Center for Puppetry Arts

Center for Puppetry Arts is the largest nonprofit dedicated to the art of puppetry in the world. 
Located in Atlanta, Georgia, the Center is both a puppet theater and museum which features traveling and permanent exhibits of puppets, and has two theaters which continually perform puppet shows for children, families, and adults. The Center's artistic director is Jon Ludwig (shadow puppeteer for Bear in the Big Blue House). It also holds puppet-making workshops for schoolchildren, and houses an extensive research library of 1,500 books on puppetry and 1,000 videos of local and international performances:
The theater opened on September 23, 1978, as Jim Henson and Kermit cut the ribbon.
The museum hosted The Art of the Muppets during 1981, and 50,000 visitors saw the exhibit and the related video presentation in the main theater. In 1988, Henson and the Muppets performed live twice to celebrate the Center's 10th anniversary. In 1994, Jane Henson hosted a screening of The Muppet Christmas Carol. During 1996 and 1997, the museum hosted The Vision of Jim Henson. Elmo (and presumably Kevin Clash) were the headline guests at their 1997 puppetry festival.Phil Kloer, “News for Kids,” The Atlanta Constitution, 13 October 1997, C03. In 1998, the Center hosted a four-day puppetry festival, with a special appearance by Steve Whitmire and Kermit. Also in 1998, to celebrate the Center's 20th anniversary, Cheryl Henson appeared, as did Bear and Tutter. In October 1999, Bear and Ojo appeared. In 2003, Kermit appeared again. In 2005, The Jim Henson Foundation provided a grant to help fund Anne Frank: Within and Without. In January of 2010 the museum presented Steve Whitmire: Perspectives "The Sentient Puppet," a four-day class and lecture.
Before the major expansion and full display of the collection in 2015, the museum's permanent exhibit included original puppets of Link Hogthrob and Dr. Julius Strangepork in their Pigs in Space costumes, a Goblin from Labyrinth, and the original puppet of SkekUng from The Dark Crystal.
In July of 2007, The Jim Henson Foundation announced its intention to donate 500 to 700 original puppets, plus props and designs spanning the entire career of Henson and the Muppets, to the museum, which became the two exhibits Jim Henson: Puppeteer and Jim Henson: Wonders from His Workshop. Work on the expansion of the museum intended to house the full donated collection, which was finally announced on January 14, 2014. The permanent exhibition's grand opening took place on November 14, 2015. In attendance were Brian, Cheryl, and Heather Henson with their spouses and children, Steve Whitmire with Kermit the Frog, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph with Abby Cadabby, Fran Brill (with Prairie Dawn, performed for members only), Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Ryan Dillon, Bonnie Erickson, Rollie Krewson, Karen Falk, Pam Arciero, and Craig Shemin.
In 2024, the center became the first stop on the North American tour of Sesame Street: The Musical.
Image:Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Opening_1978_-_Jim_Henson_&_Kermit.jpg|Kermit, Jim & Jane Henson at the Center for Puppetry Arts' opening on September 23, 1978
Image:Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Opening_1978_-_Kermit,_Jim_&_Heather_Henson.jpg|Kermit, Jim & Heather Henson at the opening
Image:Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Opening_1978_-_Jim,_Heather_&_Jane_Henson.jpg|Jim, Heather & Jane Henson at the opening
==The Muppets Take Atlanta==
The organization celebrated its with an event dubbed "The Muppets Take Atlanta" which was attended by several Muppets and their performers including Kermit the Frog, Elmo, Bean Bunny, Clifford, Leon, Ernie, Rowlf the Dog, The Swedish Chef, and Sweetums, along with Jim Henson, Kevin Clash, Steve Whitmire, and Peter MacKennan, with Cheryl Henson credited as a puppet handler. Jeff Dunham performed the opening act.
File:Muppets Take Atlanta 02.jpg
File:Muppets Take Atlanta 03.jpg
File:Muppets Take Atlanta 04.jpg
File:Muppets Take Atlanta 05.jpg
File:Muppets Take Atlanta 06.jpg
==Exhibits== 
* The Art of the Muppets – 1981
* The Vision of Jim Henson – 1996-1997
* Jim Henson: A Man and His Frog – July 25, 2007 (on long-term display)
* Jim Henson: Puppeteer – September 25, 2007 (on long-term display)
* Jim Henson: Wonders from His Workshop – September 16, 2008 (on long-term display)
* Worlds of Puppetry – November 14, 2015 (permanent exhibition)
* Jim Henson's Labyrinth: Journey to Goblin City - Sept 2, 2016, to Sept 3, 2017
* Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal: World of Myth and Magic - August 31, 2018, to June 28, 2020
* Masterpiece of Puppetry: Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance - June 18, 2021, to October 28, 2021
* Down In Fraggle Rock - May 10, 2024, to November 3, 20242023-2024 Season Guide
* Affectionate Anarchy: Creating with Jim Henson - April 2, 2025 to October 26, 2025
==Worlds of Puppetry==
The Center for Puppetry Arts opened the permanent Worlds of Puppetry exhibit in November 2015. The exhibit is split into two sections: The Global Collection and The Jim Henson Collection. The Henson family donated between 500 and 700 pieces to the Center,"Kermit and friends get new Atlanta home" by Associated Press, July 25, 2007 a portion of which will be on display, then rotated out every six months.
