Check Out Sarah Berman’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Berman.

Hi Sarah, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
If I told you how I became a professional puppeteer, you might think I was joking, which would be fair, because I usually am. I’ve always had a knack for making people laugh. Growing up, while other kids were playing with baby dolls, I was producing vaudeville shows for my Beanie Babies. I didn’t go to any fancy pants “puppet school” or get a master’s degree in the “actor’s craft.” I was a quirky girl working in sales, convinced that a creative profession wasn’t realistic. But my brain never got the memo. I was constantly scribbling down sketch ideas, testing out characters on my customers, and finding any excuse to add a little laughter to the room.

One night, after a particularly soul-crushing holiday shift, I found a Craigslist ad that piqued my interest. The Aquarium of the Pacific was hiring summer puppeteers. The role? A cantankerous moray eel who refuses a checkup. The goal? To highlight their state-of-the-art veterinary facility. It was absolutely absurd, but brilliant. I figured, what do I have to lose? I applied and somehow, I got the gig! That scrappy little show ended up being a hit, so they brought it back. And I stayed because I knew we’d just scratched the surface of what it could become.

I tossed out a few creative ideas, and the show started to grow, drawing fans who connected with its mix of marine science, nostalgic, Muppet-style puppetry, and comedy. I began collaborating closely with the program’s original creator, Luke Richmond, who, many years later, would become my best friend and husband. From the beginning, we balanced each other creatively, his strengths in videography, music and science, mine in writing, character development, comedy and performance. Together we co-created the characters that would become The Pacific Pals, a fast-talking crew of ocean animals who love to educate and entertain. I always say science goes down easier with a spoonful of screaming hammerhead shark. And I was determined to prove it.

In time, I started booking puppetry and voiceover gigs on TV, signed with an agent, and eventually made it to callbacks for Waffles + Mochi, a puppet cooking show on Netflix starring none other than Michelle Obama. Did I get it? Nope! But I made the callbacks. And to be honest, not landing totally deflated my balloon for a minute, but it also lit a fire in me to to keep growing. I threw myself into mastering monitor puppetry, which, for those of you at home, means performing while watching a flipped version of yourself on a screen and pretending it all makes sense.

Then 2020 hit, and live shows disappeared overnight. Everyone knows puppets are the first thing to go. So we pivoted. Fast. We created The Daily Bubble, a conservation news show starring the Pacific Pals, filmed entirely on our iPhones from separate living rooms. It was scrappy, chaotic, and somehow beautiful. We laughed, we cried, we wrote, shot, edited, and did it all again the next day. But when people started commenting that the Pacific Pals were helping them and their kids get through lockdown, I realized I was finally doing something that actually made a difference.

A year later, my agent called. Waffles + Mochi (Season 2) was casting. I auditioned, thrilled just to be considered in any capacity. What I didn’t know was that after what felt like a million callbacks, I’d be brought in to play Waffles herself, opposite Michelle Obama, who, by the way, is every bit as warm, brilliant, and kind as you’d hope. It was an absolute dream and also a “PINCH ME! HOW DID I GET HERE??” moment.

After filming wrapped, I booked more kids’ shows, performed some grown-up puppet stand-up (yes, that’s a thing), and returned to the Pacific Pals, this time diving headfirst into growing their digital presence from a studio space. I thought the sketch ideas might slow down, but instead I was waking up at all hours with ideas for new bits, hearing the characters in my head like a sleep-deprived Pixar executive. And when they went quiet, I called it writer’s block.

Of course, none of this happens in a vacuum. I’m surrounded by three of the most wildly talented creatives I’ve ever met, and I’m constantly in awe of what they bring to the table. There’s a quote from Jim Henson that’s always stuck with me: “Surround yourself with smart, talented people and give them the freedom to do what they do best.” That’s exactly what I aim for. We each wear multiple hats and somehow keep the whole wonderfully chaotic thing afloat. One day I’m Elsie the Otter, the next I’m scouting a tide pool, painting a set, or running our social media in character. Whatever the task, it’s only possible because of the team beside me.

And to think, it didn’t start with a fancy “puppet school”. It started with a Craigslist ad for a cantankerous moray eel.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
People think puppetry is all googly eyes, teehees and hahas, but let me tell you, it’s not for the faint of neck… or back. Sure, there’s the usual creative cocktail of rejection, imposter syndrome, and existential spiraling. But then layer on the fact that you’re contorted like a human pretzel in the dark, holding your arm in the air for 30 straight minutes while trying to nail a sea otter soliloquy without passing out. You guys, there are muscle pains out there that you didn’t even know were possible. I discover one about once a year.

Puppetry is the most fun I’ve ever had doing anything, but it can be physically challenging and weirdly lonely when people dismiss it as “just for kids.” I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to explain that most of The Pacific Pals fan base is primarily made of young adults. People in their twenties and thirties who love the tactile charm of practical puppets. Puppets are basically the antithesis of AI generated art, which, let’s be real, kind of sucks.

Puppet bias is real, it’s always been an obstacle. Productions often don’t know where to put us. So we speak up and advocate for ourselves often. Even though many of us are SAG-AFTRA members and are principal performers, we constantly have to explain what we do and why we need to do it this way to that way. A friend once said it best: “If a hammer flies across the stage, it’s a prop. If the hammer walks on, delivers a monologue, and exits? That’s puppetry.” And to that effect, we should be treated as the principal performers we are.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a puppeteer, voice actor, writer, comedian, artist, creative producer and dedicated cat mom. I’m best known for playing Waffles on Waffles + Mochi’s Restaurant on Netflix, and for co-creating The Pacific Pals, performing as Elsie Otter for the Aquarium of the Pacific. @thepacificpals.

I’m most proud of taking the leap to leave behind a “safe” career that didn’t fulfill me and fully embrace being an artist over the course of the last eleven years. I went from my parents saying, “You left your job to do what now…!?” to “My daughter stars on a TV show with the former First Lady.” And that’s a journey I’ll never stop being grateful for.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I think what’s helped me succeed most is a mix of relentless joy, adaptability, and just the right amount of delusional optimism. Creative careers don’t come with roadmaps, especially not in puppetry. So I’ve had to pivot quickly, learn on the fly, and say “yes” to ideas before I knew how I’d pull them off. And always dream big. That mindset has led to some of my best, most surprising work.

I try to lead with joy, even in hard moments. I don’t take myself too seriously, and I never let setbacks keep me down for long. I also care deeply maybe too deeply about the details of the characters I create. Their voices, backstories, and bizarre opinions about plankton all matter to me. Audiences can feel that specificity. There’s something deeply human about puppets when they’re crafted with care, and I think what sets my work apart is being just obsessive enough to make them feel real, and just silly enough to make them unforgettable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11121562/
• Instagram: @hellosarahb @thepacificpals
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePacificPals