BACKGROUND
My name is Diana Smith, professionally known as Diana Rockwell. I grew up in Kansas City, Kansas and have been a professional ventriloquist for nearly two decades, and it is, without a doubt, my greatest passion. My interest in ventriloquism began at a very young age after reading the Goosebumps book Night of the Living Dummy by R. L. Stine. For that very reason, the story's fictional incantation “Karru Marri Odonna Loma Molonu Karrano” is tattooed on my right arm. Though the language itself is imaginary, it is interpreted in English as “You and I are one now.”
Before pursuing ventriloquism professionally, I originally studied painting as a major at The University of Kansas, and graduated in 2010. However, I ultimately changed paths when I realized where my true passion lay. Although painting was no longer my primary artistic pursuit, it inspired me to publish my first book, Experimental Ventriloquism, which explores the use of fine art principles within a ventriloquist act. This is available on Amazon. My fine art background is also where I adopted the last name “Rockwell,” inspired by Norman Rockwell, who is one of my favorite painters alongside Everett Shinn. Since making that transition, I have experienced many exciting opportunities throughout my career. One of the most memorable was in 2015, receiving the Clinton Detweiler Scholarship after being personally selected by Terry Fator, winner of the 2007 season of America's Got Talent. That same year, I was a top 20 finalist for Lee's Summit's Got Talent, which was where I performed "The Auctioneer Song" with my snail puppet, Salty S. Cargo. I can honestly say that 2015 was one of the best years of my life. It didn't end there, as many other exciting memories came my way, including opportunities to take my skill in new places. I never imagined that my unique skill could not only earn me such an honor, but also provide opportunities to travel across the country, including complimentary trips to New York City and Los Angeles.
From 2017 to 2020, I lived in New York and worked full-time as a school assembly entertainer for a company called Officer Phil, based in South Hackensack, New Jersey. During the academic year, I performed approximately 126 days annually, often presenting three to four shows per day—sometimes totaling nearly 400 performances in a single year. Whew! The travel and production demands were grueling, but I genuinely enjoyed every moment of it. Unfortunately, the company closed during the pandemic. However, the lockdown also provided me with the chance to develop a new character whom I am proud to call my signature puppet: Dame Josephine Hector. At the time, I was watching many films starring Tim Curry, who has long been one of my greatest inspirations. His prolific voice work heavily influenced Josephine’s vocal style, while the surname “Hector” was adopted from his character, Mr. Hector, in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. I chose the first name "Josephine" as it seemed fitting for her regal persona. In 2021, I relocated to Branson Missouri and entered a competition called The Ozark Dynacom Competition, where I competed as a top ten finalist. This earned me the opportunities to perform on three different famous stages in Branson, including The Historic Owens Theatre, The Presley's Theatre, and The King's Castle Theatre.
In June 2025, I made my first television appearance in the reboot pilot episode of America's Funniest People on ABC, where I performed with my donut puppet, Minnie. As for my material in general, I draw much of my inspiration from artists outside the ventriloquism world. Because it is such a small community, it would be easy to unintentionally imitate another performer’s act. My biggest influences include Tim Curry, Phyllis Diller, Will Vinton Claymation, and a lot classic Sunday comic strips. However, if any ventriloquists have profoundly inspired me, the two greatest, in my opinion, are Señor Wences and Dan Horn. Señor Wences approached ventriloquism almost like a surrealist artist. He conceived bizarre and imaginative ideas that no others would have considered, such as his sketch “Pedro in the Box,” which consisted of nothing more than a box with a face inside, and “Johnny,” a character created entirely from his own hand painted with a face. He also incorporated a remarkable range of talents into his performances, including juggling and plate spinning. Dan Horn, meanwhile, is an exceptionally theatrical performer whose puppet manipulation skills are among the finest I have ever witnessed. When it comes to overall technical skill, he is in a class all by himself.