File:Henson Conservation at Dragon Con 2015|The Center for Puppetry Arts' Muppet conservation presentation videofrom Dragon Con 2015
File:Jim Henson's classic puppets get new life|CNN's Nick Valencia reports on Worlds of Puppetry(with Cheryl Henson and Bonnie Erickson)
===Entrance===
CPAMuseum-concept1.jpg|concept art
CPAMuseum-concept2.jpg|concept art
CPAMuseum-concept3.jpg|concept art
File:worlds of puppetry exhibit 3.jpg|Big Bird's nest in the lobby
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Worlds_of_Puppetry.png|Worlds of Puppetry entrance
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Entrance.jpg|Entrance into the Jim Henson wing
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Jim_Henson_Office_01.jpg|Jim Henson's office
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Jim_Henson_Office_02.jpg|Jim Henson's office
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Henson_the_Artist_01.jpg|Info board
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_LaChoy_Dragon.jpg|Info board
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Ernie_&_Bert_Window.jpg|Ernie and Bert stained glass window (reproduction)
===Early puppets===
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Sam_&_Friends.jpg|Omar
Img 6520.jpg
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Taminella.png|Taminella Grinderfall
center for puppetry arts 234.jpg
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Original_Rowlf.jpg|Rowlf the Dog
center for puppetry arts rowlf.jpg
File:Center for puppetry arts 001.jpg|King Goshposh in 2020
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_Splurge.png|Splurge in 2020
===Sesame Street===
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Sesame_Street_1969.jpg|Elmo, Grover, Oscar the Grouch, Sherlock Hemlock, and Roosevelt Franklin
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Sesame_Street1969_Close-Up.png|Elmo, Grover, Oscar the Grouch, Sherlock Hemlock, and Roosevelt Franklin
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Sesame_Street_-_Oscar.jpg|Oscar the Grouch
Center_for_puppetry_arts_roosevelt_franklin.jpg|Roosevelt Franklin
center for puppetry arts elmo.jpg|Elmo
center for puppetry arts grover.jpg|Grover
center for puppetry arts cookie monster.jpg|Cookie Monster
center for puppetry arts cookie 2.jpg|Cookie Monster
center for puppetry arts hoots.jpg|Hoots the Owl
Center_for_puppetry_arts_big_bird_2.jpg|Big Bird and Little Bird
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Sesame_Street_-_Big_Bird.jpg|Big Bird
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Little_Bird.png|Little Bird
Center_for_puppetry_arts_bert_ernie.jpg|Bert and Ernie
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Sesame_Street_-_Bert,_Ernie,_Fred_&_Clementine.png|Bert, Ernie, Fred the Wonder Horse, and Clementine
File:CfPA Clementine.jpg|Clementine
File:CfPA Clementine & Fred.jpg|Clementine and Fred the Wonder Horse
Center_for_puppetry_arts_brad.png|Brad in 2020
===1970s specials===
11232896 1043690488997139 6417861557936737551 n.jpg|Rover Joe and T.R.
File:TR Center for Puppetry Arts.jpg|T.R.
