselves as much as the kids."
Zenny Sue - (aka Chloe Morin) is Penny's younger sister & professional face painter. She's enrolled at New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study to pursue her love of music, acting, and anthropology. She taught Penny how to play the guitar and the djembe drum, and continues to write music with Penny and the gang when she's not up to her head in studies and scene work! Her lead vocals can be found on Jane's album Uh Oh There's Something Underneath My Bed in the song "Because I'm Small."
"What's more fun than laughing and singing for 50 minutes?!"
It all started with Bob Munstedt - who is Penny's grandfather, Jane's father, and the original children's entertainer in the family. Bob was a musician, comedian, and puppeteer who performed in the 1940s -1970s as "Mr. Bob," and appeared on Boston area television shows such as Big Brother Bob Emory, Major Mudd, and The Rex Trailer Show. Bob started and directed the renowned Boston boy's (and later girl's) band, The Bunker Hillbillies, which flourished over the span of three decades. Bob taught the kids how to play a variety of instruments (such as the banjo, washboard, guitar, and kazoo), and gave them the courage to perform at countless events and television broadcasts, including twice at the White House.
