Her grandfather was a fourth-generation cantor from Bessarabia. She de- signs, builds, and performs puppets, oversized props, and specialty costumes forthe- ater, film, opera, museum exhibits, schools, libraries, spectacles, parades and special events. Lisa Sturz has 40 years' experience working in film, television, theatre, and educational settings. She has worked with Lucasfilm, Walt Disney Imagineering, Jim Henson Productions, NBC, PBS, the Ice Capades, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Silver Dollar City, Asheville Symphony, and many more. She is the Artistic Director ofRed Herring Puppets, a national touring company specializing in curriculum-based performances. She has an MA in Puppetry from UCLA and has taught at CalPoly, Grinnell, & Warren Wilson colleges and led hun- dreds of in-school residencies. Red Herring Puppetshave been featured at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, the Puppet Showplace in Brookline, Ma., and the Ist International Puppet Fringe Festival in NYC. They have earned a California Emmy and an UNIMA citation, the highest honor in American puppetry. 'Their adult production of "My Grandfather's Prayers" has been taped to air internationally on JLTV. Other film and TV credits include: Murphy Brown, Puzzle Place, Elmo in Grouchland, Muppets from Space, Howard the Duck, the Flintstones, Ninja Turtles III, Roger Rabbit, Gremlins II, RoboCop 2 and Batman Returns.