Jonathan MacMillan
Creature Performer
Jonathan is best known for originating the roles of the Goose and Topthorn (head) in the 5 Tony Award winning Broadway production of War Horse.
As suit captain of Global Creature's international tour Walking with Dinosaurs: The Arena Spectacular, Jonathan performed at Madison Square Garden, Barclays Center and London's O2 and Wembley Arena. Jonathan won a Chita Rivera and Outer Critics Circle Award for his work in the Broadway production of King Kong. On television, Jonathan's puppetry has been seen on Jeopardy, Good Morning America and Top Gear. Jonathan performs regularly at international festivals and events including the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and the Edinburgh, Brisbane, and White Night Festivals.
Puppet Captain
Jonathan has extensive experience puppet captaining. During his tenure as suit captain of Walking with Dinosaurs: The Arena Spectacular, the show broke records as the most ticketed performance of any genre in the world in 2010 (ahead of U2 and Bon Jovi). Jonathan successfully managed a six person department, touring to over 30 countries.
Animatronics
The first company member to learn all three animatronic puppetry tracks (the face, the head and neck, and the shoulders and torso) of the Tony Award winning production of King Kong The Musical. Along with manipulating the shoulder and torso of King Kong, Jonathan was required to live direct the other 13 King Kong operators. Working on custom built “Voodoo” rigs by Creature Technology Company, his work was the subject of a New Yorker article by Michael Schulman. Previously, Jonathan operated the animatronic Plateosaurus hatchling in Walking with Dinosaurs: The Arena Spectacular.
Suit Performing
Jonathan has performed all imaginings of animals throughout his career including: dinosaurs, insects, mammals, marsupials, robots, birds, and aliens using his unique combination of physicality and artistic sensitivity. Jonathan was Sven in the Australian tour of Disney’s Frozen, an insect for the premier of WETA workshop’s exhibit Bug Lab, threw the opening pitch for a San Diego Padres game from the mouth of a T-Rex, and operated a 3 meter skull-headed businessman for a Thundamentals concert.
Puppetry
Jonathan was part of the 5 Tony award winning original cast of the Broadway production of War Horse where he worked with director Marianne Elliot and Handspring Puppet Company founders Basil Jones and Adrian Kohler. He continues to be in demand as a puppeteer for theatre, opera, arena shows and festivals working with companies including Michael Curry Workshop, A Blanck Canvas, Dead Puppet Society, and Creature Technology Company.
Education
Jonathan has been a theatre and puppetry educator for several years, most recently teaching object manipulation in Boise, Idaho as part of the Idaho Shakespeare Festival Apprentice Program. Previously, Jonathan worked in schools throughout Melbourne with Trash Puppets running workshops on puppet building, puppet manipulation and sustainability. Jonathan also regularly works in education for the Melbourne Museum and Melbourne Zoo.