Heaven on a biscuit
An extended portrait of Hip Pocket Theatre

It was at the Hip Pocket Theatre that I found inspiration and a backdrop for my personal journey as a photographer and an artist.

Hip Pocket Theatre, located in Fort Worth, Texas, combines the elements of puppetry, mime, homegrown music and Commedia del` Arte into a truly unique local theater. The theater was founded in 1976 by Johnny Simons, a mime and playwright, and his wife Diane Simons, a costume design and theater artist.

I started photographing the Hip Pocket Theatre in 1999. I found inspiration in its informal rugged outdoor settings, its highly visual and musical aspects and the variety of artists involved in the productions. What started out as a few rehearsals developed into an extended portrait of the theater and exploration of its spirit.

Heaven on a Biscuit was partially funded by Texas Commission on the Arts and was exhibited in 2004 at the Arlington Museum of Art. In 2005, the exhibition traveled to the Fort Worth Central Library, along with the theater’s costumes, puppets and props.