Henson Company Takes Poetry On The Road With New Puppet Series!

The Jim Henson Company is developing Jelly Bean Dream Machine (working title), a new live action puppetry series with New York Times best-selling poet Kwame Alexander. Oscar, Grammy, and Emmy-winning musician Common will serve as the series' music executive producer.

Below is the full press release for the series: 

The Jim Henson Company is developing a new live action puppet series for kids ages 4 - 8 from creator Kwame Alexander, the New York Times best-selling poet, educator, and Newbery-medal winning author. Oscar, Grammy, and Emmy-winning musician Common is also attached as the series' music executive producer.

Jelly Bean Dream Machine (w.t.) features the adventures of Maya and Ellington, as their dad takes them and their friends on a poetry adventure each weekend in his refurbished, ebullient, colorful school bus. As this band of eccentric and lovable puppet poets travels to cities, farms, opera houses and subway stops, they perform for audiences big and small, and discover how their words and voices can help change the world and themselves.

"A poem has the power to reach inside, to ignite something in us, and to change us in ways never imagined. Now, more than ever, children need a sure-fire way to channel their emotions, lift their voices, and build their confidence. Poetry, in its simplicity, with its accessibility and rhythm, can do all of these things instantaneously," said Alexander.  

"Jelly Bean Dream Machine will explore different types of poetry—haiku, free verse, rhyming couplets—to inspire kids to see themselves as world-changers," said Halle Stanford, President of Television, The Jim Henson Company. "Many of us can remember the first rhyme or poem we learned as a child. Like puppetry, poetry is an art form that can help us better understand complicated ideas and feelings. Kwame's vision for this series, plus Common's music, and an all-new cast of lovable puppets from Jim Henson's Creature Shop, will show the excitement for and potential of the poet we all have inside."

Common with Uncle Traveling Matt

Jelly Bean Dream Machine is a production of The Jim Henson Company. Lisa Henson and Halle Stanford will executive produce along with creator Kwame Alexander and his Big Sea Entertainment partner Arielle Eckstut, as well as Common and Marie Cisco. Children's book author and veteran early elementary educator Ann-Marie Stephens, who developed the show concept with Alexander, will serve as educational consultant. Common is serving as music executive producer with Randy Preston serving as music director. Sidney Clifton, The Jim Henson Company's Senior Vice President, Animation and Mixed Media, will shepherd the project.