For years, the creative minds behind some of the world’s most cherished children’s characters have toiled in relative obscurity within a sprawling New York City warehouse.
Now, Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, the legendary workshop responsible for bringing the Muppets to life, is finally pulling back the curtain, inviting the public into its magical realm.
For the first time ever, the Queens-based workshop has opened its doors for public tours, offering fans a unique opportunity to meet puppet builders, witness live puppetry demonstrations, and capture memories with iconic characters.
Jason Weber, the shop’s creative supervisor, emphasized that these $150-per-person tours are a tribute to the often-unseen artisans.
“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,” he explained during a recent visit. “Things are made one-of-a-kind, made by hand with artisans who have been trained for years and decades.”
Beyond Kermit and Miss Piggy, Jim Henson, who passed away in 1990, was the visionary behind beloved “Sesame Street” figures like Big Bird and Cookie Monster, as well as the whimsical inhabitants of “Fraggle Rock.”
The workshop, originally established in Manhattan in the 1960s, has relocated several times across the city, settling into its current Queens location in 2009. While a sister workshop operates in Los Angeles, it does not offer public access.
The 80-minute Saturday tours commence in a dedicated room brimming with authentic show props and creations, the sole area where visitors are permitted to take photos and videos.
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This restriction is due to the actual workshop containing proprietary designs and works in progress. Among the captivating displays in this initial space is an Oscar the Grouch exhibit, featuring the “Sesame Street” character nestled in his familiar trash can amidst a pile of artificial refuse.
Also on view are a formidable black throne from Henson’s 1982 fantasy film “The Dark Crystal,” and a full-sized, operational puppet of Junior Gorg from “Fraggle Rock,” which demands multiple performers to manipulate.
The workshop itself is a vibrant tapestry of fantastical creatures in various stages of completion. Drawers and bins overflow with colorful furs, textured fabrics, and an array of ready-made puppet body parts, clothing, and accessories, tucked into almost every corner.
Melissa Creighton, the shop’s director, underscored the bespoke nature of their work: “Everything we do is custom. Everything we do is bespoke.”
During a recent visit, staff were diligently crafting costumes and components for upcoming projects, including a “Fraggle Rock” musical set to open near Times Square later this month.
The shop’s impressive portfolio also includes creations for the horror film “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” the children’s fantasy “Where the Wild Things Are,” and the 1990s television sitcom “Dinosaurs.”
For senior puppet builder Sierra Schoening, working at the shop was her “pie-in-the sky” dream, fueled by a childhood fascination with Henson’s 1986 musical fantasy “The Labyrinth.”
“I just really always wanted to know how those illusions were made,” Schoening shared, taking a brief pause from fashioning new creations. “I know all the secret sauce, and I’m making the secret sauce now.”
