Cynthia VonOrthal

Cynthia VonOrthal is an actress, writer, teacher, director and artistic director for VonOrthal Puppets. Cynthia has studied in Prague at the Trejnar Studios and is a graduate of The Goodman School of Drama. She has designed, directed and performed for many theaters across the country and in Europe including: The Goodman, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Steppenwolf, Victory Gardens, Lifeline, City Lit, Running with Scissors, Redmoon Theater, The Incurable Theater, Raven Theatre, The Actors Gang and the Mark Tapor Forum in Los Angeles. Her film and television credits include A League of Their Own, Date Night, Diagnosis Trauma, Roseanne, Early Edition and Fuzzy Buddies.

Cynthia has also served as artistic liaison for international groups such as Spirits of the Earth, providing food, clothing and art to children in Peru; The Titiritay Festival, providing outreach to orphans in Cochabamba, Bolivia; and the international puppetry festival Festival Internacianal de Titeres, also in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

Cynthia has won an International UNIMA Award for Excellence in Puppetry Arts for her co-creation of an all-puppet version of The Adding Machine by Elmer Rice.