Kate Micucci says her goal in every project is to make people smile, and she is happy to lean into silliness to do it. In an interview published by Billboard, the actor and musician talked about her children’s music, her love of puppetry and her new picture book, The Monster and Puppet Show!
Micucci said music has been part of her life since childhood, when her mother, a piano teacher, had her taking lessons from an early age. She later picked up the ukulele after a visit to Hawaii, and said that for her, songs usually begin with a melody before the lyrics and structure are worked out.
She described her songwriting process as building each tune “like a puzzle,” starting with the first verse and chorus and then fitting everything else together. Micucci said even her whimsical songs come from real experiences, including “Mr. Moon” and “King of the World,” which she began writing years before her son was born and later finished for him.
The article also noted that Micucci has performed with a puppet named Camille for 25 years, and that Camille inspired the puppet in her new picture book. Micucci said she is drawn to puppetry because she enjoys bringing lifeless objects to life, a passion that also helped lead her into voice work for animated films and television.
Micucci said performing live is especially rewarding when she can see an audience respond right away. She encouraged others to share their creative work, saying “weird is great” and that people do not need much more than a pencil, paper and the willingness to keep making things.