Throughout my career, I have performed at libraries, senior centers, universities, schools, early education centers, churches, corporate events, nightclubs, open mics, campgrounds, and more. My favorite venues would have to be corporate events and club settings, as I feel more confident performing my adult material in those environments. Kids' shows are always a blast too, though—don't get me wrong! 😊
Long story short, this art form has been incredibly rewarding to me. So sit back—and enjoy the show.
Before pursuing ventriloquism professionally, I originally studied painting as a major at The University of Kansas, and graduated in 2010. However, I ultimately changed paths when I realized where my true passion lay. Although painting was no longer my primary artistic pursuit, it inspired me to publish my first book, Experimental Ventriloquism, which explores the use of fine art principles within a ventriloquist act. This is available on Amazon. My fine art background is also where I adopted the last name “Rockwell,” inspired by Norman Rockwell, who is one of my favorite painters alongside Everett Shinn. Since making that transition, I have experienced many exciting opportunities throughout my career. One of the most memorable was in 2015, receiving the Clinton Detweiler Scholarship after being personally selected by Terry Fator, winner of the 2007 season of America's Got Talent. That same year, I was a top 20 finalist for Lee's Summit's Got Talent, which was where I performed "The Auctioneer Song" with my snail puppet, Salty S. Cargo. I can honestly say that 2015 was one of the best years of my life. It didn't end there, as many other exciting memories came my way, including opportunities to take my skill in new places. I never imagined that my unique skill could not only earn me such an honor, but also provide opportunities to travel across the country, including complimentary trips to New York City and Los Angeles.
From 2017 to 2020, I lived in New York and worked full-time as a school assembly entertainer for a company called Officer Phil, based in South Hackensack, New Jersey. During the academic year, I performed approximately 126 days annually, often presenting three to four shows per day—sometimes totaling nearly 400 performances in a single year. Whew! The travel and production demands were grueling, but I genuinely enjoyed every moment of it. Unfortunately, the company closed during the pandemic. However, the lockdown also provided me with the chance to develop a new character whom I am proud to call my signature puppet: Dame Josephine Hector. At the time, I was watching many films starring Tim Curry, who has long been one of my greatest inspirations. His prolific voice work heavily influenced Josephine’s vocal style, while the surname “Hector” was adopted from his character, Mr. Hector, in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. I chose the first name "Josephine" as it seemed fitting for her regal persona. In 2021, I relocated to Branson Missouri and entered a competition called The Ozark Dynacom Competition, where I competed as a top ten finalist. This earned me the opportunities to perform on three different famous stages in Branson, including The Historic Owens Theatre, The Presley's Theatre, and The King's Castle Theatre.
In June 2025, I made my first television appearance in the reboot pilot episode of America's Funniest People on ABC, where I performed with my donut puppet, Minnie. As for my material in general, I draw much of my inspiration from artists outside the ventriloquism world. Because it is such a small community, it would be easy to unintentionally imitate another performer’s act. My biggest influences include Tim Curry, Phyllis Diller, Will Vinton Claymation, and a lot classic Sunday comic strips. However, if any ventriloquists have profoundly inspired me, the two greatest, in my opinion, are Señor Wences and Dan Horn. Señor Wences approached ventriloquism almost like a surrealist artist. He conceived bizarre and imaginative ideas that no others would have considered, such as his sketch “Pedro in the Box,” which consisted of nothing more than a box with a face inside, and “Johnny,” a character created entirely from his own hand painted with a face. He also incorporated a remarkable range of talents into his performances, including juggling and plate spinning. Dan Horn, meanwhile, is an exceptionally theatrical performer whose puppet manipulation skills are among the finest I have ever witnessed. When it comes to overall technical skill, he is in a class all by himself.
Throughout my career, I have performed at libraries, senior centers, universities, schools, early education centers, churches, corporate events, nightclubs, open mics, campgrounds, and more. My favorite venues would have to be corporate events and club settings, as I feel more confident performing my adult material in those environments. Kids' shows are always a blast too, though—don't get me wrong! 😊
Long story short, this art form has been incredibly rewarding to me. So sit back—and enjoy the show.
