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In the closing sequence, the shows are often displayed by a display of helping hands, recycled characters from Labyrinth created by performers after puppets disappear like magic (the same thing happens in Knott's Scary Farm shows) from 2007 to the present day.

Henson Segments[]

"Puppet Up!" pays tribute to Jim Henson, with re-creations of two of his most famous routines. "I've Grown Accustomed to Your Face" features a female puppet (Leslie Carrara-Rudolph) singing the classic song to another puppet (Brian Henson) who scarily changes features.[1] In Act 2, "Java" depicts a violent brawl between two creatures trying to dance to the rollicking Al Hirt instrumental track.[2] "Cool Jazz" involves three gloved human hands in pink, red and purple tap dancing to a cool jazz rendition of "Flying Home" only to be interrupted by a fourth yellow hand playing "1812 Overture" on a radio, on a television set and on a gramophone which, in typical Muppet fashion, inexplicably blasts the other three with an explosion. Brian Henson says he'd like to put more vintage sketches into the show. "They’ve aged beautifully," he says. "They’re still hysterical. Some of them don’t even exist on film or videotape. So I’m thinking of trying to get my mother to teach me the pieces that she knows."[3]

In "Cool Jazz", the shows are often displayed by a group of musical hands one by one.

Puppets[]

Puppet Up Puppets

The puppets of Puppet Up!

See Puppet Up! puppets for listing of puppets used in the show.

Early on the improv show featured many puppets recycled from past Henson Company projects. As the show grew, new and original puppets joined the show. In 2006 many new Puppet Up! puppets were introduced to the show's cast. The original puppets were designed by Julianne Buescher and Drew Massey; and were built by Buescher, Massey, Patrick Johnson, and Sean Johnson with help and guidance from veteran Muppet designer/builder Jane Gootnick. New puppets continue to join the show's stock, as new characters, performers, and improv games are added to the show's repertoire.

Credits[]

Puppetupcast

Clockwise from top, Allan Trautman, Brian Henson, Paul Rugg, Victor Yerrid, Drew Massey and Julianne Buescher with characters from Puppet Up!.

BadBunnies

Colleen Smith, Ted Michaels, and Brian Henson perform the Bad Bunnies during rehearsals for Stuffed and Unstrung.

Producers

Brian Henson and Lisa Henson

Host and Director

Patrick Bristow
Grant Baciocco (some shows)

Fill In Host

Ithamar Enriquez (February 20 and December 3, 2023 shows)

Musical accompaniment

Willie Etra

Performers:

Anthony Asbury, Grant Baciocco, Jennifer Barnhart Bill Barretta, Julianne Buescher, Tyler Bunch, Andrew Cano, Kevin Carlson, Raymond Carr, Leslie Carrara, Brian Clark, Marcus Clarke, Jimmica Collins, Melissa Creighton, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Alice Dinnean-Vernon, Peggy Etra, Geneviève Flati, Dan Garza, Langston Hatch, Andy Hayward, James Godwin, Brian Henson, Patrick Johnson, Sean Johnson, Brian Michael Jones, Donna Kimball, Dawnie Marie, Karen Maruyama, Drew Massey, Jess McKay, Ted Michaels, Alison Mork, Sarah Oh, Michael Oosterom, Melissa Roja, Carla Rudy, Paul Rugg, Nicolette Santino, Stoph Scheer, Benjamin Schrader, Yinan Shentu, Colleen Smith, John Tartaglia, Allan Trautman, Russ Walko, Vanessa Whitney, and Victor Yerrid

Routine Performers:

Grant Baciocco as a Java puppet and Kermit (2016-)
Tyler Bunch, Geneviève Flati and Colleen Smith as Java puppets
Leslie Carrara as Kermit (2010-2011)
Brian Henson as Yorick (2010-2011)
Brian Michael Jones as a Java puppet and Yorick (2019)
Drew Massey as a Java puppet and Yorick (2021-)
Jess McKay as Yorick (2019)
Ted Michaels as a Java puppet and Yorick (2016-)
Michael Oosterom as a Java puppet (2022)
Allan Trautman as Yorick (2010), a Java puppet (2021)

Sources[]

  1. Scheck, Frank. NY Post. It's Not Easy Being Blue
  2. Scheck, Frank. NY Post. It's Not Easy Being Blue
  3. Scheck, Frank. NY Post. It's Not Easy Being Blue

Puppet Up! - Uncensored, the improv puppet show with a mouth of its own.

See also[]


Productions

External links[]

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