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+ | [[File:Muppet_Theatre_GO_TO_MOVIES.jpg|thumb|300px|The Muppet Theatre in ''The Muppets Go to the Movies''<br><small>''{{medialink|filename=Muppet_Theatre_slightly_closer.jpg|text=closer view}}''</small>]] |
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+ | [[File:Muppettheatre-outside.jpg|thumb|300px|''It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie''.]] |
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+ | [[File:Muppet_theatre_landmark.jpg|thumb|300px|Registered as an historical landmark in 2002.]] |
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+ | [[File:Theatre_front_2011.jpg|thumb|300px|The Muppet Theatre in ''The Muppets'' (2011).]] |
− | [[Image:Theatre_front_2011.jpg|thumb|300px|The Muppet Theatre (British spelling) exterior as it appears in ''The Muppets'']] |
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− | '''The Muppet |
+ | '''The Muppet Theatre''' is the setting for ''[[The Muppet Show]]'', where it was first established over the course of five seasons of television. It is a grand old [[Vaudeville|vaudeville]] house that has seen better days, but still manages to suit the showbusiness needs of the Muppets. |
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+ | The building's exterior is first seen in the series' coda, ''[[The Muppets Go to the Movies]]'', where the camera pans back from the stage, out the front doors, and provides a full view of The Muppet Theatre name on the building. [[Kermit the Frog]] serves as a house manager to the theatre which is owned by [[Scooter]]'s uncle [[J.P. Grosse]] (a fact Scooter is often happy to reiterate with his amphibious boss). |
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− | According to ''[[The Phantom of the Muppet Theater]]'', the theater was built by a stage actor named [[John Stone]] in 1802. At some point a production of ''[[Hamlet]]'' ran in the theater, with Stone playing the title role. An alternate exterior is also shown in the book. The original exterior can be seen at the end of ''[[The Muppets Go to the Movies]]''. It was renovated by the time of ''It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie''. |
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+ | According to [[The Phantom of the Muppet Theater|a 1991 storybook]], the theatre was built by a stage actor named [[John Stone]] in 1802. In ''The Muppet Show'' [[Episode 106: Jim Nabors|episode 106]], Kermit identifies the structure as The Benny Vandergast Memorial Theatre, but following the Muppets' residency, The Muppet Theatre name becomes prominently displayed on advertising posters and backstage signs. The British spelling of Theatre can be attributed to is location in [[London]]; while locking up the doors at the end of ''The Muppets Go to the Movies'', [[Miss Piggy]] asks Kermit to walk her to The Tube, London's subway sysem ("I love to walk to The Tube"). |
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⚫ | Locations seen in the Muppet |
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+ | After ''The Muppet Show'', the location of The Muppet Theatre becomes dubious; either as a result of renting playhouses in different cities, or through the magic of the Muppets' inconsistant continuity. Most stage areas occupied by the Muppets are either called The Muppet Theatre in name or bear some resemblance to the their original home on ''The Muppet Show''. For example, commercials for [[Polaroid]], ''[[The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson]]'', Weezer's "[[Keep Fishin']]" music video, and others, are close facsimiles of the original theatre (sometimes with modifications), and are most likely meant to serve as such. |
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− | [[Scooter|Scooter's]] uncle [[J.P. Grosse]] owns the theater, and rents it to [[the Muppets]], as Scooter is only too happy to remind [[Kermit the Frog|Kermit]]. In a deleted scene from ''It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie'', Kermit reveals that J.P. has passed away and left the theater to the Muppets. This would have taken place sometime after [[1997]], as J.P. can be seen (and referred to as such by [[the Head of the Network|the head]] of the [[KMUP]] network) in ''[[Muppets Tonight]]'' [[Episode 102: Garth Brooks|episode 102]] and was last seen at KMUP in [[Episode 206: Paula Abdul|episode 206]]. |
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+ | ''It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie'' clearly establishes a theatre located in [[New York City]]'s, as Piggy's apartment (in an [[The World in which Kermit was Never Born|alternate universe]]) has a view of the twin towers of New York's World Trade Center. The plot of the TV movie involves the theatre being in jeopardy of finding itself repurposed as a night club. [[Rachel Bitterman|Its owner's]] plan is ultimatley foiled by [[Pepe the King Prawn]] when he registers the theatre as an historical landmark; the document proving it uses the Americanized spelling, The Muppet Theater. |
