Puppet Directing

Water For Elephants

Alliance Theater, Atlanta • Imperial Theater, Broadway• National Tour (Current)

Jan 2023- Dec 2024

Joshua served as Puppet Director for Water for Elephants — from its out-of-town tryout at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, to its Tony-nominated Broadway run at the Imperial Theatre, to the current national tour now playing across North America.

The production features a menagerie of circus animals brought to life through large-scale puppetry — including Rosie, a magnificent ten-foot elephant operated by three performers.

Perhaps his greatest creative achievement on the productions was turning a cast of acrobats and dancers into puppeteers - none of which had puppetry experience prior to the show. His work was integral to the production earning the Drama Desk Award for “Outstanding Puppetry”.

Tour Schedule
Tour Schedule
Poster for Broadway's Water for Elephants (Puppet Direction by Joshua Holden)
Two performers on stage with a large, colorful elephant puppet, while two others in costume observe and handle the puppet.
Broadway's Water for Elephants (Puppet Direction by Joshua Holden)
Silverstar puppet - Broadway's Water for Elephants (Puppet Direction by Joshua Holden)
Rex the Lion - Broadway's Water for Elephants (Puppet Direction by Joshua Holden)
Llama puppets - Broadway's Water for Elephants (Puppet Direction by Joshua Holden)
Debra the Zebra, Broadway's Water for Elephants (Puppet Direction by Joshua Holden)
Creative team on opening night for Broadway's Water for Elephants (Puppet Direction by Joshua Holden)
Broadway's Water for Elephants (Puppet Direction by Joshua Holden)
Broadway's Water for Elephants (Puppet Direction by Joshua Holden)

Other Collaborators

  • House of Yes Logo

    House of Yes (Puppet Director)

  • Fairleigh Dickinson University logo featuring a shield with three wheat stalks, a castle battlement, and a bird.

    Avenue Q - Puppet Director

  • Harvard University shield with a red background, gold oak leaves, and the Latin motto 'Veritas' on books, with 'Harvard' at the bottom.

    Pillowman - Puppet Director

  • University of Rhode Island logo featuring an anchor with the word 'HOPE' and the year 1892

    Avenue Q - Puppet Director

  • Logo of The University of Alabama at Birmingham with green 'UAB' initials and black text.

    Avenue Q - Puppet Director