Vandergrift puppeteer spreads cheer, uses craft to help traumatized kids

David English of Vandergrift has a passion for puppetry.

His love of the art began when he was 3. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in theater and puppetry from West Virginia University.

English said watching “The Muppets” as a youngster in his hometown of Oakmont made a lasting impression.

“I told my mom, ‘I want to be a Muppet,’ ” said English, 43. He credits the late Fred Rogers and “Muppets” creator Jim Henson as huge entertainment influences.

He has owned and operated the David T. English Puppet Co., working as a professional puppeteer, for more than 20 years.

From his early days of fashioning homemade puppets from paper bags to making his own handcrafted puppets, English calls his puppets his “family.”

A bachelor, English doesn’t have any children but focuses on helping Pittsburgh-area youths through puppetry.

“Puppetry is joyful for me,” English said. “I like to make people laugh.”

Neighbor Andrew Tvrodvsky, 65, said English has a remarkable talent and audiences love his performances.

“I never saw kids so intrigued,” Tvrdovsky said of English’s shows, many of which are impromptu for kids in the neighborhood.

“My granddaughter was so inspired she went home and made puppets. I’m a rough and retired steelworker — and he has me captivated.”

English provides the voice for every puppet. He’s mastered a German accent, a ghoulish voice and Eastern European dialects.

One of his favorite puppets is a ghoul dubbed Mr. Funfangles.

Another is Polka Dancin’ Stanley and Stanley Onion — the oldest puppet “man” made of onions who lives in Pittsburgh’s Polish Hill neighborhood.

Gertie the Polluted City Bird is a bright red bird who advocates against smog and pollution.

His latest outreach is using puppets as an educational therapy tool for kids he works with at the Homeless Children’s Education Fund.

“Puppetry and education have a lot of overlap, especially in early childhood education,” English said. “The puppets model the human condition, (but) it creates this playful separation between yourself and the subject.”

English said making it through the pandemic was tough. He received financial support from The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council.

His play, “The Dragon of Polish Hill,” was supposed to debut in March 2020 before the covid-19 shutdown happened.

“I was supposed to be onstage for a live audience, but instead we finished it and it’s a film,” English said.

English said his private and public puppet gigs as a professional puppeteer were all but obsolete last year, but he said bookings are returning.

To make ends meet during the pandemic, English worked as an online tutor for the Homeless Children’s Education Fund.

Every student he works with has experienced some type of serious trauma and were in need of emotional support during the pandemic.

“Through that experience, I’ve come to discover the value and power of puppet play therapy,” English said. “Conversing with puppets lowers their stress and opens them up.”

Students in Homeless Children’s Education Fund’s programs “find joy in creative and imaginative play” like English provided, said Kaitlyn Nykwest, afterschool and enrichment director at the Homeless Children’s Education Fund.

“When Dave shares his creations and talents with the students, they experience new ways to talk about their emotions, play games, read and talk about books,” Nykwest said. “Dave’s puppetry brings fun and imagination into the lives of students in our programs. And, for students that have experienced stress and trauma, taking time to imagine, play and dream helps students relieve stress and build relationships, which lead to positive outcomes for learners.”

Staff writer Julia Felton contributed to this report.