Clarkston, Michigan · Performing since age fourteen
About Michigan Ventriloquist Richard Paul
Clean, kid-friendly comedy, a colorful cast of life-sized puppets, music, magic and plenty of audience participation — a family-friendly ventriloquist show suitable for all ages.
- 40+ years on stage
- Clean, all-ages comedy
- Life-sized puppets
- Music, magic & audience volunteers
How it started
It began with a library book
Richard Paul discovered ventriloquism in a book at twelve years old. That single discovery redirected his life, and by fourteen he was performing his first paid shows.
The books that built the act — comedy, ventriloquism, magic, puppetry — came from his local library's summer reading program. Decades later, he is still working out of what those shelves gave him, now on stages across Michigan and well beyond it.
Today Richard is a Michigan ventriloquist known for a colorful, outrageous cast of characters and a fast, improvised style that pulls the whole room into the act.
Book a show
What sets the show apart
More than a guy with a wooden puppet
Richard ventriloquizes with props, his own hands and ordinary household objects, then hands the microphone to audience volunteers for the biggest laughs of the night.
Clean & Kid-Friendly
Humor that works for a first-grade assembly and a 55+ community room alike, with nothing to apologize for afterward.
Life-Sized Characters
Larger-than-life, colorful puppets with distinct personalities and impeccable comic timing.
Beyond the Dummy
Ventriloquism with everyday objects, props and even his own hands — not just one character on a knee.
Audience in the Act
Volunteers come up, get worked into the show, and become the story people retell for days.
Michigan and beyond
Based in Clarkston, booked around the world
Richard performs across Michigan — Detroit, Grand Rapids, Flint, Lansing and the communities in between — at libraries, schools, senior centers, festivals, churches and family events.
The work has also taken him well past the state line, with performances in Tokyo, Orlando, Fairbanks, New York City and Saskatchewan, at conventions, fairs, youth conferences and corporate family days.
- Libraries
- Schools
- Senior centers
- Festivals
- Churches
- Conferences
Pick your audience
One Michigan ventriloquist, a show for every room
Every program is built for the audience in front of it.
Library Shows
Summer reading kickoffs and family programs, customizable to your theme.
School Shows
Assemblies that land a message through laughter instead of a lecture.
Senior Shows
Clean comedy, music and variety for senior centers and active adult communities.
Family Shows
Festivals, banquets and family nights where every age is in the room.
Holiday Shows
Christmas, Halloween and Harvest programs for communities and libraries.
Themed Shows
Bosco's Train Load of Fun and Donny the Dino's Prehistorically Funny Family Fun Show.
From the audience
What people say afterward
“Of course, we expected to see the usual ventriloquist act. A guy throwing his voice with a wooden puppet. And Mr. Paul did fine with his wooden buddy TJ, but Richard Paul did a lot more than that. He performed ventriloquism with everything from his hands to everyday household objects. Over 200 were in attendance and everyone was engaged for over an hour.”
Darleen Higgins, RNCardiovascular Research and Education Foundation
“Richard was fantastic! The boys called it the highlight of the show, and the parents were blown away with the lessons he was imparting during his very engaging, interactive performance.”
SonnyHanukkah Extravaganza, Oak Park, Michigan
“Thank you for a great show, staff have received a lot of positive feedback (even from parents of younger kids) that their families had a great time and really enjoyed your performance!”
Eria G.Jackson District Library
“You were so fun and amazing! Our seniors loved your show!”
Margaret C.Shelby Senior Citizen's Center
In the news
Richard Paul in the press
Let's get your date on the calendar
Tell Richard the date, the room and the audience. He'll tell you which show fits.
Contact Richard