Fueling Creativity Through Puppetry

External Affairs Program Manager, Kelly Washatka, on performing with Paperhand Puppet Intervention

Story by Mariava Philips | photos by Samantha Everett, Kelly Washatka, and Jacque Nash | Published August 13, 2024

When Kelly Washatka, External Affairs Program Manager, isn’t working at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, you can find her performing as a flamingo, dragon, wolf, or cicada.

Jumping back to the year 2020, Kelly’s dream of living in Durham, North Carolina finally became a reality. It wasn’t the autumn foliage, vibrant downtown, or easy access to the beach or mountains that sold it (although those were a bonus). For Kelly, it was about being a part of Paperhand Puppet Intervention.

She attended the University of Missouri at Columbia and studied English and theater, where her performance focus landed on puppetry. Paperhand is a local puppetry company that uses papier-mâché and other materials to create incredible giant puppets, masks, shadow plays, and spectacle performances for all ages.

With a Paperhand t-shirt on and an old show poster behind her, Kelly describes her first experience with the organization as an intern in 2017. “It made my whole life so much more fun and interesting,” she says. The five-month experience not only fulfilled her creative, artistic side, but also introduced her to a whole new vibrant community that she wanted to be a part of.

She made the move to North Carolina in 2020 and officially became part of the Paperhand community. Since then, Kelly has done a lot behind-the-scenes, putting her organizational skills to work – from designing the program to running Paperhand’s Kickstarter campaign, and helping launch their online store, which she now manages.

“I love being able to do some admin stuff for them because then I can stay connected all year long and put both of my skillsets to use,” she explains.

As a performer, her favorite puppet was a windsock dragon. With the puppet put to life by wind, Kelly had to constantly move and run while on stage. “I felt so powerful, wonderful, and free,” she recalls. “I love the feeling of my body being at its max and so in the zone – it’s only me and the puppet and it makes the noise of the world go away.”

On a personal note, her most memorable show was “Where Our Spirits Reside” from 2023. This performance focused on honoring ancestors, and Kelly had the opportunity to share the story of her old Irish neighbor, Kay, who was like a grandmother to her. “It was really special, and I felt like I was bringing her memory back to life,” Kelly shares.

As for her role at Carolina, Kelly has Paperhand to thank for that too. The stage manager from her first year at Paperhand, in 2017, recommended she apply for an executive assistant role at the School.

Kelly joined the School in June 2022 and has since been promoted to her current role as External Affairs Program Manager. She supports all aspects of the External Affairs team, which includes marketing and communications, legislative advocacy, alumni engagement, advancement, and donor relations. She manages the behind-the-scenes of each area to ensure each team has what they need and is also responsible for stewarding the culture of the team by organizing team retreats and special celebrations.

“I think I’m a better Paperhand performer because I have an encouraging boss and a challenging, inspiring role in my daily work life, and I’m a better worker here at Carolina because Paperhand encourages me to be inventive and think outside the box,” she observes.

Paperhand’s 2024 summer production, “Earth and Sky, A Great Gathering for All Beings” will be performed throughout August and September at the Forest Theater on campus in Chapel Hill. You can find more information here.