Changes: Puppet Up!

Revision as of 02:18, 7 March 2010

Puppet Up! - Uncensored, also known simply as Puppet Up! and originally titled Jim Henson's Puppet Improv, was started "to demonstrate what happens when the perilous and provocative forms of traditional comedic improvisation are mixed with the art of puppetry."^[1]

The sketches in the live show are not pre-planned, and the shows contain all true improv. The puppeteers in the Henson improv troupe trained with Groundlings performer Patrick Bristow for nine months to perfect their improv skills prior to their first show; and monthly performer training classes continue to this day. Just like the Groundlings, the Henson Improv sketches are performed based on audience suggestions.

The show is strongly advertised for "adults only" and as "uncensored." First introduced in 2006, Puppet Up! was the Henson Company's first project under the Henson Alternative banner, a brand of productions with more mature themes and content than those traditionally associated with Henson Company.

“In terms of The Jim Henson Company, my dad first started with adult-minded comedies very early on. He also worked in an era where most of the airwaves were highly censored. But he was always a very naughty, irreverent performer and this basically captures that same level of naughtiness and irreverence, but in a contemporary setting. Having said all of that, I think it's very important that everybody always knows that this is for adults only. This is our opportunity to let our hair down and get crazy every now and then, even though generally we are very safe with the material we do.”

- Brian Henson ^[2]

The troupe performs monthly shows at the Avalon Hollywood.

History

ComedianImage — Brian Henson and Victor Yerrid in an early puppet improv workshop.

Brian Henson, producer of the show, recalled the genesis of the show in a 2006 interview stating, "we began doing puppet improv workshops to hone our comedy skills and realized that we were having so much fun that audiences might enjoy watching too."^[3] In the fall of 2005 a show was performed in the sound stage of the Jim Henson Studios for friends and invited industry guests. The two shows were so successful that the group was invited to Aspen for the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival.

The U.S. Comedy Arts Festival (March 8-12, 2006) was the show's first public debut. The Jim Henson Puppet Improv performed two shows featuring the talent of Brian Henson, Bill Barretta, Julianne Buescher, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, Drew Massey, Paul Rugg, Allan Trautman and Victor Yerrid.

In June 2006, Jim Henson’s Puppet Improv began performing under a new name, Puppet Up!. The troupe performed four shows over three nights at the world famous Improv in Hollywood.

In August 2006, Puppet Up! traveled to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for 30 shows. Two versions of the show were performed - the regular "adult only" version and, for the first (and only) time, a family-friendly "for kids" show.

Puppet Up! performed two shows in Las Vegas, Nevada in November 2006. These shows were filmed as part of HBO and AEG LIVEs "The Comedy Festival", taking place at Caesar's Palace. TBS produced an hour-long Puppet Up! - Uncensored television special from these shows, that aired five days later on TBS. TBS also ordered 30 web-exclusive episodes of Puppet Up! - Uncensored for their "Laugh Lab" video server on TBS.com consisting of clips from the troupe's various live performances and shows. The web series debuted on TBS.com on Wednesday, March 7, 2007.

In spring 2007, the troupe took the show to Australia, performing at the Big Laugh Comedy Festival in Sydney and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in Melbourne. The performances at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival were recorded and presented as Puppet Up! - Uncensored: Live in Melbourne, Australia, a 76-minute film exclusively licensed by the Jim Henson Company to the Center for Puppetry Arts. The film debuted at the Center in April 2009.

Starting in August 2007, Puppet Up! - Uncensored began performing monthly shows at the Avalon in Hollywood.

The show grew and inspired into the stage show Stuffed and Unstrung, which plans to open in New York City in March 2010.

Format

File:Mr. Guy and Piddles.jpg

File:Puppet up 5b.jpg

Each show typically features between 8 - 12 performers, along with host and director Patrick Bristow. Shows are often introduced by Mr. Guy and his dog Piddles, two original characters created for Puppet Up!, however occasionally this introduction is done by the show host. During the introduction it is explained that Puppet Up! is really two shows in one - a live improv puppet show seen on the screens behind the stage and the live chaos of the puppeteers beneath the puppets. The audience is told that since it is a live puppet show, they should forgive and ignore any stray heads or arms that may sneek into the frame during the improv. It is also explained that although the puppeteers are looking at monitors, it is so they can frame the puppets for the camera, not so they can get jokes from writers backstage.