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− | According to the events of ''It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie'', as of December 24, [[2002]], the theater is an Official Historical Landmark. It can never be torn down nor changed. It will always remain the Muppet Theater, no matter who owns it. |
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⚫ | A third definitive location was established in the 2011 film ''[[The Muppets (2011)|The Muppets]]'', where it's located next door to Muppet Studios. The exterior of the [[El Capitan Theatre]] served as The Muppet Theatre exterior during filming, providing it with the British English spelling, "The Muppet Theatre." |
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− | In ''[[The Muppet Show Comic Book: The Treasure of Peg-Leg Wilson]]'', [[Rizzo the Rat]] and his team of [[rats]] have torn it down in their search for the Treasure of Peg-Leg Wilson. |
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⚫ | Eventually they transform this — this nasty looking place into the sort of glory days of the Muppet |
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⚫ | We’ll show you the full front of the audience, all the on-stage workings with the pin rails and the dimmer boards, and all the backstage areas and the dressing rooms all in one great space, so that you can go anywhere within that theater. You can go from the front of the audience up onto the stage, over to Kermit’s table, and then up the stairs and go right into Piggy’s dressing room, and it will all — always all be right there. So this was the sketch I did to transform a standing set that exists at Universal Studios for the ''Phantom of the Opera''. This set was built in 1925. It’s still there. It’s a — it’s a relic that we — that — it’s historical, you know, sort of, it’s a space that no one can touch. |
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⚫ | So we went in, transformed it into a classic, [[Broadway]]-style theater, front of house. We built a proscenium, we built everything behind the proscenium, which this model shows to encompass our backstage. And here are some of the shots of the very decrepit first look at the theater, and then how it gets transformed into the shiny, sparkly, ready-for-opening-night look.<ref>[http://www.sippycupmom.com/2011/11/the-muppets-interview-with-production-designer-steve-saklad.html The #Muppets: Interview with Production Designer Steve Saklad. www.sippycupmom.com. November 13, 2011.]</ref>}} |
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==Rooms== |
==Rooms== |
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⚫ | Locations seen in the Muppet Theatre are [[Backstage|backstage right]], the [[Guest Star's Dressing Room|dressing rooms]], the [[The Attic|attic]], the [[The Canteen|canteen]], the [[The Prop Room|prop room]], the [[Beauregard's Storing Room|storage room]], the [[boiler room]], the [[Muppet Theater Stage|stage]], the house, the [[Reception|stage door lobby]], and the [[The Stage Door|back alley]]. In ''[[The Comic Muppet Book]]'' and ''[[Bo Saves the Show]]'' there is also a cellar where the monsters stay. |
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TmsAttic.jpg|[[The attic|Attic]]|link=The attic |
TmsAttic.jpg|[[The attic|Attic]]|link=The attic |
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− | + | Theater1.png|[[Muppet Theater Auditorium|Auditorium]]|link=Muppet Theater Auditorium |
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TmsBackstage2.jpg|[[Backstage]]|link=Backstage |
TmsBackstage2.jpg|[[Backstage]]|link=Backstage |
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Boilerroom.jpg|[[The Boiler Room|Boiler Room]]|link=The Boiler Room |
Boilerroom.jpg|[[The Boiler Room|Boiler Room]]|link=The Boiler Room |
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− | VMX-FinaleCast.jpg|Box Office |
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Canteen.jpg|[[The Canteen|Canteen]]|link=The Canteen |
Canteen.jpg|[[The Canteen|Canteen]]|link=The Canteen |
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Dressingroom.jpg|[[Guest Star's Dressing Room]]|link=Guest Star's Dressing Room |
Dressingroom.jpg|[[Guest Star's Dressing Room]]|link=Guest Star's Dressing Room |
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105-17.jpg|[[Statler and Waldorf's Box]]|link=Statler and Waldorf's Box |
105-17.jpg|[[Statler and Waldorf's Box]]|link=Statler and Waldorf's Box |
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</gallery> |
</gallery> |
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+ | ==Behind the scenes== |
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+ | [[Steve Saklad]], production designer on ''The Muppets'', was charged with re-creating the theatre interior for the 2011 film. The set itself was reworked from a 1925 set built for ''[[The Phantom of the Opera]]''. Of the task, Saklad said: |
