Basil Twist

A native of San Francisco, Basil Twist is a third-generation puppeteer. He is the sole American to graduate from the École Supérieure Nationale des Arts de la Marionnette in Charleville-Mézières. Twist’s showmanship was spotlighted in New York by The Jim Henson International Festival of Puppetry with his award winning The Araneidae Show. This recognition coupled with the ground-breaking and multiple award-winning »under-water marvel« Symphonie Fantastique he was revealed as a singular artist of unlimited imagination.

Highlights of his subsequent work include Petrushka (commissioned by Lincoln Center) and Dogugaeshi (The Japan Society), Behind the Lid (Silver Whale Gallery) with the late Lee Nagrin, and Arias with a Twist, co-created with nightlife icon Joey Arias. Symphonie Fantastique and these productions have toured all over the world.

Deeply musical in nature, Twist thrives in the world of opera. He created Titon et l’Aurore with Les Arts Florissants at the Opéra Comique in Paris and collaborated with Phelim McDermott on Aida at the English National Opera, Grand Théâtre de Genève, and Houston Grand Opera. In 2019 he worked together with Dick Bird on Adrian Nobles production of Otello premiering at the Vienna State Opera.

In dance, Twist has created the sets and puppetry for the world premiere of Edwaard Liangʼs Dorothy and the Prince of Oz for the Tulsa Ballet in 2017. His collaborations with Christopher Wheeldon include Cinderella for the Dutch National Ballet and San Francisco Ballet, The Winterʼs Tale for The Royal Ballet, and The Nutcracker for the Joffrey Ballet. He premiered Darkness and Light with Pilobolus and created the title role in Wonderboy with the Joe Goode Performance Group.

Broadway credits include puppetry design for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Oh, Hello!, The Addams Family, and puppetry direction for the beloved Pee-Wee Herman Show.

Twist teaches at leading universities and guides the internationally recognized Dream Music Puppetry Program at HERE in New York City. He has received several awards, including an Obie, Drama Desk Awards, UNIMA Awards, Bessie Awards, a Henry Hewes Design Award, Guggenheim and USA Fellowship Award, Doris Duke Performing Artist Award, and numerous grants from the Jim Henson Foundation for his productions.