We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Keith Shubert a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Keith, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Over 20 years ago I began my journey with my production company TOYBOX THEATRE and that has been the most meaningful project of my life. I create work for all ages. Because I have been performing for so many years and for audiences of all ages, I have experienced many young people who were once children and now young adults tell me that I was the reason they wanted to grow up to become artists. That is more valuable to me than any amount of money. To be a source of creative inspiration for generations and create a lasting impact on people’s lives.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a puppeteer, clown, comedian, toymaker, and event producer. I feel like these are all things I have done my entire life. When I was a child, I noticed very quickly that I. played with my toys differently than other children. I was more interested in life like manipulation and complex story telling. These types of skills never went away. During my college years, I wanted to become an educator, focusing on elementary education. Through the process of receiving my degree, I realized that puppetry was a learning tool I gravitated to in teaching. My first puppet show was in 6th grade and I believe my teaching at the time also realized this. Puppetry is an amazing tool for education as you are actively creating a work of art with a focus dedicated to whatever topic, then you have a live productions solidifying that topic and manifesting it into an augmented reality, finally you are left with a personal artifact of the experience. these are the types of things I was doing as a teaching. When I graduated college I went on to pursue further education in puppetry arts and then quickly became a live entertainer.
Because I have been in the business for so many years, I know that my brand is 100% unique because there is no one who approaches it the same way. As a performer, I incorporate not just puppetry art but also intense storytelling, clowning, vaudeville, comedian, and visual art in way that no no one else does.
I am so proud of the volume of work I have produced in career and by the inspiration I have created for multiple generations of fans. To creating long lasting and meaningful impressions is the most valuable aspect of everything I have done.
I am very adaptable to any situation and can make any space work to my needs. I am a quick problems solver and carry a mindset that everything has a simple solution.
For potential clients, I would say that if you hire TOYBOX THEATRE to entertain at your event, you will get exactly that, entertainment. I understand that not only in my time important to me but it is important to you. I have a great respect for my audience and know that I am there to make them laugh and be inspired.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I wish that when I was younger, the previous generation offered more opportunities and support to me when I was developing. That is why, where I am at not I embrace young artists and incorporate them into my events as much as possible. People need to be more giving and understand that other artists are not their competition, but their support.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I think that it is important for anyone who wants to travel down a path of becoming an artist that the reward is not the money, but the happiness and inspiration you will bring to others. Or the knowledge and agents of change you will create. The most important thing for anyone going down this path, whatever the art form, is to know that once you start, if you want to succeed, you can never give up. That is the only way to “make it”. If you never give up and continue with passion, eventually you will succeed.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://toyboxtheatre.square.site/
• Instagram: @toybox_theatre
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TOYBOXTHEATRE/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TOYBOXTHEATRE

Image Credits

all photos by JenBen Media