Hannah Hightman Talks Puppetry

Hannah Hightman has done a little bit of everything. She’s dabbled in visual arts, marketing, and more. Early in life, she knew art was her calling.

“I have never been very talented at math or science,” Hightman explains.

But she has always loved puppetry.

When Hightman moved to New York City, puppetry helped her feel more connected even though she didn’t know many people. So, she got a raccoon puppet named François. He became a big part of her life, and she brought the puppet along on journeys around the city.

“I took him to fashion week a few times, when I was still doing work in fashion journalism,” Hightman said. “I brought him to the club. I would bring him to dates. He was all over my Hinge profile.”

When Hightman got laid off from her job, François was there. She looked for work that matched her interests. However, she never thought she would be able to incorporate puppets into her professional life. That changed when she was offered a job at The Jim Henson Foundation.  Henson, the creator of the Muppets, established the foundation in 1982. Since his death, Cheryl Henson, his daughter, now oversees the foundation's mission of promoting the art of puppetry and funding artists.

Hightman now works there as an assistant and social media coordinator and she loves being able to support the puppetry community.

“Being able to give people the money to help make their dreams come to fruition is such a great feeling,” Hightman said.

Having seen the ins and outs of the art world, she has advice for young creatives trying to find their way.

“Don’t be afraid to lean into what makes you weird or distinctive,” Hightman said. “Because, ultimately, that is what’s going to stand out.”

While she keeps her day job at the foundation, Hightman is continuing to make her art. She hopes to dive deeper into puppetry in the future, and maybe bring François along for the ride.

This story ran on the What’s What podcast from WFUV News on Monday, November 3, 2025. This is a part of WFUV’s ongoing series, highlighting Gen-Z New Yorkers who are forging new career paths and making a difference along the way.