Theatre News Wire

A live theatrical adaptation of "Jim Henson's Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas" is making its Chicago debut this holiday season at the Studebaker Theater at the historic Fine Arts Building, 410 South Michigan Avenue. Based on the beloved television special originally created by the legendary puppeteer Jim Henson, this new family-friendly musical features music and lyrics by Paul Williams (The Muppet Movie), with book by lead producer Timothy Allen McDonald (Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach) and director/choreographer Christopher Gattelli (Newsies). Packed with puppets created by Jim Henson's Creature Shop, Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas is a heartwarming celebration of the true spirit of the holidays. Performances begin this November.

Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas is a theatrical adaptation of the Jim Henson Television Special and is based on the illustrated book Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas by Russell Hoban and Lillian Hoban. The acclaimed musical premiered at Goodspeed Opera House in 2008 and played Off-Broadway at the New Victory Theater in December of 2021.

The music and lyrics for Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas are written by the legendary Paul Williams, the recipient of an Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards and three Grammy Awards. His songs "The Rainbow Connection" and "Evergreen" are included in the American Film Institute's List of Top Movie Songs of All Time. The New York Times called Williams's score for Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas "as playful as it is heart-whole beautiful."

The book is co-written by lead producer Timothy Allen McDonald (Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach, Between The Lines, and The Book Thief) and director/choreographer Christopher Gattelli (Tony Award Winner for his Newsies choreography, and choreographer of SpongeBob the Musical and AppleTV+'s Schmigadoon!). Of the 2021 run, The New York Times hailed "the message, which celebrates fellow feeling and mutual care, is especially welcome right now," while Hollywood Soapbox called it "an important staple of any holiday season."

Scenic design for Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas is by three-time Tony nominee Anna Louizos (In The Heights, High Fidelity, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood), with costume design by two-time Tony winner Gregg Barnes (Follies and The Drowsy Chaperone), lighting design by Obie Award winner and Tony Nominee Jen Schriever (Death of a Salesman and A Strange Loop), and sound design is by Emmy Award winner Matt Kraus ("Disney's Broadway Hits at Royal Hall"). The New York Times raved of the production "the sets are charming and transporting, the costumes elegant."

The Jim Henson Company has remained a leader in family entertainment for over 60 years and is recognized as an innovator in puppetry, animatronics, and digital animation. Henson's most recent television credits include "Duff's Happy Fun Bake Time" for discovery+, "Earth to Ned" for Disney+, "Fraggle Rock: Rock On!" For Apple TV+ and the Emmy Award-winning Netflix Original series "The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance." The Company is currently in production on the upcoming series "Harriet the Spy" and a reboot of "Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock," both for Apple TV+, as well as Guillermo Del Toro's "Pinocchio" for Netflix, and the feature film "The Portable Door."

It's three days before Christmas and Mayor Fox has just announced a Christmas talent contest with a grand prize of fifty dollars! Meanwhile, times are tough for Ma and Emmet Otter since Pa passed away, and winning that prize money would allow them to secretly buy each other a Christmas gift. Emmet considers forming a jug-band with his friends, but in order to do that he'll have to put a hole in Ma's washtub. The problem is, Ma earns money by doing other folks' laundry in the washtub. Ma thinks about hocking Pa's old toolbox so she can make a costume for the contest, but Emmet uses those tools to do odd jobs. As Christmas Eve and the talent contest quickly approach, will Ma and Emmet sacrifice what little they have, or will their Christmas wishes come true?