Sonny Tilders

Sonny Tilders is an Australian animatronics artist, known for his work as creative director of the Creature Technology Company.

Works

Tilders led the team that designed and built the animatronics for Walking with Dinosaurs − The Arena Spectacular, which premiered in 2007. He was also the creature-maker for the 2012 arena production of How To Train Your Dragon, produced by CTC's parent company, Global Creatures Group, and Hollywood studio DreamWorks.^[1] In 2013, he created the on-stage puppet of the title character for the musical production of King Kong, which premiered at Melbourne's Regent Theatre before moving to Broadway. At the time, it was reportedly the largest animatronic puppet ever created for a theatrical production.^[2]

Awards

In 2019, for his work on the King Kong puppet, Tilders won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Puppet Design,^[3] the Outer Critics Circle Special Achievement Award,^[4] and a Special Tony Award.^[5]

Biography

Tilders grew up in Frankston, a southern suburb of Melbourne, with his mother and stepfather, who were both school teachers. His biological father was the Australian blues singer and guitarist Dutch Tilders, although Dutch was not present for most of Sonny's childhood.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b Westwood, Matthew (31 May 2013). "Sonny Tilders makes King Kong come alive". The Australian. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
^ "Bringing King Kong to life". The Age. 27 May 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
^ Fierberg, Ruthie (2 June 2019). "Tootsie, Hadestown, and The Ferryman Lead 2019 Drama Desk Award Winners". Playbill. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
^ Wild, Stephi (13 May 2019). "HADESTOWN Tops the Outer Critics Circle Winners - Full List Announced!". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
^ McPhee, Ryan (29 April 2019). "Marin Mazzie, Jason Michael Webb, and King Kong Designer Sonny Tilders to Receive 2019 Special Tony Awards". Playbill.

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[Westwood-1] Westwood, Matthew (31 May 2013). "Sonny Tilders makes King Kong come alive". The Australian. Retrieved 4 August 2022.

[2] "Bringing King Kong to life". The Age. 27 May 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2015.

[3] Fierberg, Ruthie (2 June 2019). "Tootsie, Hadestown, and The Ferryman Lead 2019 Drama Desk Award Winners". Playbill. Retrieved 4 August 2022.

[4] Wild, Stephi (13 May 2019). "HADESTOWN Tops the Outer Critics Circle Winners - Full List Announced!". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 4 August 2022.

[5] McPhee, Ryan (29 April 2019). "Marin Mazzie, Jason Michael Webb, and King Kong Designer Sonny Tilders to Receive 2019 Special Tony Awards". Playbill.

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