Michael Graham’s interest in puppetry began early with a gift of a Pelham marionette and a Shari Lewis book. At thirteen, Michael began performing as “Michael's Marionettes” for birthday and Christmas parties.
He has been performing professionally since 1978 when the Spring Valley Puppet Theater was established with Michael Graham as its Director. He designs and builds his puppets, scenery and writes the scripts.
He performs primarily in schools, libraries, park and recreation departments, museums, theaters as well as at several Puppeteers of America festivals.
Michael's production of “Jack and the Beanstalk” was awarded the 1994 UNIMA-USA Citation of Excellence in the Art of Puppetry by the American Center of the Union Internationale de la Marionette.
He has been a guest instructor at the University of Connecticut Puppet Arts program, the Institute of Professional Puppetry Arts (IPPA) at the O'Neill Theatre Center in Waterford, Naugatuck Valley Community College and Connecticut College and has presented workshops for puppetry guilds in Connecticut and Massachusetts.