Drew Nowlin

Title: Puppeteer and Variety Performer
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, UNC Charlotte (2002)

Previous Employers:
Resident Artist, Mountain Arts Program
Props Director, Central Piedmont Community College

Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.

At UNC Charlotte, Drew learned to sew, mold, costume, direct, and dance, focusing much of his work on puppetry and masks. “I learned how to be a full rounded performer, with confidence, imagination, and craft,” he says. “My time there also  pushed me to discover who I was and how far I could take my choices.” That training stands him in good stead in his current multi-faceted work as the Artistic Director of Fractured Puppet Minds, a juggler and variety performer for Fettucini Entertainment, and a puppeteer with Omimeo Mime Theatre. The breadth of his work stretches from constructing puppets, to writing shows, to performing. While he lives in Pineville, N.C., Drew continues to work a lot in his hometown and recently created characters for the Northwest School of the Arts production of Shrek the Musical. His next projects will be original touring programs for libraries and museums.

“My fondest memories of UNC Charlotte are those of seeing a theatrical show come together from start to finish, and working alongside Bob Croghan, my friend and adviser,” Drew says. His advice to current students? “Do what makes you happy and never forget there is always something new to learn that can only help you in your life and career.”