Breaking News: "Rob Lake Magic With Special Guests the Muppets" Closing THIS WEEKEND!

In a truly shocking turn of events, Rob Lake Magic With Special Guests the Muppets will close it's run early.

According to Theater Mania and Broadway World, Rob Lake Magic With Special Guests the Muppets will end its run at the Broadhurst Theatre this Sunday, November 16 after 20 previews and only four regular performances. The run was originally scheduled to conclude January 18.

Starring magician Rob Lake, the show also featured Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, and Gonzo, with Animal and Rowlf having cameo appearances, with a nightly special guest star  as well.

Official reviews of the show don't officially even come out till November 14. 

I'm glad we got to see the show and you can read our review here.

Fans have till Sunday to see Rob Lake Magic With Special Guests the Muppets before the show disappears. 

Tickets and information here.

University of Maryland Lecture Series With Kermit the Frog!

To celebrate Jim Henson's birthday, his alma mater, The University of Maryland, is hosting a lecture with Kermit the Frog.

To honor the life and legacy of distinguished alum Jim Henson ’60, the College of Arts and Humanities (ARHU) presents a special evening with “the world’s most famous amphibian,” Kermit.

Created by Henson in 1955, Kermit the Frog is a global icon of kindness, positivity, humor and heart. As Henson’s signature Muppet, Kermit starred in Sesame Street, The Muppet Show and numerous films and TV specials, always embodying his creator’s gentle wisdom and creativity.

At UMD, Kermit will be joined by Muppet performer Matt Vogel, along with ARHU Dean Stephanie Shonekan, for a vibrant evening of conversation, reflection and celebration featuring musical performances by students, faculty and members of the community—and of course by Kermit himself.

A signature event of ARHU, this event is co-sponsored by the Arts for All initiative with support from the American Banjo Museum, and created in partnership with the UMD School of Music and the UMD School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies.

 A Q&A will be included.

Tickets and info here. Tickets are free but registration is required. 

Fraggles and Sesame Roll at the White House!

Over the weekend our friends from both Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock were in attendance at this year's annual White House Easter Egg Roll. 

This marks the the first time the Fraggles were there. 

In 1984, Uncle Traveling Matt was scheduled to be included along with Kermit, Robin, Miss Piggy and Fozzie, but the event was cancelled due to rain.  

Alan Muraoka, Ryan Dillon, and a team from Sesame Workshop were also there this year reading the Sesame Street book " Just One You."

As was Sonia Manzano, who there representing her PBS Kids show Alma's Way. 

Below are a few photos of everyone enjoying the White House grounds including a rare meet up of Alan Muraoka, Ryan Dillon, John Tartaglia, and Karen Prell.

Hopefully even more Henson-related characters will be invited to next year's event. 

Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas Opens in Chicago!

Back in May we got word that the theater production of Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas would be coming to Chicago and this week the show opened!

The live theatrical adaptation opened yesterday in Chicago's Studebaker Theater and plays through December 31, 2023.

Based on the beloved television special, the family-friendly musical features music and lyrics by Paul Williams, with a book by lead producer Timothy Allen McDonald, and direction and choreography by Christopher Gattelli.

The production mixes human performers as the main cast surrounded by puppets created by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop and is produced by iTheatrics in association with The Jim Henson Company. 

It's the same musical that premiered at Goodspeed Opera House in 2008 and played Off-Broadway at the New Victory Theater in December of 2021.

Tickets are on sale at the Studebaker Theatre box office, online and 312-753-3210.

Muppets Rock Road Island!

Over the weekend The Muppets took Road Island and jammed out as surprise guests at the Newport Folk Festival.

Floyd headed to the Newport Blues Cafe for a surprise appearance at a "secret" show by Tyler Childers.

Tyler Childers

Shadrach Boggs featuring Floyd Pepper of @TheMuppets
7.28.23 @NewportBlues286 pic.twitter.com/coTZcd7NwV

— Tyler Childers (@TTChilders) July 29, 2023 

  

Were they performed “Gonna Get There” from The Muppets Mayhem.

