Work samples
About Sam
The Mother Load: puppet sketch show
The Mother Load is an offbeat puppet show, that started on Mother's Day 2015. In February 2020, The Mother Load will be performing it's 9th episode. Each episode explores a single topic or source of anxiety, through sketch comedy- and puppets! Episodes are written by artistic director, Sam Grossman and scored by musical director, Greg Bowen. Our puppets are designed, built, and performed with a rotating cast of friends. We are proud that most performances feature first-time puppeteers! Trucker Talk is our house band.
The Mother Load is about feeling overwhelmed, feeling too much all at once, but still having an ok time. Things can be pretty funny when you're feeling down. It is difficult to talk about our anxieties but, rather than isolate, they connect us. The Mother Load seeks to create an environment where we can feel bad, publically, and still have a fun evening.
Due to the nature of the show, we encourage everyone to consider therapy. In past shows, during intermission, we have provided information about free mental health support, how to apply for health insurance, food scarcity recorces, as well as phone and chat resources for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.
Our audience is an important part of the Mother Load experience. When you are there, you are part of the show. You might be asked to call out to a puppet, close your eyes and imagine, or take part in a breathing exercise.
The Mother Load also hosts an interview series, called Flappy Hour. Shorter than the Mother Load, in these interviews, Mother Goose speaks to Baltimore puppeteers. These conversations focus on how the artists began puppeteering, future puppet goals, and insights into their craft. The untimate goal of the Mother Load and Flappy Hour is to encourage the audiance to tell their stories, with the materials available, and to ask for help if you need help doing it.
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Yoga EdSketch from The Mother Load episode 4: Death and Christmas. Ed, The Mother Load's most anxious character, contemplates his mortality while struggling through a free yoga class at his local rec-center.
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Breeding Ball - from Episode 5Sketch from The Mother Load episode 5: performance anxiety After taking a few months off to find herself, Mother Goose was a little nervous about getting on stage again. That's ok! We all experience performance anxiety! In this sketch, Snakob and his friend are nervous about attending their first Breeding Ball.
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Mother Load ep1 posterThe Mother Load episode 1 was about Mothers Day, and was only intended to be a one time event. Many story arcs, recurring gags, and beloved characters started as offhanded jokes in ep1.
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The Mother Load ep7 The End of the World!Teaser poster from The Mother Load episode 7: the end of the world! Episode 7 was performed days before the 2018 midterm elections. This episode was about global, political anxieties at the time. Episode 7 is important to the shows lore. Sketches in previous episodes were not connected. However, the end of the wold event was experienced by all characters at the same time. Episodes after this point, maintain a shared continuity (or try to).
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Flappy Hour ep1 posterThe Mother Load Presents: Flappy Hour! Mother Goose needed to take some time to figure herself out. During these months, instead of performing, Mother Goose interviewed Baltimore puppeteers. These conversations were smaller in scale and allowed audiences an opportunity to share insightful conversations with local performers.
A Sappy Story About Trees
This is a story about realizing you grew up and became something you never expected to be. Take a breath. You're doing your best. You're still growing.
Kids Table
Kid's Table is an adaptation of Bent Knee's avant-garde rock album of the same name. Kid's Table tells the stories of several middle schoolers, as they navigate complicated social situations for the first time.
The Allyson Gonzalez Residency for Art, Science & Cultural Exchange 2018
The Tryfuss Puppet Collective
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The Ballad of Sadie and EllenThe Ballad of Sadie and Ellen, written by Jessie Delaplaine, tells the story of two lovers who must hide their relationship. The two make plans to meet by the river, when they encounter a selkie river spirit. “Attend close to your dear friends, hold tight your dear lover. Lest you end up like Ellen and pretty Saide”
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Snakefeast - BlightTryfuss collaborated with, Baltimore band, Snakefeast to create a music video for Blight. During a dark ritual, our protagonist summons the demon prince Stolas to “ seek power, and an end to this war.” All power comes with it’s cost.
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Halloween Lantern ParadeTryfuss built a 12ft long axolotl for the 2015 Halloween Lantern Parade. This float also matched in Light City 2015. We named the axolotl, Grace Jones.
Poe Puppets
(Media was unable to upload due to error on Baker portfolio website, 12/23/19, 8am)
The Legend of Jessie Jean
Sam Grossman was puppet master on this production. Physical puppets, painted screens, and human choreography gave this show a unique look and feel.
(Media was unable to upload due to error on Baker portfolio website, 12/23/19, 8am)