Teaching Artist Profile

Daniel Patrick Fay is a multidisciplinary artist, performer and teacher who is most known for his puppetry work.  A graduate of the Pratt Institute where he studied painting, object-based theater and art education.  He worked for some years as an NYC visual art teacher where he was awarded a Fund for Teachers Grant in 2009  which enabled him to study regional puppetry in Bali and Java with classically trained Master Wayang.  His work as a puppet performer has brought him to such illustrious stages as LaMama, St. Ann’s Warehouse, The Public Theater, Lincoln Center’s Metropolitan Opera, and Berkeley Rep.  His performance career spans stage, screen, streaming platforms and television.  His performance work has received critical acclaim.  In 2011 he was awarded The Bay Area’s Critics Circle Award for his marionette performance in the Oscar Eustis directed Compulsion starring Mandy Patinkin.  Daniel’s puppetry craft has been recognized by The Jim Henson Foundation which awarded him two grants for his work as a puppeteer and director for his Point Pleasant which was in residence in The Puppet Lab at St. Ann’s Warehouse in 2012.  In 2016 Daniel received The Norland Visual Theatre’s prestigious residency to further develop his work in Stamsund, Norway before touring within the country.  His many puppetry design credits have been celebrated.  He currently serves as Artistic Director of Standard Toykraft a puppet and production workshop where he designs and builds puppets for a wide array of projects.  His passion for his craft is only matched by his love of teaching. When not engaged in his many projects he spends the remainder of his time as a teaching artist introducing young people to the artistry and performance of puppetry.