Kat Caro (she/her) is a multimedia artist and educator based in Philadelphia with a special interest in puppetry. She focuses on using sustainable and unconventional materials, and has a particular love for cardboard and paper art. As the production designer for Philly PACK, Kat enjoys leading a team of student designers in creating props, sets, costumes, animations, and puppets for 5 PACK productions a year. She is also a production designer for Humble Materials and has built puppets for GAMP and Mister John’s Music Show. Recent work includes designing and performing the shadow puppets for Brown Eyed Rapunzel (2019 Philly Fringe), the puppet short Because of Dragons (2020 film with Monica Flory), and production design and puppets for The Yellow Wallpaper (2023 Philly Fringe).
CV
Puppet and Production Designer
Philly PACK
2024 James and the Giant Peach, Moonrise Kingdom, Addams Family Values
2023 The Witches, Shuddersome: Tales of Poe, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids The Boxcar Children, My So-Called Life
2022 Percy Jackson, The Princess Bride, Misty of Chincoteague, Black Beauty
2021 The Little Prince, Firebird, Labyrinth, The Hobbit
2020 Where the Wild Things Are (virtual production), A Wrinkle in Time (virtual production)
2019 Frankenstein, Bridge to Terabithia, Matilda
2018 Jurassic Park, Romeo and Juliet, Through the Looking Glass
2017 Star Wars
2016 The Secret Garden, The Wizard of OZ
2015 Grimm Tales , Scrooge
2014 The Neverending Story, Peter Pan
Humble Materials
2024 All Quiet on the Western Front (Philly Fringe)
2023 The Yellow Wallpaper (Philly Fringe)
2022 Medea, Scarlet Letter (Philly Fringe, Fringie fan-favorite winner)
2021 Of a Feather (Philly Fringe, Fringie fan-favorite winner)
2019 Brown-Eyed Rapunzel (Philly Fringe)
Teaching Artist
2018-present Production Design, Costume Design, Philly PACK
2016 Summer youth program, El Concilio
2013 After school program, Fleisher Art Memorial
Freelance Artist
2016, 2017, 2020 Character Design, Puppet Design and Fabrication, Mister John’s Music Show
2009-2011 Prototype Artist, Ashton-Drake Galleries
Emily the Strange, Vampire sisters of the Moon, Romeo and Juliet, Elvis, and Tiger Women vinyl dolls
2006-2007 Prototype Artist, Messex Industries
Doom Dolls
2004 - 2020 Owner, Artist, Miniature Clothing Designer, Melancholy Kitties
Group Exhibitions
2019 Cry it Out, Simpatico Theater, Philadelphia, PA
2015 Fairies and Folklore, Auguste Clown Gallery, Fitzroy, Australia
2014 Halloween International, Auguste Clown Gallery, Fitzroy, Australia
Online Features
2023 Blair Ingenthron, “Humble Materials and SKIN WARS Season 1 Winner Natalie Fletcher to Collaborate in THE YELLOW WALLPAPER”, Broadway World, June 17, 2023
2023 Jillian Ashley Blair Ivey, “Philly Fringe 2023: Humble Materials presents The Yellow Wallpaper”, Broad Street Review, September 15, 2023
2022 Jillian Ashley Blair Ivey, “Philly Fringe 2022: Humble Materials presents Jess Noël’s Scarlet Letter”, Broad Street Review, September 30, 2022
https://www.broadstreetreview.com/reviews/humble-materials-presents-jess-noells-scarlet-letter
2022 Interview with Rutgers-Camden Gender Studies Director Dr. Joan Maya Mazelis, March 26, 2022
2021 Art Meet Offspring Podcast with Monica Flory, April 29, 2021
2019 Grace Maiorano, “Pennsport performing arts company produces fairytale featuring dance, puppets and poetry,” South Philly Review, September 4, 2019 https://southphillyreview.com/2019/09/04/pennsport-performing-arts-company-produces-fairytale-featuring-dance-puppets-and-poetry/?fbclid=IwAR2NEGrlLINFxeGOTwcI6aRdxnvElXhQcbpG1Bn4MP4-D-jlOmN1sM3REdI
2019 Patricia Carvalho, “Interview with Kat Caro from Melancholy Kitties,” Dolly Custom, April 6, 2019
https://www.dollycustom.com/melancholykitties-interview/
Magazine Features
2008 Elizabeth Vegvary, “The BJD Files: Melancholy Kitties,” Fashion Doll Quarterly Autumn 2008, p.48-51