Peter, known by many as "WHO?", began puppeteering at an early age. Friends remind him that although he has been performing for over 40 years, unlike a fine wine, he has not improved at all. Attendees at this gathering will not be disappointed to know that he will once again not be performing at this national festival (so much for his chances at a PoA Award or an UNIMA Citation) but his charm, wit, intelligence, modesty and many divisive talents will be fully used as first major co-host along with minor help from a Pix Smith of Potpourri. This is a job he used to be able to do without any help, all by himself, in his youth.

In Potpourri, the newbie performers will be whisked off stage as quickly as possible in order for Mr. Allen to highlight one of his other many entertaining and educational gifts (the man is overly blessed), juggling, body piercing, tattooing (his favorite, picked up after a short 'all expenses paid' Federal get away, tattoo, on every personal part of his body, reads "BORN TO MANIPULATE" when fully extended), ventriloquism and (the lowest form of puppet theatre) Variety Marionettes. His singing, dancing, juggling, roller-skating,on the trapeze, movie star look alike, come-a-part skeleton act (amarelle of manipulation in 13 minutes) is a sight to be missed.
 
Gems he also may grudgingly bestow on the audience could be, THE MAGIC FLY THEATRE (Victorian shadow theatre at its finest), THE BIBLE WITH PLASTIC SPOONS (a deeply moving and reverent piece), ROAD KILL THEATRE (It's gotta be fresh), PWHOME (Puppets without homes or meaningful employment), EXPERT AND ADVANCED LIMBERJACK TECHNIQUE (taint as easy as you think it is stupid), and possibly a long, dark and Heavy Object Tabletop Theater Piece entitled " PAY ATTENTION TO ME GOD DAMN IT. I AM AN ACTOR. ME. ME. ME. ME. ME.", among others.
 

PIX SMITH

Pix Smith (Pix short for pixel, due to his lightning use of brainpower and fast and sticky fingers, or perhaps a failed murder attempt -- ask him) will co-host Potpourri (along with the excellent and talented Mr. Peter Allen). Pix's great talent lies in his ability to seem to do so much while actually doing nothing at all. This is a talent at which he excels. He has gotten a lot out of life with his lugubrious gift. Long periods of silence while he looks blankly at an audience, or gazes to the heavens, bring gales of laughter from an unaware audience, who do not realize that he has just forgotten what he was going to say or has lost his place completely. This he judicially calls timing.

Due to the unfortunate "sparkler incident" of 1989, Pix has be unable to .... well we may have gone to far already ... Mr. Smith's dry, nasal and cloying sense of humor is a natural to offset the teaser-witlessness of Mr. Allen.

Pix's favorite puppet memory is of the Atlanta festival when he, John McAnistan and Nick Coppolla were walking around the then dark halls at night, only to come upon what they thought was an unoccupied room where ... well maybe we have gone too far again.

Mr. Smith has been pleasuring audiences in Dallas, and all over this country with his immense ... talent.  Pix is short instature but you all know what you say about a man with big feet, along index finger and huge ear lobes .. that's right "Why hasn't he availed himself of plastic surgery ". Audiences love this man and you will wonder why when you see him next year completely overshadowed by the voluminous talent of me, I mean, Mr. Allen.