Animal took the stage at the festival itself with My Morning Jacket for "One Big Holiday." 

And with Goose for the aptly titled "Animal." 

Both events were part of the Newport Folk Festival where Kermit appeared in  2019. 

Watch "A Capitol Fourth" with Elmo & Cookie Monster!

Elmo & Cookie Monster appeared on PBS' A Capitol Fourth yesterday. 

The duo popped up throughout the program with host Alfonso Ribeiro specially a the 10, 38:43, 47:26, and 1:21:47 marks. 

The show also included performances by Chicago, Boyz II Men, Belinda Carlisle, Babyface, Maddie & Tae, Charles Esten, Renée Fleming, Adrienne Warren, and the Northwell Nurse Choir and featuring the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of premier pops conductor Jack Everly.

You can watch the whole celebration below:

The Muppet Christmas Carol Live in Concert!

After a run in the UK, The Muppet Christmas Carol live in concert is coming to the US. 

The first stop is Philadelphia, where the entire score will be performed live by the Philadelphia Orchestra led by conductor Constantine Kitsopoulos (no relation to the words most dangerous frog). 

Fans can expect to see the full length theatrical version with "When Love Is Gone" lovingly restored. 

The official description is below:

Experience Charles Dickens’s classic holiday tale as only the Muppets can tell it. Through the magic of Jim Henson Productions, Kermit and the gang help Ebenezer Scrooge, played by actor Michael Caine, find redemption and his Christmas spirit one fateful Christmas Eve. The Orchestra plays the memorable score in this delightful story filled with laughter and song.

The performance is scheduled for two nights only:

Saturday, Dec 17, 2022, 7:00 PM and Sunday, Dec 18, 2022, 2:00 PM

Tickets are available now from the Philadelphia Orchestra. 

Muppet Stuff Video: Show Us Your Stuff! with Rob Klein!

In case you missed it live this week, you can now watch the latest episode of our series Show Us Your Stuff!

Join us as we show off items NOT from the Muppet Stuff Museum, but from other Muppet fan's collections. 

This episode features pop culture expert Rob Klein.

Check it out (technical difficulties and all) below.

Look for more videos on our Youtube Channel.

"IncrediChat" With Us Tonight!

Join us tonight as we have a LIVE "Incredichat" with our pals from IncrediCon.

We'll be discussing Muppets, Muppets Merchandise, and MORE - come with your questions about any Jim Henson production or collectible you may have.

You can join the conversation at 8:30 pm ET/ 5:30 PM PT tonight using this Youtube link. 

A Swingin’ Sesame Street Celebration: 50 Years and Counting!

Celebrate Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary in style!

"A Swingin’ Sesame Street Celebration: 50 Years and Counting!" is coming to New York's  Lincoln Center. 

The program will feature the Muppets of Sesame Street performing alongside the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis with new big band arrangements of beloved Sesame Street song and "tons of fun for all ages."

From the official announcement: 

Sesame Street comes to Jazz at Lincoln Center for a swinging celebration of the show’s 50th anniversary. See some of your favorite feathered and furry friends like Big Bird and Elmo sing classic Sesame Street songs alongside the world-renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. 

It’s hard to imagine Sesame Street without music. The iconic show has featured many unforgettable tunes performed by real jazz musicians like trumpeter Kenny Rampton, a longtime member of both the JLCO and the Sesame Street band.

Many of the jazz greats have visited Sesame Street over the past 50 years. It’s where countless children were introduced to legends like Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, and Mary Lou Williams. Even our own Wynton Marsalis visited Sesame Street a few times, where he played “Take the A Train” with the Duck Ellington Orchestra and joined Hoots the Owl on “No Matter What Your Language (Our Music Can Be The Same).” Likewise, the JLCO has reimagined Sesame Street favorites into big band bonanzas, and this celebration will feature brand-new arrangements of Sesame Street gems.

No one is too young or too old to enjoy this playful, intelligent, and joyful  music– so come on down to our home, the House of Swing, and help us celebrate 50 years of our wonderful neighbors from Sesame Street.

