Big Nazo is an improv performance group launched in 1986 and headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island.[1] Erminio Pinque, the founder and artistic designer of Big Nazo, envisioned his concept as a puppet show without the stage.[2]

Big Nazo
At the 2024 Lumina Festival
At PVDFest 2024

Big Nazo, which derives its name from "big nose" in Italian, runs a "creature class" in conjunction with the Rhode Island School of Design Film and Video Department during the winter semester.[3]

Performances

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The Big Nazo troupe frequently appears at local cultural events such as parades,[4][5] Lumina Festival[6] and PVDFest.[7] Outside of Rhode Island, the group has performed in New York, Chicago, Nashville, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Japan, Portugal and Scotland.[8] The troupe has appeared at the 2010 Winter Olympics[2] and was a featured guest at the Maine Eclipse Festival in 2024.[8]

References

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  1. ^ Gilsdorf, Ethan (October 26, 2016). "For creature troupe Big Nazo, Halloween is a year-round affair". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on November 25, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Mascarella, Janene (December 31, 2009). "Monster business". CNN.
  3. ^ "Creature Creations". BigNazo.com.
  4. ^ "@bignazo". Instagram. Big Nazo. 17 March 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2024. The only Saint Patrick's Day Parade of 2020 that featured BIG NAZO was on March 7th in pre-covid Pawtucket.
  5. ^ Peterson, Brent. "Ancient & Horribles Parade". Destination Eat Drink. Brent Petersen. Retrieved 12 September 2024. Big Nazo puppets at Ancient & Horribles parade, Chepachet, RI
  6. ^ "LUMINA Jan 19 to Feb 20, 2024". Downtown Providence Park Network. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Big NAZO Intergalactic Creature Band". FirstWorks. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  8. ^ a b Tomaselli, Kathleen Phalen (9 February 2024). "World famous Big Nazo improv group to perform in Houlton for the eclipse". Bangor Publishing Company. Archived from the original on 2 March 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
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