Think puppets are just for kids? Brian Henson would like a word.
The chairman of The Jim Henson Company is bringing Puppet Up! back to the Ricardo Montalbán Theatre in Hollywood for a limited run, blending Henson-style puppetry with completely improvised, adults-only comedy.
Henson says the inspiration came from watching his father, Jim Henson, and the original Muppet performers when the cameras weren’t rolling.
“This is really an opportunity for me to do for an audience what my father never could through censored television,” Henson says, explaining that the legendary performers were often at their funniest between takes.
Every Puppet Up! performance is different. Audience suggestions drive the comedy, while six puppeteers bring dozens of Henson puppets to life in real time. One of the show’s biggest draws is that audiences get to watch both the finished puppet performance on giant screens and the controlled chaos happening below, creating what Henson calls “two shows in one.”
If you’re expecting Kermit and friends, think again. This is an uncensored improv show designed for grown-ups, with quick wit, audience interaction and plenty of surprises.
Remaining Los Angeles performances include:
- Friday, Aug. 7 at 8 p.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 8 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
- Sunday, Aug. 9 at 5 p.m.
Tickets are available through PuppetUp.com. Fans of Jim Henson’s work can also learn more about the art of puppetry during Brian Henson’s special live presentation, The Henson Legacy, at the Montalbán Theatre.
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