The show is made up of various improv games and skits. The style of the games are varied - some featured all the performers, while others featured fewer. As each game is introduced the host calls upon the performers involved to "puppet up", to which the audience shouts out "Puppet Up!" The number and type of games played varied from show to show. However, some games have become more common over time, while others have faded from use. New games have been created throughout the run of the show. Some games, such as "Repeats", are based on traditional improv games, while others were uniquely created for the show and utilize the unique puppets or puppetry techniques.

While all games are designed to test the performer's improvisational skill, some also test other skills, such as singing or doing impressions. Puppet Up! features a number of musical games, which often feature the show's music director Willie Etra playing live backing music.

Most games require suggestions or topics from the audience. The host will call upon to the audience for suggestions that a game requires. Director Patrick Bristow is very diligent about not accepting suggestions that the troupe has used before. The host also controls the ending of each skit, calling "black out", which ends most games.

Puppets

File:Puppet Up Puppets.jpg

The puppets of Puppet Up!

File:Puppetuppuppetcast.jpg

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 all of the new Puppet Up! puppets were designed by Julianne Buescher and Drew Massey; the puppets were built by Buescher, Massey, Patrick Johnson, and Sean Johnson with help and guidance from veteran Muppet designer/builder Jane Gootnick.

Although many of the puppets used in Puppet Up! were newly created for the show, some existing puppets from past productions were recycled for the project (especially the earlier shows). The recycled puppets came from a variety of previous Jim Henson Company projects including Jim Henson's Animal Show, City Kids, Animal Jam, and others. Although the puppet was pre-existing, the character (the personality, voice, performer, role and name) did not stay attached -- and the puppet appeared as new character, usually created on the spot.

Many of the puppets also appeared in Stuffed and Unstrung and Alt/Reality.

Credits

File:Puppetupcast.jpg

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

Producers

Brian Henson and Lisa Henson

Host and Director

Patrick Bristow

Musical accompaniment

Willie Etra

Performers:

Grant Baciocco, Bill Barretta, Julianne Buescher, Tyler Bunch, Kevin Carlson, Leslie Carrara, Brian Clark, Marcus Clarke, Alice Dinnean-Vernon, Peggy Etra, Brian Henson, Sean Johnson, Patrick Johnson, Donna Kimball, Karen Maruyama, Drew Massey, Ted Michaels, Alison Mork, Michael Oosterom, Colleen Smith, Carla Rudy, Paul Rugg, Allan Trautman, Victor Yerrid

Merchandise

Puppet Up! Pins

In summer 2006 The Jim Henson Company released web exclusive pins for Puppet Up! through CafePress. The pins, which were available as mini pins or 2.25" buttons, featured the Puppet Up! logo, the three Horny Aliens, Piddles, Professor Ape, Trixie and The Hotdogs.

Puppet Up! T-shirts

In summer 2006, the Jim Henson Company released web exclusive t-shirts for Puppet Up! through CafePress. The shirts, available in various cuts, featured the Puppet Up! logo, the three horny aliens, the cute pug, and a hot dog.

Sources

↑ PuppetUp.com
↑ "Puppet Up! Uncensored - Interview with Brian Henson", TBS.com. 2007
↑ Press Release: TBS Gets Ready to PUPPET UP!
↑ Swazzle.com

External links

[1] PuppetUp.com

[TBS.com-2] "Puppet Up! Uncensored - Interview with Brian Henson", TBS.com. 2007

[3] Press Release: TBS Gets Ready to PUPPET UP!

[4] Swazzle.com

[1]

[2]

[3]

