Happy Birthday, Mon Ami!

Alex and Olmsted’s
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MON AMI

Class, cultures, and expectations clash when Jacques’ American cousin Sam visits him in Paris for a birthday celebration. Winner of a 2024 Jim Henson Foundation Grant award, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MON AMI combines glove puppetry, live music, and audience participation to create a delightful hour of fun for the whole family.

DURATION: 50 minutes, no intermission.
AGE RANGE: All ages.
GENRES: Puppetry, Comedy
THEMES: Celebration, Culture, Expectations

CREATIVE TEAM
Director: Alex and Olmsted
Performers: Alex Vernon and Sarah Olmsted Thomas.
Music: Jacques Brel “Ne Me Quitte Pas”
Puppet makers: Alex and Olmsted
Scenography: Alex and Olmsted
Original Light Designer: Michael Lamason
Costume Designer: Alex and Olmsted
Dramaturg: Alex and Olmsted
Production Director and Tour Booking: Alex and Olmsted
Administration: Alex and Olmsted
Producer: Alex and Olmsted with help from the Jim Henson Foundation

INSPIRATION
Music: “La Vie en rose” lyrics by Édith Piaf and music by Louiguy, “Sus le Pont d’Avignon” by
Pierre Certon, “La Marseillaise” by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle, “Hail to the Chief” by James
Sanderson
Film: The films of Jacques Tati
Puppetry: George Blake (puppet booth)

ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Alex and Olmsted (Alex Vernon and Sarah Olmsted Thomas) is an internationally acclaimed
puppet theater and filmmaking company based in Baltimore, Maryland. They have toured
festivals in Italy, Denmark, South Korea, and Canada, and have performed at numerous venues within the United States including the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., HERE Arts in New York, and the Chopin Theater in Chicago. Alex and Olmsted was awarded the 2020 State Independent Artist Award from the Maryland State Arts Council, the highest honor for artists in the State of Maryland. Their works have BEEN recognized by the New York Times, and named an official selection of the Maryland Film Festival, Paris Art Film, and others. Alex and Olmsted is a resident company at Baltimore Theatre Project. Vernon and Thomas are also proud company members of Happenstance Theater. www.alexandolmsted.com

SPECIAL THANKS
The Jim Henson Foundation, the Maryland State Arts Council, the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, Thomas Casciero, our Patreon supporters, David Plunkert, Ryan Maxwell Photography, Olivia Turner, Michael Lamason, Black Cherry Puppet Theater, Chris Pfingsten, Leigh Lafosse, Carol Fay, Marianne Ross, and our families.