Jim Henson Legacy Day 2
Posted By Kathleen David on August 12, 2007
I found out that this series of programs I have been seeing are collectively called “Muppets, Music & Magic: Jim Henson’s Legacy” and this is a touring show. You might not get the same people I saw, but you do get people involved in the Henson Foundation and the Jim Henson Legacy doing panels and commentary on these films and shorts. Also out of the Smithsonian comes a touring show that is opening in Little Rock Arkansas in September and then appearing all over the United States for the next couple of years called “Jim Henson’s Fantastic World”. You can find out more about it on the Smithsonian Website, Jim Henson Puppet Tour So there are a lot of chances to participate in Muppety goodness.
A piece of luck for me that the Muppet Historian was someone that Peter and I have known for a while so I had an in to meet some of the people I hadn’t formally met before. I got to talk to Dave Goelz and Kevin Clash about puppetry and improve. I talked to Jane Henson about puppet preservation and what is potential going on at the Center for Puppetry Arts which, if it goes through, will be the largest permanent collection of Jim Henson’s work ever seen. It was also nice to talk to fellow puppeteer that had nothing to do with the Muppets other than having known the Henson clan for years. A very pleasant day over all.
One of the highlights had to be during the Henson Legacy Panel, Gonzo trying to get Elmo not to talk in third person. Elmo explained to Gonzo that Elmo was contractually obligated to talk this way to the point that Elmo gets paid by the “Elmo”. Dave and Kevin just played off of each other beautifully and Fran got Zoe into the thick of it too. Gonzo wanted Zoe’s phone number so he could call her later. The audience loved it and you could tell that the puppeteers were having fun.
Today I need to get rid of this lousy headache I have probably from the perfume that the woman two rows in front of me was wearing during Labyrinth that caused my allergies to go into overdrive. My sinuses are still upset with me. Then it is onto doll and puppet making for me.
I am grateful I went to this function and more grateful that my husband convinced me I should do to.
Peter had to talk you in to this? The man is a saint.
And thanks for pointing out it is a travelling show. It is coming to AZ in December. What a wonderful Hannukah present!
When the Jim Henson Puppet Tour gets to Atlanta, it’s going to be in the *History Center*, not Puppetry Arts?!?
Huh?