Explore the Jim Henson Creature Shop: Guided Tours Launch in NYC

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

In an exciting development, Jim Henson’s Creature Shop in Queens, New York City, has officially opened its doors to the public, providing an extraordinary glimpse into the art of puppet creation and character design.

The newly introduced guided tours, available on Saturdays, present guests with an 80-minute journey through the innovative space where numerous beloved children’s characters have been crafted, for a fee of $150 per participant.

Participants will first enter a specially designated display area filled with iconic props and characters, where photography and video recording are permitted.

Notable exhibits include Oscar the Grouch comfortably nestled in his trash can amid various props, a foreboding throne from The Dark Crystal, and a life-sized, operable puppet of Junior Gorg from Fraggle Rock, showcasing the collaborative effort required for its performance.

As guests enter the main workshop, they can observe the meticulous crafting of puppets and costumes; however, photography is prohibited here due to the ongoing projects and confidential designs.

Creative supervisor Jason Weber emphasized that the tour reveals the exceptional craftsmanship of the artisans, pointing out that each creation is handcrafted by professionals rather than mass-produced.

Workshop director Melissa Creighton noted that every item produced at the shop is uniquely custom and crafted with precision.

The shop has been responsible for developing puppets and costumes for numerous notable productions, including Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal, Five Nights at Freddy’s, Where the Wild Things Are, and the TV series Dinosaurs.

Founded by Jim Henson in the 1960s in Manhattan, the workshop has a rich history, producing characters from Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock before Henson's passing in 1990.

Currently, while the Muppets are under Disney's ownership, characters such as Big Bird and Cookie Monster belong to Sesame Workshop.

After several relocations, the workshop established its presence in Queens in 2009. Though it also has a workshop in Los Angeles, that location does not offer public tours.

Presently, the creative team in Queens is engaged in upcoming projects, including a stage musical adaptation of Fraggle Rock, slated to debut near Times Square soon.

Puppet builder Sierra Schoening expressed that working at the shop fulfills a lifelong aspiration, inspired by films such as The Labyrinth, describing the role as one that breathes life into imaginative illusions.

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