JIM HENSON’S FANTASTIC WORLD Exhibition to Close 3/4

Jim Henson's Fantastic World will be on view at Museum of the Moving Image for only one more week-closing on Sunday, March 4. The final weekend of the show, Saturday and Sunday, March 3 and 4, 2012, features several special programs to mark the close of the successful national tour of this Smithsonian traveling exhibition, organized in partnership with The Jim Henson Legacy.  On these two days, the Museum will give away a free limited-edition commemorative bookmark to ALL visitors (while supplies last).

The special weekend programs open with Heather Henson's Sing-along with The Muppet Movie on Friday, March 2, and Saturday, March 3. Full of interactive surprises and characters coming right out of the screen into the audience, Muppet fans of all ages will enjoy renewing their "rainbow connection" with Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the whole gang. On Sunday, March 4, the Museum will present a special closing program with guest speakers and a screening of an exclusive video compilation celebrating the life and legacy of Jim Henson. Also on Sunday, there will be a final screening of The Muppet Show, with episodes featuring Julie Andrews and Gene Kelly. Full details are included in the schedule below.

In addition, from Tuesday, February 28 through Friday, March 2, the Museum will present Jim Henson's Oscar-nominated short film Time Piece (1965, 9 mins.) in the Video Screening Amphitheater. This experimental short film tells what Henson-who also stars in the film-called "the story of Everyman, frustrated by the typical tasks of a typical day."

Please note: The Museum is closed to the public on Monday, February 27.

The exhibition Jim Henson's Fantastic World features more than 120 artifacts, including drawings, storyboards, props, video material, and fifteen iconic original puppets of such characters as Kermit the Frog, Rowlf, Bert, and Ernie. It has traveled to thirteen museums throughout the United States with Moving Image as the final presenter. Since the show opened at the Museum on July 16, 2011, the exhibition has been seen by more than 100,000 visitors. During this period, special guests including Frank Oz, Brian Henson, Cheryl Henson, Heather Henson, Jane Henson, Bob McGrath, Brian Froud, Kevin Clash, Fran Brill, Bonnie Erickson, and other performers and colleagues of Jim Henson have participated in public programs. Many of these programs were compiled and presented by Craig Shemin, President of the Jim Henson Legacy.

Jim Henson's Fantastic World is curated by Karen Falk, Archivist for The Jim Henson Company, and is organized by The Jim Henson Legacy and Smithsonian Institute Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), in cooperation with the Henson Family; The Jim Henson Company; The Muppets Studio, LLC; and Sesame Workshop. The exhibition is made possible by the BIO channel. Additional support has been provided by The Jane Henson Foundation and Cheryl Henson. Support for the exhibition at Museum of the Moving Image is provided by The Jane Henson Foundation; Cheryl Henson; Joan Ganz Cooney; Five Napkin Burger; Schmutter, Strull, Fleisch, Inc.; and The Astor Room.

The Jim Henson Legacy is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that is dedicated to preserving and perpetuating Jim Henson's contributions to the worlds of puppetry, television and motion pictures, special effects and media technology. More information at www.jimhensonlegacy.org. 

The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science, and history. More information at www.sites.si.edu. 

Museum of the Moving Image is the only institution in the United States that explores the art, industry, and innovation of screen culture in all its forms. Embracing topics that range from nineteenth-century optical toys to the latest Internet developments, it provides insight into every phase of the production, promotion and exhibition of moving images. Engaging an international audience of all ages, the Museum offers a distinctive, highly interactive core exhibition; contemporary and retrospective programs of films from around the world; public discussions with leading figures in film and television; a unique collection; inspiring education programs; stimulating changing exhibitions; and groundbreaking online projects. More information at movingimage.us.