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Sex_&_Violence_-_Sins_02.jpg|Gluttony and Envy
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Sex_&_Violence_-_Sins_01.jpg|Avarice and Anger
File:center for puppetry arts avarice.jpg|Avarice
File:center for puppetry arts lust.jpg|Lust
File:center for puppetry arts vanity.jpg|Vanity and Sloth
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Sex_&_Violence_Card.jpg|The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence info card
center for puppetry arts otters.jpg|Alice Otter and Emmet Otter
center for puppetry arts emmet otter.jpg
File:puppetry arts emmet puppets.jpg
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Harvey_Beaver_02.jpg|Harvey Beaver
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Harvey_Beaver_01.jpg|Harvey Beaver
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_Harrison_and_Gretchen_Fox.png|Harrison and Gretchen Fox in 2020
===The Muppet Show===
File:puppetry arts muppet room.jpeg
Muppet-on-Spring_095.jpg|Kermit the Frog
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Kermit.jpg|Kermit the Frog
puppetry arts kermit.jpg|Kermit the Frog
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Camilla,_Dr._Teeth,_Fozzie_Bear.jpg|Camilla, Dr. Teeth, Fozzie Bear
center for puppetry arts camilla.jpg|Camilla
center for puppetry arts doctor teeth.jpg|Dr. Teeth
puppetry arts fozzie museum.jpg|Fozzie Bear
center for puppetry arts fozzie 2.jpg|Fozzie Bear
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Scooter,_Robin,_Marvin_Suggs,_Muppahone.jpg|Scooter, Robin, Marvin Suggs and his Muppaphone
center for puppetry arts scooter.jpg|Scooter
center for puppetry arts robin.jpg|Robin the Frog
center for puppetry arts marvin suggs.jpg|Marvin Suggs
center for puppetry arts muppaphones.jpg|The Muppaphone
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Sopwith.png|Sopwith the Camel
Muppet-on-Spring_098.jpg|Link Hogthrob and Dr. Julius Strangepork
Center_for_puppetry_arts_miss_kitty.png|Miss Kitty in 2020
File:fozzie amoeba center pa.jpeg|Fozzie Amoeba in 2020
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Treasure_Island_Piggy_&_Mad_Monty.jpg|Miss Piggy as Benjamina Gunn, Mad Monty
File:Miss_piggy_atlanta.jpg|Miss Piggy
puppetry arts piggy.jpg|Miss Piggy
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Clueless_Morgan.png|Hispaniola model and Clueless Morgan
center for puppetry arts 163.jpg
File:center for puppetry arts fazoobs.jpg|The Fazoobs
File:cfpa suitcase.jpg|Suitcase
File:center for puppetry arts gonzo.jpg|Gonzo
===Fraggle Rock===
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Fraggle_Rock_Characters.jpg|Fraggles and Doozers
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Fraggle_Rock_-_Mokey,_Red_&_Boober.jpg|Mokey, Red, and Boober Fraggle
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Fraggle_Rock_-_Mokey_&_Red.jpg|Mokey and Red Fraggle
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Fraggle_Rock_-_Matt_&_Wembley.jpg|Uncle Traveling Matt and Wembley Fraggle
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Fraggle_Rock_-_Gobo_&_Flower.jpg|Gobo Fraggle and a flower puppet from The Caves of Boredom 
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Fraggle_Rock_-_Sprocket.jpg|Sprocket
===1980s & 1990s===
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Dog_City_Characters.jpg|Ronald, Bugsy Them, Scruffy, and Vinnie Molar
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_The_Storyteller_-_Dog.jpg|Dog and King Goshposh
12196168 1043690772330444 2840548855764254785 n.jpg|The Dragonbunny, Bean Bunny, an altered Steiff puppet in a cake, a large pink and orange frog puppet, Mew, Humble Gary, Ditz, and Dinkybeard
File:bean and bean dragon.jpg|Bean faces the Dragonbunny
File:center for puppetry arts bean.jpg|Bean Bunny
Digit-russvick.jpg|Digit from The Jim Henson Hour
===The Dark Crystal===
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Dark_Crystal_Characters.jpg|Jen
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Aughra.png|Aughra
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Dark_Crystal_-_Garthim.jpg|Garthim
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Dark_Crystal_-_Crystal_Chamber.jpg|The Crystal Chamber model
===Labyrinth===
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Labyrinth_Characters.jpg|The Four Guards and Left Door Knocker
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Labyrinth_Guard.jpg|Two of the Four Guards
File:CfPA red Guard.jpg|One of the Four Guards
File:CfPA blue Guard.jpg|One of the Four Guards
12193351 1043690762330445 1889429897527514481 n.jpg|Sir Didymus and the cannon-ball goblin
===Exit===
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Try-Out_Area_&_Bremen_Characters.jpg|Try-out area
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Kermit_Window.jpg|Kermit the Frog stained glass window
File:kermit stained glass.jpg
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Henson_Quote.jpg|Henson quote
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Gift_Shop.jpg|Gift shop
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Grand_Opening_-_Abby_Cadabby_01.jpg|Abby Cadabby at the opening
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_Grand_Opening_-_Abby_Cadabby_02.jpg|Abby Cadabby at the opening
Center_for_Puppetry_Arts_-_New_Building.jpg|Outside the new wing
==Down in Fraggle Rock exhibit==
File:center for puppetry arts fraggle 001.jpg
File:center for puppetry arts fraggle 002.jpg
File:center for puppetry arts fraggle 003.jpg
File:center for puppetry arts fraggle 004.jpg
==External links==
* Center for Puppetry Arts website
* The Muppets Take Atlanta, Atlanta Magazine
* NBC 11Alive Atlanta - "Behind the curtain: Learn more about the largest Jim Henson collection - anywhere" video report ahead of the permanent collection exhibition's grand opening (2015-11-13)
* NBC 11Alive Atlanta - "The Case of the Missing Muppet" video report on why the Hoggle puppet is not part of the collection on display (2015-11-13)
* The Atlanta Journal Constitution - Behind the scenes | Jim Henson at the Center for Puppetry Arts behind-the-scenes video (2015-05-14)
* The Worlds of Puppetry: A Review of a Preview (2015-11-10)
* Yahoo Immersive virtual tour of Jim Henson's office
==Sources==
__NOWYSIWYG__
Category:Exhibits
Category:Puppetry
Category:Museum