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⚫ | Eventually they transform this — this nasty looking place into the sort of glory days of the Muppet Theatre. Now I should explain, the — the theater was very important to us to get right. In the old TV show, there’s a simplified version of a kind of Muppet Theatre. It’s kind of sweet and quaint; not very real looking. Our story is this: Once, there was a real Muppet Theatre; great old, 100-year-old, [[Vaudeville]] Theatre with ghosts and history, and these great acts that had always played there. |
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⚫ | We’ll show you the full front of the audience, all the on-stage workings with the pin rails and the dimmer boards, and all the backstage areas and the dressing rooms all in one great space, so that you can go anywhere within that theater. You can go from the front of the audience up onto the stage, over to Kermit’s table, and then up the stairs and go right into Piggy’s dressing room, and it will all — always all be right there. So this was the sketch I did to transform a standing set that exists at Universal Studios for the ''Phantom of the Opera''. This set was built in 1925. It’s still there. It’s a — it’s a relic that we — that — it’s historical, you know, sort of, it’s a space that no one can touch. |
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⚫ | So we went in, transformed it into a classic, [[Broadway]]-style theater, front of house. We built a proscenium, we built everything behind the proscenium, which this model shows to encompass our backstage. And here are some of the shots of the very decrepit first look at the theater, and then how it gets transformed into the shiny, sparkly, ready-for-opening-night look.<ref>[http://www.sippycupmom.com/2011/11/the-muppets-interview-with-production-designer-steve-saklad.html The #Muppets: Interview with Production Designer Steve Saklad. www.sippycupmom.com. November 13, 2011.]</ref>}} |
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==Staff== |
==Staff== |
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<gallery orientation=landscape widths=200 spacing=small> |
<gallery orientation=landscape widths=200 spacing=small> |
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+ | Muppet Theatre slightly closer.jpg|Building front exterior, in detail |
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+ | Muppet Theatre poster TMS316.jpg|Promotional poster seen in seasons 2 and 3 |
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− | Image:theater4.png |
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+ | Muppet Theatre MB puzzle.jpg|Posters seen in a 1980 [[Muppet puzzles (Milton Bradley)|Milton Bradley puzzle]] |
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+ | Muppet Theatre David Lazer Carol Burnett.jpg|Muppet Theatre behind the scenes with [[David Lazer]] and [[Carol Burnett]] |
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− | + | theater4.png |
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+ | theater3.png |
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</gallery> |
</gallery> |
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* ''[[The Muppets: Theater Stage Set]]'' (2011) |
* ''[[The Muppets: Theater Stage Set]]'' (2011) |
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− | <gallery orientation=portrait widths= |
+ | <gallery orientation=portrait widths=150 spacing=small> |
− | TheComicMuppetBook-TheMuppetTheater-(1979).jpg| |
+ | TheComicMuppetBook-TheMuppetTheater-(1979).jpg|''[[The Comic Muppet Book]]''. |
Theatre-phantombook.jpg|''[[The Phantom of the Muppet Theater]]'' |
Theatre-phantombook.jpg|''[[The Phantom of the Muppet Theater]]'' |
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− | Pegleg4b.jpg| |
+ | Pegleg4b.jpg|''[[The Treasure of Peg-Leg Wilson]]'' |
MupTheater-GBC.png|As rendered in ''[[Jim Henson's Muppets (GameBoy Color)|Jim Henson's Muppets]]'' |
MupTheater-GBC.png|As rendered in ''[[Jim Henson's Muppets (GameBoy Color)|Jim Henson's Muppets]]'' |
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</gallery> |
</gallery> |
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<references /> |
<references /> |
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− | {{DEFAULTSORT:Muppet |
+ | {{DEFAULTSORT:Muppet Theatre, The}} |
[[Category:Muppet Show Locations]] |
[[Category:Muppet Show Locations]] |
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[[Category:Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie Locations]] |
[[Category:Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie Locations]] |
Revision as of 21:45, 27 July 2017
The Muppet Theatre is the setting for The Muppet Show, where it was first established over the course of five seasons of television. It is a grand old vaudeville house that has seen better days, but still manages to suit the showbusiness needs of the Muppets.
The building's exterior is first seen in the series' coda, The Muppets Go to the Movies, where the camera pans back from the stage, out the front doors, and provides a full view of The Muppet Theatre name on the building. Kermit the Frog serves as a house manager to the theatre which is owned by Scooter's uncle J.P. Grosse (a fact Scooter is often happy to reiterate with his amphibious boss).
