Joe Kovacs (puppeteer)

Joe Kovacs (Born Joseph Stephen Kovacs on December 15, 1967 in Independence, Ohio), is a American puppeteer and actor.

Most recently found by the Estate of Wayland Flowers to bring the puppet Madame, who was a huge hit with audiences in the 1970s and 1980s, back to the public spotlight.

Madame

Madame was created by Wayland Flowers in the mid-1960s. The character of Madame is an "outrageous old broad" who entertains with double entendres and witty comebacks. Bedecked in fabulous evening wear and summer diamonds ("Some are diamonds; some are not"). Madame, with Flowers, toured the country with her comedy show and appeared on numerous television shows, including The Andy Williams Show," Laugh In; a long run on the game show Hollywood Squares (replacing Paul Lynde in The Center Square); as host of Solid Gold; various TV guest spots; and as the star of her own, syndicated 1982 sitcom, Madame's Place. The estate of Wayland Flowers, including Madame, was left to Wayland's then-manager, Marlena Shell. After many years out of the spotlight, Shell met New York-based puppeteer Joe Kovacs in 2002, and felt Kovacs was an ideal candidate to continue the "madame" performances.

Other Work

Before working with Madame, Kovacs had created and worked with literally hundreds of puppets. After attending the Cincinnati School for Creative and Performing Arts, Kovacs started Kovacs Puppets in Cincinnati where he worked on various puppets. Kovacs has created puppets and costumes for numerous programs, including The Atlanta Center for Puppetry Arts, The Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and the Cincinnati Children’s Theatre. In 1997 Kovacs wrote, directed, designed and created the puppets for an adaptation of a collection of Aesop's Fables.

In 1998 and 1999 Kovacs worked for the Jim Henson Company doing promotional work as Bear from their Disney Channel production of Bear In The Big Blue House. Kovacs later toured as Bear in the international touring show Bear In The Big Blue House LIVE! from 2000 through 2003.

Most recently, Kovacs has performed in NYC with his own puppet Miss Greta Green, hosting a weekly game show called Drag Queen Puppet Bingo at the View Bar.

Current Shows

Joe Kovacs has recently performed with Madame in New York, San Francisco and Cincinnati, with many more cities being booked. Kovacs and Madame are currently performing in Madame... With an 'E'! throughout January 2007 at Don't Tell Mama in New York, New York.

References

• NY Blade (January 12 2007). "Bawdy Madame Is Back in Flamboyant, Gay Act". New York Blade. Retrieved 2007-1-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

• ABC News (November 30 2006). "Madame Returns To The Stage". ABC Local Channel 7 News. Retrieved 2007-1-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

• Bay Area Reporter (November 30 2006). "'Help' For The Holidays". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved 2007-1-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

External links

• Joe Kovacs - Official Website
• Madame - Official Website
• Don't Tell Mama
• Madame's Place at IMDb