Proudly presented in collaboration with Sesame Workshop.

The Sesame Street Muppets scheduled to appear are:

• Elmo
• Abby
• Big Bird
• Grover
• Oscar the Grouch
• Rosita
• Bert & Ernie
• The Count
• Herry Monster
• Hoots the Owl

The run time: 2 1/2 hours with intermission

There will be three performances

• Friday, October 25 - 7pm
• Saturday, October 26 - 2pm
• Saturday, October 26 - 7pm

Tickets can be purchased here.

Can You Tell Me How to Get to 63rd St!

This Wednesday, May 1st, New York City will rename the intersection of West 63rd Street and Broadway "Sesame Street"!

The event is similar to a renaming the city bestowed upon our favorite street for the show's 40th anniversary, though we hear this time the change will be permanent!

The renaming ceremony is open to the public and will take place at 10am at, what will soon be formally called, West 63rd Street and Broadway.

So the next time someone asks you how to get to Sesame Street, you can say Broadway between 62nd and 64th street!

Kermit to Play Wizard of Oz in Pasadena!

Kermit has been cast as the titular Wizard of Oz in the Lythgoe Family's Panto holiday stage spectacular in Pasadena.

While no other Muppets are set to appear, it's kind of fitting for Kermit to rule an "Emerald" City.

Apparently these Pantos are famed for their wild and sometimes outlandish approach. 

They're billing thes sow as "Experience the Wonderful Winter of Oz, a fun fairytale musical for the whole family. The theater production combines the old tradition of Panto with a twist of pop culture."

A ticket starts at $40. The show runs Dec. 14 through 30, 2018, at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. 

The Muppets Take the O2 Stuff Available Online!

Ahead of tonight's The Muppets Take the O2 live show the merch booth has been revealed. 

There's a lot of great items in store for those heading to the show. Let's take a look:

Program:

The Official and never before seen The Muppets Take the o2 Souvenir Programme - features messages, images and scene listing. Beautifully printed to size of 285mm x 285mm (approx 11.25" x 11.25"). A must read for any muppet fan.

T-Shirts:

Muppet event white T-shirt comes in unsex and female sizes. 

The poster shirt. Printed with poster design following the look and feel from the 2017 Hollywood Bowl event amended for the O2. It comes in black for adults and grey in kids sizes.

Animal black lightweight hooded sweatshirt comes in both adult and kids sizes. 


Keyring:

Muppet logo metal keyring will have the date of the event inscribed on the reverse.

Lanyard/Laminate:

 

Lanyard with a laminate of the poster artwork.

Fridge Magnet:

80mm x 800mm white magnet printed with The Muppets Take the o2 artwork

Animal Purple Tote Bag:

A purple tote bag featuring the Animal in sunglasses artwork.

Mug:

The classic Muppet Show opening. Not sure why the bottom arches are empty. Maybe they fill in with hot or cold liquids?

CD:

They even have We're Doing a Best of The Muppets CD.

The best part about the items above is you can get your without traveling by map to London.

That's right, you can get any of the items above here and they ship internationally!

Thanks to Christopher O'Connor for the heads up!

O2 Guest Stars Revealed!

The Muppets take London's O2 next weekend and according to the British papers The Sun, and NME the roster of "surprise" guests is starting to leak. 

The biggest name revealed so far is Australian-British singer and actress Kylie Minogue. This wouldn't be her first time working with the Muppets... it would be the second (after singing "Especially For You" with Kermit in 2001. 

Comedian Kevin Bishop will there, and if that name sounds familiar, it's also because he worked with the Muppets once before...as Muppet Treasure Island's Jim Hawkins!

Who else will be there?
Dr.'s.
Who? 

Yes. Who. Drs. Who that is. 

Previous Doctor Who Doctors David Tennant and Peter Davison will apparently be taking part in a Pigs In Space sketch.

Game of Thrones' Charles Dance, comedian Adam Hills, and pop group The Steps will also be there. 

The Muppets Take the O2 July 13 and 14. Tickets are available now through AEG.