Hand to God

In March 2024, Emma made their solo directorial debut with Hand to God, written by Robert Askins, at the Hartt School. Hand to God follows Jason, a shy student in a devoutly religious town in Texas, as he finds an outlet for his burgeoning creativity at the local Christian Puppet Ministry. All seems fine until his once soft-spoken hand-puppet takes on a shocking and dangerously irreverent personality all its own. As the puppet Tyrone’s influence over Jason grows, the play explores – in an incredibly comic fashion – the fragile nature of faith, morality and the ties that bind us.

The production was widely praised by audiences, with one reviewer stating:

“…With a minimal budget, a small space, and a terrific cast, Emma DeWitt was able to give the audience an absolutely breathtaking performance. [It was a] masterpiece.”

Tony-winning director Michael Wilson described the production as

“absolutely brilliant”.

In addition to directing, Emma also designed and built the puppets, with the help of their mom, Donna.