The first day of classes each semester generally has cliché introductions and awkward introductions. Sometimes a class will get a question such as “say something unique about yourself.” Most people would talk about an amazing vacation, or that they have a large number of pets, but Sophomore Nate Plummer has the opportunity to say “I am a ventriloquist.”

Plummer, a comprehensive theatre arts major, has dabbled in the world of ventriloquism since his early teen years. After time spent practicing, perfecting,and sharing the stage with top-name ventriloquists, he can now say that not only is ventriloquism a hobby and job, but it is his profession as well.

There’s no business like show business
Plummer is no stranger to the acting world. The Chippewa Falls native has been an actor in Eau Claire Children’s Theater shows since the age of seven. Throughout middle school and high school, he sang in choirs and continued to act. Recently, he appeared as Snoopy in the ECCT production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” and is currently in rehearsal for UW-Eau Claire’s production of “Anatomy of Grey.”

Aside from his experience acting and singing, Plummer found himself exploring other areas of stage entertainment, such as performing magic tricks for children’s birthday parties. Eventually, he discovered an art form seldom seen around the area: ventriloquism.

Picking up the puppet

At age 14, Plummer began to watch videos of professional ventriloquist Ronn Lucas on YouTube. At the time, ventriloquism was just starting reemerge into the comedic spotlight following the Comedy Central specials featuring Jeff Dunham and Terry Vader’s victory on America’s Got Talent.

By age 16, he had perfected his methods and entered a video contest sponsored by Axtell Expression, a company known for their unique puppets. With a $1,000 dollar grand prize and a chance to perform in Las Vegas alongside his inspiration Ronn Lucas, Plummer entered the contest, created the video and won the grand prize.

Stepping into the Spotlight

Following his victory, Plummer performed at the Luxor Hotel in March 2008 with Ronn Lucas, who eventually became his mentor and friend. On that trip, he was introduced to a number of comedic acts such as Penn and Teller and Lance Burton.

“It was really exciting (to perform in Las Vegas) because this guy (Ronn Lucas) was the guy I had been watching all along,” he said.

Once Plummer returned home, he was employed by the ECCT to perform gigs and venues. Since then, he has gone his own way and performed at countless conventions, fundraisers, and taken professional master classes. He has been offered prestigious job positions, including a job at Six Flags.

A Cavalcade of Characters

Plummer’s act relies on lots of technical theater, and is diverse in characters. His main characters include a smoke-breathing, angst-ridden teenage dragon named Dustin, a bird who thinks he’s a turtle, and a three-year-old baby genius who is dating a blonde super model. He will also ask audience members to become the singing and dancing puppets onstage with him.

“It’s really cool to turn it into a whole spectacle,” he said. “It’s so cool, yet it’s all simple.”

Plummer has many unique aspects to his performances, including the use of himself as a character. Rather than acting as a starting point for a puppet to tell a joke, he acts onstage with them.

“My monologues include everything from rants about relationships to jokes about UW-Eau Claire, and wondering what exactly a Blugold is,” he said. “My humor varies from show to show, because the audience really dictates what’s happening. I play off of them.”

Junior Evan Wilberg has seen the ventriloquist act during an acapella choir concert, where Plummer served as emcee. “It was good,” he said. “You could tell he really works at this stuff. He has a very loud and lyrical voice, especially when singing.”

One of the features unique to the act that always leaves the audience is when his puppets sing. And this is no solo … Plummer actually sings a duet right onstage with Dustin the Dragon.

“That’s the thing that gets people,” he said. “They come up to me afterwards asking me how I did that, how I got them to sing while I was singing.”

The answer? Plummer won’t tell. “I will say, however, that it is much easier than you think!”

Despite all of the silly monologues, countless performances, and professional venues, Plummer says that one reason he is a ventriloquist is to create a moment of magic for the audience.

“It’s the suspension of disbelief when people forget (the puppets) are not real things. Dragons don’t exist, we know that, but people still think that Dustin is real,” he said. “The ventriloquism part isn’t hard once you have it down. It’s about making that moment where the puppet becomes real that counts.”

The future in his hands

Someday, Plummer plans on becoming a professional actor. He remains in touch with good friend Ronn Lucas, and still performs around the Eau Claire area.

As for doing ventriloquism in the future? “It follows me around, both in good and bad ways,” he said. “People look at my resume and say, ‘Hey! Look at that.’ When that’s really not what the audition is for.”

But that doesn’t mean that playing around with his puppets will end here. “It’s not just for little kids anymore. Who knows? Maybe someday when I do have kids, I’ll pull out Dustin the Dragon and perform my act for them. You never know!”

Quick Facts

Name:
Nate Plummer

Year in school:
Sophomore

Hometown:
Chippewa Falls, WI

Major:
Theatre Arts

Years Performing Ventriloquism:
5

Names of Puppets:
– Dustin the Dragon
– Erving the Baby
– R.K. Possum
– Shelly the Cougar
– Turtle the Bird
– George the Sock
– Krispy Kreme (a doughnut)