THE ARTISTIC TEAM

Jean Marie

Little Shadow Productions has been producing theater in New York City since 2014. Highlights include Deb Hetzberg and Jean Marie Keevins' "Zwerge", James Godwin's "Lunatic Cunning" and "The Flatiron Hex", and Martin Robinson's "All Hallows Eve", all grateful recipients of Jim Henson Foundation support as well as other grant and crowdfunding support. The company holds a deep commitment to creating content for the stage that tackles issues that matter through unique and accessible puppet-centric storytelling.

 In 2020, Little Shadow deepened their commitment to the field of puppetry by launching Little Shadow Academy and our  Lil' Talks Puppet Artists In Conversation series.  The Academy teaches everything from puppet performance and puppet building to the business of puppetry. 

 Both programs endeavor to democratize access to puppetry through Scholarships and Pay What You Can options whenever we can offer them. In 2023, Little Shadow joined the producing team of the play "Aanika's Elephants" by Annie Evans which will grow the reach of the company with a formal tour.

Jean Marie Keevins is a NYC-based, multi-hyphenate creative and business expert. Known in the arts as an Emmy-nominated supervisor, award-winning producer, writer, puppet artist and designer.

Currently known for hosting its “Lil’ Talks on Puppetry” series and its robust academy, Keevins’ company, Little Shadow Productions, was originally started to support her own original work. She’s co-authored the play “Zwerge” Deborah Hertzberg among others. Producing credits include James Godwin’s multi-award-winning and New York Times lauded, Lunatic Cunning and The Flatiron Hex, co-produced Martin P. Robinson’s sold out off Broadway run of “All Hallows Eve”.

Jean Marie spent many years as VP at Puppet Heap working with clients such as The Muppets, Bookaboo, national ad campaigns and more. Since that time her company, Little Shadow, has provided the puppets and talent for “Wyatt Cenac’s Brooklyn” on Netflix with more currently in the works. Most recently, Jean Marie served as the puppet supervisor on Apple TV+ & Sesame Street’s “Helpsters”.

NEDA

Neda Izadi was born in Tehran in 1987. Her artistic odyssey was ignited at the age of 9 when she began her exploration of drawing and painting under the tutelage of a seasoned artist. This early passion propelled her towards a graphic design diploma, where she skillfully wove visual narratives that seamlessly melded tradition with modernity.

A fortuitous encounter with puppetry luminary Dr. Sedigh, kindled Neda’s intrigue for this captivating form of storytelling. Fusing her expertise in painting, sculpting, and dramatic arts, she discovered her true artistic calling – puppetry. This harmonious amalgamation of skills led Neda to attain a bachelor’s degree in fine arts of Puppetry from Sooreh University in 2010. Over six transformative years, Neda’s puppetry prowess graced the stages of Tehran, enriching audiences with her evocative performances.

 Seeking fresh horizons, she embarked on a journey to the United States, where she pursued a Master’s in Fine Arts in Drama with a specialized focus on puppetry at the University of Connecticut. There, she delved into contemporary puppetry techniques, refining her mastery of fabrication, performance, and direction. Neda’s remarkable contributions extend to over 30 national and international puppetry productions, including acclaimed works like “The Tiger of Zhao”, “Song of the North”, “After Dawn”, “Mina”, “ If We Were Birds”, “Yikes and Yippe”, “Beautifully, Hiva” and “Lullabies and Lies”. Her creations are an exquisite fusion of visual art and theatrical expression, transcending conventional boundaries to craft immersive experiences that deeply resonate.

Neda’s commitment to advancing the discourse of puppetry extends to academia and beyond. In 2022, she served as a keynote speaker at the University of Connecticut, where she eloquently addressed puppet arts and human rights.

Her dynamic influence was further exemplified through a talk about puppetry and Iranian puppeteers at Little Shadow Productions. Neda’s scholarly pursuits are underscored by her insightful publication “Kheimeh Shabbazi” in UNIMA Magazine (Issue 45, Summer 2019), and her exploration of “Aesthetics: Makeup in Puppet Theater”, at the University of Sooreh, Tehran, Iran in 2010.

With a steadfast commitment to pushing artistic boundaries, Neda Izadi continues to weave enchanting stories that capture the hearts and minds of audiences worldwide. Her journey exemplifies the boundless power of visionary storytelling, forever enriching the tapestry of artistic expression.