The Muppets Take the Bowl

HollywoodBowl-KirkKermitBobby — Bobby Moynihan, Kermit and Kirk Thatcher

Bowl-BobbyChef — Bobby Moynihan and the Swedish Chef

The Muppets Take the Bowl was a live stage show starring the Muppets performed at the Hollywood Bowl on September 8-10, 2017. The concert was hosted by Bobby Moynihan and featured conductor Thomas Wilkins with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. The program was billed as "Fireworks Finale: The Muppets Take the Bowl."

The program featured live performances by the entire Muppet cast, including specific solos by Miss Piggy and Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. Special celebrity guests included Paul Williams, Danny Trejo, Jimmy Kimmel and Guillermo Rodriguez. The program also featured appearances by "some Muppets who have not been seen since their appearances on The Muppet Show over 35 years ago."^[1] The program featured new, live "Pigs in Space," "Muppet Labs" and "Veterinarian's Hospital" sketches, and concludes with a finale of fireworks (initiated by Crazy Harry).

The event was produced by Soapbox Films and co-written by Kirk Thatcher, Jim Lewis,^[2] Andrew Williams and Matthew Barnette.^[3] In a unique departure from previous live events, the Muppet performers were hidden "in black suits, black leotards, black ninja costumes essentially, so your mind can kind of turn them off if you want to maintain the illusion and just watch the big television screens and peek over at the stage once in a while."^[2]

Official description

“The Muppets Take the Bowl is more than just a concert...more than just a performance…more than just a play on an iconic movie title. It’s the Muppets starring in a unique mix of inspired, chaotic entertainment as never seen before, live and in-person, on stage at the legendary Hollywood Bowl. Overflowing with music, laughter, parody, dancing, classic and new sketches, a fireworks finale – and who knows what else?
The Muppets Take the Bowl will take you on a sensational, inspirational, celebrational journey from impossible, humble beginnings to improbable, amazing Hollywood stardom. Join Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, The Great Gonzo, Animal, Sam Eagle, Pepé the King Prawn and the entire Muppet cast – some of who have not been seen in over 35 years – along with Thomas Wilkins, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and special surprise celebrity guests, for a once-in-a-lifetime event you’ll never forget. The Muppets Take the Bowl – a variety spectacular…funnier, flashier and more Muppetationally entertaining than humanly possible!”

Performance list

Act One

"The Star-Spangled Banner" (introduced by Sam the Eagle)
"The Muppet Show Theme" (The Muppets and Bobby Moynihan)
Travelling Medley: "Movin' Right Along" (Kermit and Fozzie), "I've Been Everywhere" (Rowlf), "On the Road Again" (Bobby, Walter and the Barbershop Cactus Quartet)
Muppet News Flash: Stealing the Show
Pigs in Space: "The Suits Awaken"
"Hair" (Wigs)
"Flight of the Bumblebee" (Bobby and Sweetums)
"Happy Feet" (Kermit and Bobby)
"Beethoven's 5th" (Pepe and Thomas Wilkins)
"Send in the Clowns" (Wayne and Wanda)
Croak-a-Pella: "Hooray for Hollywood" (Robin and the Frogs)
TV Parodies: Veterinarian's Hospital (with Danny Trejo), Keeping Up with the Crustaceans, The Walking Bread
Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem: "Can You Picture That?," "Home," "Suffragette City"

Act Two

"Bohemian Rhapsody" (Gonzo, the Chickens, Animal, Pepe, Beaker, Dr. Teeth, Miss Piggy, Sweetums, Bobby and Choir)
Muppet News Flash: Trap Doors
"Boo Danube" (Ghosts and Skulls)
Muppet Labs: The Cloud
Fozzie Bear's Monologue
The Swedish Chef: Salsa
"(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" (Wayne and Wanda)
Muppet News Flash: Penguin Tourists
"The Final Countdown" (Gonzo, chickens, and Kermit)
"Mahna Mahna" (Mahna Mahna and The Snowths)
"Hello" (Miss Piggy)
"The Rainbow Connection" / "The Magic Store" (Kermit, Paul Williams, Bobby and the Muppets)
Fireworks Medley: "The Muppet Show Theme," "Hey a Movie!," "Happiness Hotel," "Sailing for Adventure," "We're Doing a Sequel," "Life's a Happy Song," "I Hope That Somethin' Better Comes Along," "Together Again"
Encore: "With a Little Help from My Friends" (Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, the Muppets, Bobby and Choir)

Cast

Muppet Performers

Dave Goelz: The Great Gonzo, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Zoot, Waldorf, Beauregard
Bill Barretta: Pepe the King Prawn, Rowlf, The Swedish Chef, Dr. Teeth, Bobo, Mahna Mahna
Eric Jacobson: Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Sam Eagle, Newsman
Matt Vogel: Kermit the Frog, Uncle Deadly, Sgt. Floyd Pepper, Lew Zealand, Crazy Harry, Camilla, Dr. Julius Strangepork, Snowth, Sweetums
David Rudman: Scooter, Janice, Beaker
Peter Linz: Walter, Robin, Statler, Link Hogthrob, Lips, Snowth

Additional Muppet Performers