The Center for Puppetry Arts has always been a fun place to see a puppet show, but it had never been much of a destination. Sure, you loved the puppet shows and then went upstairs to make your own, but that was probably the extent of your visit. The facility at The Center for Puppetry Arts has just reopened after a massive addition to its facility, as well as, refurbishing most of the existing structure. Its results are nothing short of a shift in the Atlanta “must visit” list that locals will produce.
From the moment you enter the newly remodeled facility you know that it’s something special. The Worlds of Puppetry Museum has two wings, a Jim Henson exhibit and a Global Collection that showcases puppets from every corner of the globe.
The Jim Henson exhibit is massive. From the moment you enter and see a 1950’s era television showing Henson in black & white on a local television show with a very primitive Kermit you’ll get chills. Turn the corner and you see a recreated Muppet production room, complete with the dozens of toggles, wires, felt, foam and other things needed to create the magic. Keep walking and you see many of the real puppets that were used on Sesame Street-including a Big Bird!
The Muppets room is packed with most of the A-list puppets, as well as, a very good sampling of the bench Muppets like the chicken, Dr. Teeth, Robin and the conga player whose name I forget. But you’ll recognize all of them and marvel at the mint condition they’re in and then go back home and watch the old episodes. The Dark Crystal has their puppets represented too-and that’s quite a feat considering that many of them are big and much more intricate.
If you’re a fan of the Fraggles or Emmit Otter then you’re in for a treat too. Every show that Jim Henson had his fingers in is represented in the new expansion. Did you see the Muppet Christmas special on ABC? The rabbit who was in that show is even here, our favorite, Pepe the Prawn isn’t there yet, but they’ll refresh the exhibit from time to time so our periopods are crossed.
The Global Collection features puppets of all manner, size, location, style and personality. They’ve got rod puppets from France, shadow puppets from Indonesia, Punch and Judy from France, stop motion, Coraline, Gumby and so many more. This space also has the original Madame. I was a big fan of Wayland Flowers and it’s great how seeing Madame again brought all of that back. Side note: if you see Van Halen on tour, David Lee Roth looks very similar to Madame as he struts around the stage, seriously.
There are several interactive aspects to the expansion including puppets to play with via a mock television studio, shadow puppets, rod marionettes and a creature creation workshop. And all of this is before you see a show at The Center for Puppetry Arts. If the kids still have energy when you leave there’s a playground on the exterior of the building too.
The new expansion at The Center for Puppetry Arts is a game-changer in the landscape of what to do in Atlanta. Previously it was a ‘neat to do thing’, now it’s sheer entertainment for all ages that will easily occupy you for 90 minutes. Even if you’re not going to a puppet show you need to see these exhibits, their creativity, display, preservation and ability to make you feel like a kid again are truly wondrous. Check out their website for more information on shows, entry and so on into The Center for Puppetry Arts.
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