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@@ Line 58: / Line 58: @@
 ==Puppets==
 [[File:Puppet Up Puppets.jpg|thumb|300px|The puppets of ''Puppet Up!'']]
+[[File:puppetuppuppetcast.jpg|thumb|300px]]
-:''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.
+Early on the improv show featured many puppets [[Puppets Recycled in Puppet Up!|recycled]] from past Henson Company projects. As the show grew new and original puppets joined the show. In 2006 all of the new ''Puppet Up!'' puppets were designed by [[Julianne Buescher]] and [[Drew Massey]]; the puppets were built by Buescher, Massey, [[Patrick Johnson]], and [[Sean Johnson]] with help and guidance from veteran Muppet designer/builder [[Jane Gootnick]].
+Although many of the puppets used in ''Puppet Up!'' were newly created for the show, some existing puppets from past productions were recycled for the project (especially the earlier shows). The recycled puppets came from a variety of previous Jim Henson Company projects including ''[[Jim Henson's Animal Show]]'', ''[[City Kids]],'' ''[[Animal Jam]]'', and others. Although the puppet was pre-existing, the character (the personality, voice, performer, role and name) did not stay attached -- and the puppet appeared as new character, usually created on the spot.
+Many of the puppets also appeared in ''[[Stuffed and Unstrung]]'' and ''[[Alt/Reality]]''.
+<gallery widths=135px heights=135px>
+File:Aardvark.jpg|{{GNH|Aardvark}} Recycled puppet previously seen as both [[Arlene the Aardvark|Arlene]] and [[Dullard the Aardvark|Dullard]] on ''[[Jim Henson's Animal Show]].
+File:HornyAliens.JPG|{{GNH|Aliens}} Three alien puppets that previously used as the [[Koozbanians]] in ''[[CityKids]]''.
+File:Althealien.jpg|{{GNH|"Al the Alien"}}Original puppet designed by Buescher and built by Patrick Johnson for ''Puppet Up!'' with the guidance of Gootnick.
+File:Character.armadillo.jpg|{{GNH|Armadillo}} Recycled puppet previously seen as  [[Annette]], [[Dooley the Armadillo|Dooley]], and [[Joe the Armadillo|Joe]].
+File:MTWinky.jpg|{{GNH|Beaver}} Recycled puppet previously seen as both [[Morton the Beaver|Morton]] and [[Jacques the Beaver|Jacques]].
+File:noimage.png|{{GNH|Cavemen}} Three pre-historic human puppets created for ''Puppet Up!''.
+File:cheerleader.jpg|{{GNH|Cartwheeling cheerleader}} A special cartwheeling cheerleader puppet was created for ''Puppet Up!'' and is used during the high school cheer game.
+File:Crab.jpg|{{GNH|Crabs}} Two identical crab puppets (one red and one green) are used in ''Puppet Up!'' The red crab was designed by Eric Englehardt and built by Sean Johnson for ''Puppet Up!'' The green crab was built by Englehardt for [[Episode 302: Crab & Snail|Cornelius]] in ''[[Jim Henson's Animal Show]]''.
+Image:DrScientist.jpg|{{GNH|"Dr. Scientist"}} An original mad scientist puppet created for designed and built by Massey for ''Puppet Up!''
+Image:Duckboy.jpg|{{GNH|"Duck Boy"}}An original puppet designed and built by Buescher, often performed by Victor Yerrid as a manic and charmingly insane optimist who wins the day with blunt observations about his counterparts.
+File:Puppet Up - Frenchy.jpg|{{GNH|"Frenchy"}}An original puppet created for ''Puppet Up!'', often used as a director or game show host performed by [[Paul Rugg]].
+File:PuppetUp Ferret.JPG|{{GNH|Ferret}}
+File:PuppetUp Fish.JPG|{{GNH|Fish}} Recycled puppet previously seen as [[Yorick the Salmon]] on ''[[Jim Henson's Animal Show]].
+File:Raisin.jpg|{{GNH|Girl}} Recycled puppet previously seen as [[Raisin]] on ''[[The Secret Life of Toys]]''.
+File:Goat.DePaola.jpg|{{GNH|Goat}} Recycled puppet previously seen on ''[[Telling Stories with Tomie DePaola]]''
+Image:Herman.jpg|{{GNH|"Herman Monster"}} Original puppet designed by Buescher, and built by Sean Johnson for ''Puppet Up!'' The puppet is made from the same fur as [[Sprocket]] from ''[[Fraggle Rock]]''.<ref>[http://swazzle.com/blogs/2006/06/meet-herman_115135948964940420.html Swazzle.com]</ref>
+File:Hotdogs.jpg|{{GNH|The Hotdogs}} A group of hotdog puppets previously used as [[Frankie Frank and the Footers]] on ''[[CityKids]]''.