A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS
Goals:
To perform ventriloquism, professionally, in all fifty states. That, and also to spend the rest of my life creating visual art, writing short stories, and listening to music.
Favorite Colors:
Earth Tones, Coastal Colors, Black and Gold
Favorite Seasons:
Autumn and Summer
Favorite Foods:
Tacos, cinnamon rolls, and charcuterie snacks
Favorite Pastimes:
Ventriloquism, reading, creative writing, visual art (please visit ventriloqueen.deviantart.com), attending concerts, singing, growing plants, collecting vintage toys, and most importantly: spending time with my partner, Nathan, and our three cats, Emmy, Tiptoe, and Yara
Top 10 Movies:
Clue, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Muppets Treasure Island, The Adventures of Mark Twain, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Witches, Return To Oz, The Addams Family, Edward Scissorhands, and The Crow
Top Ten TV Shows: The Ray Bradbury Theater, Frasier, The Simpsons, LA Ink, American Idol (the early seasons), Shameless, Orange Is The New Black, Breaking Bad, Nurse Jackie, and The Golden Girls
Top 10 Actors:
Tim Curry, Tom Hulce, Anjelica Huston, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci, Heath Ledger, Parker Posey, Fairuza Balk, Michael J. Fox, and Noel Fisher
Top 10 Bands/Artists:
Billy Joel, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Tears For Fears, The Dreamside, The Birthday Massacre, VNV Nation, Ultravox, The Cure, and Inkubus Sukkubus
Top 10 Books:
We Were The Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates;The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan; Malice by Danielle Steel; Night Shift by Stephen King; It by Stephen King; Dry by Augusten Burroughs; The Resort by Bentley Little; The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks;The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom; and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Favorite Hangouts:
Various art galleries, wineries, coffee shops, orchards, and shopping at the mall (especially Lush, The Body Shop, and Hot Topic)
Favorite Clothing Brands:
Old Navy, The LOFT, Ralph Lauren, Cole Haan, and Skechers
To perform ventriloquism, professionally, in all fifty states. That, and also to spend the rest of my life creating visual art, writing short stories, and listening to music.
Favorite Colors:
Earth Tones, Coastal Colors, Black and Gold
Favorite Seasons:
Autumn and Summer
Favorite Foods:
Tacos, cinnamon rolls, and charcuterie snacks
Favorite Pastimes:
Ventriloquism, reading, creative writing, visual art (please visit ventriloqueen.deviantart.com), attending concerts, singing, growing plants, collecting vintage toys, and most importantly: spending time with my partner, Nathan, and our three cats, Emmy, Tiptoe, and Yara
Top 10 Movies:
Clue, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Muppets Treasure Island, The Adventures of Mark Twain, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Witches, Return To Oz, The Addams Family, Edward Scissorhands, and The Crow
Top Ten TV Shows: The Ray Bradbury Theater, Frasier, The Simpsons, LA Ink, American Idol (the early seasons), Shameless, Orange Is The New Black, Breaking Bad, Nurse Jackie, and The Golden Girls
Top 10 Actors:
Tim Curry, Tom Hulce, Anjelica Huston, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci, Heath Ledger, Parker Posey, Fairuza Balk, Michael J. Fox, and Noel Fisher
Top 10 Bands/Artists:
Billy Joel, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Tears For Fears, The Dreamside, The Birthday Massacre, VNV Nation, Ultravox, The Cure, and Inkubus Sukkubus
Top 10 Books:
We Were The Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates;The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan; Malice by Danielle Steel; Night Shift by Stephen King; It by Stephen King; Dry by Augusten Burroughs; The Resort by Bentley Little; The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks;The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom; and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Favorite Hangouts:
Various art galleries, wineries, coffee shops, orchards, and shopping at the mall (especially Lush, The Body Shop, and Hot Topic)
Favorite Clothing Brands:
Old Navy, The LOFT, Ralph Lauren, Cole Haan, and Skechers