New York Museum Education 1972 to 1989

Joe Fitzpatrick, creator of "Big Joe Productions", worked in Manhattan for 17 years as an educator and entertainer. Relocating to San Diego in 1990 was a cultural rejuvenation that was much appreciated. Joe Fitzpatrick began his professional career in museum education at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Mr. Fitzpatrick had the distinction of being appointed the Coordinator of Classroom Projects. This demanding position required diligent and meticulous skills dealing with the needs of the young students in the New York City School District. Joe also appeared as a public relations representative for the A.S.P.C.A. including appearances on the Children's Show Romper Room and several CNN interviews as an animal rights speaker. Joe left the A.S.P.C.A. to work as an Education Ranger in Central Park and eventually settled as Assistant Manager/Educator at Belvedere Castle a small natural history museum in Central Park

San Diego Museum of Art Educator 1990 to 1998

In 1990, Joe headed to San Diego to become an educator on the San Diego Museum of Arts'"Art Rig", a mobile museum that toured San Diego City Schools. Joe's San Diego museum experience includes: The Museum of Art, The Balboa Educator's Council, Junior Theater, The San Diego Model Railroad Museum where Joe is currently the Deputy Director/Director of Education.

Puppets

Joe began performing puppets with The Museum of Art's "Art Rig". From 1992 to 1995, Big Joe toured San Diego schools with an art exhibit titled: Extended Personae: The Art of Puppetry. Through his work with this exhibit, Big Joe has now performed puppets throughout the San Diego area including: The Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater, The North Coast Repertory Theater, The San Diego Children's Museum, the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, The San Diego Nighttime Zoo and many schools, libraries, parades, and special events such as "KidzArtz" in Balboa Park.

Theater

In New York, Big Joe was a member of Actor's Equity where he performed in dinner theater, national tours and Off - Broadway productions. Joe has worked with such New York Personalities as: Randy Graff, Judy Kaye, Jack Everly, Broadway's The Van Treuren Twins and Cynthia Sophia. In San Diego, Joe has appeared at the North Coast Repertory Theater, The Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater, Diversionary Theater at the Fritz, Starlight Civic Light Opera, Spreckels Theater, Twiggs Coffee House and Horton Grand Hotel. Joe is a bass/baritone who loves to tap dance, is most proud to have been co-producer of Outcast Productions which produced "Sunday in the Park with Sondheim" in San Diego for 1 1/2 years.

Young Audiences

Big Joe has offered puppet workshops and puppet assemblies for schools through YoungAudiences since 1998. If you are a school and looking to book Big Joe through YoungAudiences you will be able to contact them at here.