Jim Henson's Emmet Otter — formerly called Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas — will run Dec. 5-Jan. 3, 2010, at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, CT. No casting has been announced. According to Goodspeed, "As Christmas approaches the world of Frogtown Hollow, Emmet Otter and his Ma can only dream of buying each other gifts. So when a Christmas Eve talent contest is announced, both secretly enter hoping to win the prize money. In a heartwarming twist on 'The Gift of the Magi,' Emmet and Ma risk all they have and end up with the greatest grand prize of all. Featuring a lovable mix of actors, puppet characters from The Jim Henson Company, and a toe-tapping score, it's a classic holiday musical for all ages!"
The musical is based on the book "Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas" by Russell and Lillian Hoban, and the all-puppet HBO special of the same name directed and produced by Jim Henson and written by Jerry Juhl.
The Goodspeed production is a unique collaboration between Goodspeed Musicals, co-book writers Timothy A. McDonald (of iTheatrics) and Christopher Gattelli, Paul Williams (who contributed the music and lyrics) and The Jim Henson Company.
The 2009 stage version of the property is officially called Jim Henson's Emmet Otter. It's produced in association with The Jim Henson Company, with chairman Brian Henson spearheading the project on the company's behalf.
The show's official opening will be Dec. 16.
Tickets are on sale now to Goodspeed Members only and will go on sale to the general public on Sept. 11. For more information call the box office at (860) 873-8668 or visit www.goodspeed.org.