+File:PuppetUpKoala.jpg|{{GNH|Koala}} Recycled puppet previously seen as [[DJ 2]] on ''[[Animal Jam]]''.
+File:Puppetup-cat.jpg|{{GNH|"Leopard Girl"}}Original puppet designed and built by Buescher for ''Puppet Up!''
+File:Dj3.jpg|{{GNH|Leopard}}Recycled puppet previously seen as [[DJ 3]] on ''[[Animal Jam]]''
+File:Waffle.jpg|{{GNH|Monkey}} Recycled puppet previously seen as [[Waffle the Cow-Monkey]] on ''[[Animal Jam]]''
+File:puppetupmonkey.jpg|{{GNH|Monkey}} Recycled puppet previously used as [[Joey]] in ''[[Late Night Buffet with Augie and Del|Late Night Buffet]]''.
+File:MrGuy.JPG|{{GNH|"Mr. Guy"}}Original puppet designed by Massey for ''Puppet Up!''. Many ''Puppet Up!'' shows are opened by Mr. Guy (performed by [[Brian Henson]]) and his dog [[Piddles]].
+File:Puppetup-nerdboy.jpg|{{GNH|Nerd boy}}Original puppet designed and built by Buescher for ''Puppet Up!''
+File:Puppetup-creepyoldman.jpg|{{GNH|Old man}} Original puppet designed by Massey for ''Puppet Up!''
+File:What Whatnot1.JPG|{{GNH|Old man}} Original puppet designed by Massey for ''Puppet Up!''
+File:grandmapuppetup.JPG|{{GNH|Old woman}}Original puppet designed and built by Buescher.
+File:Piddles.JPG|{{GNH|"[[Piddles]]"}}A diaper-clad Pug dog character performed by Buescher. A ''[[Dog City]]'' extra re-dressed for the role; the puppet had also also been used as [[Pavlov the Pug Dog]] on ''[[Jim Henson's Animal Show]]''.
+File:Lester Possum.JPG|{{GNH|Possum}}A recycled puppet previously seen as [[Lester Possum]] on ''[[Statler & Waldorf: From the Balcony]]''.
+Image:Trixi.JPG|{{GNH|"Pretty Girl"}}
+File:Orangutan.jpg|{{GNH|"Professor Ape"}} A glasses wearing ape, most often used by performer Allan Trautman, was redressed by Buescher from a puppet previously seen as [[Jackie the Orangutan|Jackie]] and [[Lawrence the Orangutan|Lawrence]] on ''[[Jim Henson's Animal Show]]''.
+Image:Punu-tiki-god.jpg|{{GNH|"Punu the Tiki God"}}
+File:Character.hopperbunny.jpg|{{GNH|Rabbit}} Recycled puppet previously seen as [[Hopper]] on ''[[Muppets Tonight]]''.
+File:DREADcitykids.JPG|{{GNH|Rastafarian}}Recycled puppet previously seen as [[Dread]] on ''[[CityKids]]''.
+File:gabe-Puppetup.jpg|{{GNH|Squirrel}}Recycled puppet previously seen as Gabe on ''[[Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola]]''
+File:CAPTAINcitykids.JPG|{{GNH|Superhero}}Recycled puppet previously seen as [[Captain (CityKids)|the captain]] on ''[[CityKids]]''.
+File:LIEUTENANTcitykids.JPG|{{GNH|Superhero}}Recycled puppet previously seen as [[Lieutenant|the lieutenant]] on ''[[CityKids]]''.
+File:Jeremiahtortoise.jpg|{{GNH|Turtle}} Recycled puppet previously seen as both [[Jeremiah Tortoise]] and [[Penelope the Yellow-Footed Tortoise]].
+File:Guffrey the Vulture.jpg|{{GNH|Vulture}}Recycled puppet previously seen as [[Guffrey the Vulture]] on ''[[Jim Henson's Animal Show]]''
+File:Warthog.jpg|{{GNH|Warthog}} Recycled puppet previously seen as [[Bernice the Warthog]].
+File:PuppetUp Weasel.JPG|{{GNH|Weasel}}
+File:What Whatnot2.JPG|{{GNH|Whatnot}}The puppet, a refurbished male [[Whatnot]], is use for various roles - usually male, but occasionally a deadpan lesbian named Nancy.
+Image:Puppetup-newtits.jpg|{{GNH|Whatnot}}The puppet, a refurbished female [[Whatnot]], was redressed and refurbished by Buescher for ''Puppet Up!''
+Image:Puppetup-woman.jpg|{{GNH|Whatnot}}The puppet, a female [[Whatnot]] from ''[[The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss]]'', was redressed and refurbished for ''Puppet Up!''
+File:Billy.jpg|{{GNH|Whatnot}} Recycled puppet previously seen as [[Billy (From the Balcony)|Billy]] in ''[[Statler & Waldorf: From the Balcony]]''.
+File:Hannah Montana.JPG|{{GNH|Yak}}Recycled puppet previously seen as Pancake on ''[[Animal Jam]]'' and ''[[Hannah Montana]]''
+File:Puppetupweb31.jpg|{{GNH|-}}Female puppet used in games with puppeting by an audience member.
+Image:Mortimer.jpg|{{GNH|-}}Male puppet used in games with puppeting by an audience member. Also used as "Mortimer" in Henson Company's [[Puppet Up! guest appearances|2009 April Fools Day Tweets]].
+</gallery>
 ==Credits==

Muppet Wiki

Changes: Puppet Up!

Revision as of 02:18, 7 March 2010

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