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The Muppets Take Queens: Jim Henson Exhibition to Move in at MoMI

It’s time to play the music, it’s time to light the lightsand, now, it’s time to meet the Muppets at the Museum of the Moving Image. The Queens museum announced this week that it will open a permanent exhibition on legendary puppeteer Jim Henson on July 22.

Jim Henson

Images: Courtesy Museum of the Moving Image

The Jim Henson Exhibition will celebrate the life and legacy of the famed Muppet creator, exploring both his prolific career and the enduring effect his work has on pop culture to this day. Visitors can expect to learn more about the creation of such beloved works as The Muppet Show, Sesame StreetFraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal, and Labryinth, as well as to discover the cutting-edge experimental works Henson made throughout his career.

The new exhibition will continue the Museum of the Moving Image’s long-standing dedication to Henson and his work. After hosting a temporary Jim Henson exhibition in 2011 and 2012, the museum has continued its commitment to the Muppets with monthly screenings of Muppet projects and rarely seen footage. Nowfour years after it was first announcedthe new exhibition will ensure Henson is a permanent fixture at the museum, giving everyday visitors the chance to discover the man behind so many iconic characters. 

The Museum of the Moving Image promises some 300 objects will be on display, including 47 puppets. In addition to seeing legendary characters live Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and Big Bird live and “in the felt,” visitors will also be able to test out their own puppetry abilities through interactive experiences in which they can try their hand at puppeteering on screen and designing their own “Muppetational” characters.

Jim Henson

Images: Courtesy Museum of the Moving Image

In conjunction with the new exhibition, the museum will give visitors the chance to dive deeper into Henson’s work through educational programs, workshops, and live screenings. But if you can’t wait until July for a Muppet fix, don’t fretthe museum will offer a screening of The Muppets at Walt Disney World, along with rare outtakes from the television special, at an event on May 28.

For more information about the Museum of the Moving Image and the Jim Henson exhibition, please visit movingimage.us.

About the Author

Alison Durkee is a New York-based arts journalist and critic with a background in theatre and dance. She currently serves as the Features Editor of London theatre website Everything Theatre and also covers news and politics for Mic.com.

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