According to a 1991 storybook, the theatre was built by a stage actor named John Stone in 1802. In The Muppet Show episode 106, Kermit identifies the structure as The Benny Vandergast Memorial Theatre, but following the Muppets' residency, The Muppet Theatre name becomes prominently displayed on advertising posters and backstage signs. The British spelling of Theatre can be attributed to is location in London; while locking up the doors at the end of The Muppets Go to the Movies, Miss Piggy asks Kermit to walk her to The Tube, London's subway sysem ("I love to walk to The Tube").
After The Muppet Show, the location of The Muppet Theatre becomes dubious; either as a result of renting playhouses in different cities, or through the magic of the Muppets' inconsistant continuity. Most stage areas occupied by the Muppets are either called The Muppet Theatre in name or bear some resemblance to the their original home on The Muppet Show. For example, commercials for Polaroid, The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson, Weezer's "Keep Fishin'" music video, and others, are close facsimiles of the original theatre (sometimes with modifications), and are most likely meant to serve as such.
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie clearly establishes a theatre located in New York City's, as Piggy's apartment (in an alternate universe) has a view of the twin towers of New York's World Trade Center. The plot of the TV movie involves the theatre being in jeopardy of finding itself repurposed as a night club. Its owner's plan is ultimatley foiled by Pepe the King Prawn when he registers the theatre as an historical landmark; the document proving it uses the Americanized spelling, The Muppet Theater.
A third definitive location was established in the 2011 film The Muppets, where it's located next door to Muppet Studios. The exterior of the El Capitan Theatre served as The Muppet Theatre exterior during filming, providing it with the British English spelling, "The Muppet Theatre."
Rooms
Locations seen in the Muppet Theatre are backstage right, the dressing rooms, the attic, the canteen, the prop room, the storage room, the boiler room, the stage, the house, the stage door lobby, and the back alley. In The Comic Muppet Book and Bo Saves the Show there is also a cellar where the monsters stay.
Behind the scenes
Steve Saklad, production designer on The Muppets, was charged with re-creating the theatre interior for the 2011 film. The set itself was reworked from a 1925 set built for The Phantom of the Opera. Of the task, Saklad said:
Special tribute was paid to Muppets creator Jim Henson, with the theater's curtain rail system donning the installation date of September 24, 1936, the day Henson was born. The date can be spotted briefly in a scene that shows the Muppets sleeping on the rafters and in hammocks on stage.
Staff
- Kermit the Frog: Host, performer
- Pops: Doorman, box office
- Scooter: Go-fer
- George the Janitor
- Beauregard: Janitor and stagehand
- Beaker: Stagehand, lab assistant
- Hilda: Wardrobe
- Gladys: Canteen staff
- The Swedish Chef: Canteen staff, performer
- Fozzie Bear: Stand-up comedian
- Gonzo: Stunt Performer
- Miss Piggy: Performer
- Lew Zealand: Performer
- Wayne and Wanda: Singers
- The Electric Mayhem: House band
- Nigel: Conductor
- The Muppet Orchestra
- Security Guard
- J. P. Grosse: owner
- Rachel Bitterman: owner
Appearances
- The Muppet Show, all episodes except episode 308 (1976-1981)
- The Muppets Go to the Movies (1981)
- Polaroid commercials (1981)
- Playhouse Video series (1985)
- Hey, You're as Funny as Fozzie Bear (1988)
- The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson (1990)
- Muppet Classic Theater (1994)
- V-Chip commercial, The Toreador Song (1999)
- Jim Henson's Muppets (2002)
- Weezer's "Keep Fishin'" music video (2002)
- It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002)
- CanTeen commercial (2005)
- The Muppets (2011)
- Orange commercials (2011)
- LittleBigPlanet (2012)
- Club Penguin Muppets World Tour (2014)
Illustrated appearances
- The Muppet Show Book (1978)
- Muppet Show Advent calendar (1979)
- The Comic Muppet Book (1979)
- The Muppets comic strip (1981-1986)
- Bo Saves the Show (1982)
- Two for the Show (1982)
- Jim Henson's Bedtime Stories (1989)
- Foo-Foo, Where Are You? (1991)
- The Phantom of the Muppet Theater (1991)
- The Muppet Show Comic Book (2009-2010)
- I Am Kermit the Frog (2011)
- The Muppets: Meet the Muppets (2011)
- The Muppets: Theater Stage Set (2011)