Deep within a spacious warehouse in New York City, the artisans behind some of the most cherished children's characters have been crafting costumes and puppets for years, mostly out of the public eye. However, as of this year, Jim Henson's Creature Shop, founded by the iconic creator of the Muppets, is inviting fans to experience the magic first-hand. For the first time, the workshop located in Queens is offering public tours that allow visitors to meet puppet builders, observe puppetry demonstrations, and capture photographs with beloved characters.
Jason Weber, the creative supervisor at the shop, emphasized the significance of these tours, which are priced at $150 per person. He described them as a celebration of the skilled craftspeople who bring these famed characters to life. "There is a level of expertise here that we’re sharing. It’s not just going to a pop-up store or something like that," Weber explained during a recent visit. He emphasized that everything created in the workshop is unique, handcrafted, and the result of years or decades of specialized training.
The legacy of Jim Henson extended beyond Kermit and Miss Piggy; he was also instrumental in creating characters like Big Bird and Cookie Monster from "Sesame Street," as well as the inhabitants of "Fraggle Rock." Henson passed away in 1990, but his creative spirit lives on through these projects. The workshop originally opened in the 1960s in Manhattan, relocating several times before settling in Queens in 2009. While there is another workshop in Los Angeles, it does not offer public tours.
The 80-minute tours are scheduled for Saturdays, beginning in a specially designed room that showcases real props and creations from various productions. This initial area is the only section of the tour where photography and videography are permitted, as much of the workshop contains proprietary materials and ongoing projects.
As part of the attractions, visitors can see an Oscar the Grouch display, featuring the beloved "Sesame Street" character in his iconic trash can, surrounded by fake garbage. Additionally, there is a striking black throne from Henson's 1982 film "The Dark Crystal," along with a full-sized working puppet of Junior Gorg from "Fraggle Rock," which requires multiple puppeteers to operate.
The workshop itself is a treasure trove of fantastical creatures in various stages of assembly, brimming with colorful furs, textured fabrics, and an array of puppet body parts, clothing, and accessories. Melissa Creighton, the shop's director, remarked on the bespoke nature of their work, stating, "Everything we do is custom. Everything we do is bespoke."
During a recent visit, the staff members were busy preparing costumes and various components for multiple ongoing projects, including a "Fraggle Rock" musical set to premiere later this month at a theater near Times Square. The shop has also contributed its craftsmanship to notable productions such as the horror film "Five Nights at Freddy’s," the children’s fantasy movie "Where the Wild Things Are," and the 1990s sitcom "Dinosaurs."
Sierra Schoening, a senior puppet builder at the workshop, described her job as her "pie-in-the-sky" dream come true. She expressed her admiration for Jim Henson’s work, particularly the film "The Labyrinth," which starred David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly. "I just really always wanted to know how those illusions were made," Schoening mentioned while crafting new creations. "I know all the secret sauce, and I’m making the secret sauce now."
