Hi Everyone! My name is Dugan Kenaz-Mara and I'm a Props/Puppets designer and photographer in Chicago. I'll be using this account to document the projects I'm working on :)
I had a great time shooting photos for the @npu_smat production of Jesus Christ Superstar last week!! Check out these fun shots and see the show while it runs through April 26th
Photography for North Park University, Spring 2026
C2E2 2026!
I had a lot of fun shooting Crown Championships this year as well as many of my friends and their wonderful cosplays. Hopefully next year I'll be back on stage with my puppets!
Photography at Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo, Spring 2026
Happy World Puppetry Day!
It's my pleasure to introduce Bearrot, the pierrot inspired clown bear I made with @rileytomes .
Can't wait to build more friends for him to perform with!
The Mystery of the Time Traveling Book opens today!
Come see how Grandma's attic transforms into a 1930s "legally-distinct-from-Nancy-Drew" mystery, running through Sunday.
This show features some of my favorite silly props, including a hidden book compartment in a clock, a ton of saltwater Taffy, and a napkin map.
Props and Scenic Design for Evanston Children's Theater, Spring 2026
Happy Opening to the wonderful cast and crew on Holiday!!!
I've been backstage working on this show for a while but hope to put up some more puppet content soon!
Happy Closing to the Cast and Crew of A Christmas Carol!!
It's been a joy to work on this show for the second year with all of the wonderful new additions to our Carol family. Wishing everyone a happy new year and hope to see you all again soon.
The Evanston Children's Theater's production of Seussical opens tonight!
I haven't been at the rehearsals for the past few weeks so I don't have pictures of the actors using props or puppets on stage, but I do have some pictures of things in-construction. Enjoy!
Props and Scenic design for ECT Seussical, Fall 2025
Kill It Keep It Live was a success!
Here is a collection of photos and videos featuring stage combat, puppet fights, and scenery from the production.
CAST:
Josephine Fettuccine
Player: Sophie Hernando Kofman (@cotton.candy.fluff.va )
Fighter: Sturge (@emisturges )
Marshall Harrison
Player: Blake Hood (@bhooodie )
Fighter: Christopher Wilson (@the_cjwilson )
Barrel Jablonski
Player: Cameron Petti (@mstrcpp )
Fighter: Logan Blake (@logsbunny )
DM
Max Dinerstein
Vampire
Aiyanna Wade (@awesomeaiyanna )
Skeleton
Samuel Weatherbee (@bearensteinw_2.0 )
Grim Rea-feree
Diego Bruno (@gmdiegobruno )
Tip Swindler
Sonja Lynn Nelson (@sonjalynnnelson )
Scenery/Props/Puppets:
Dugan Kenaz-Mara
Stage
Piven (@piventheatreworkshop )
Kill It Keep It Live with Piven, Fall 2025
Here are some photos from my first art gallery showcasing my puppets!
The Noyes Cultural Arts Center has been a home for many of my creative projects since I was a child, and I'm glad to be included in a showcase of its history featuring works from current and former employees along with pictures dating back to its beginnings as a school in the 1890s.
I'm lucky to be able to display my work alongside so many talented artists. If you have the chance I highly recommend looking around our second-floor exhibit before it closes in January.
My latest puppet!
The Elephant Bird for Evanston Children's Theater's Seussical, opening in November.
This puppet, along with some of my other favorites, will be featured in the "Noyes History" Gallery on the second floor of the Noyes Cultural Arts Center in Evanston running October 17th through January 6th. Come check them out!
Puppetry for Evanston Children's Theater, Fall 2025
It was a blast to shoot photos for @mncircus during their show at Talmadge Park celebrating @actorsgym 's 30th Anniversary!!!
I love when the circus community has a chance to come together and celebrate a momentous occasion with an outstanding performance.
Photography for Midnight Circus, Summer 2025
