The Jim Henson Company Hosts, "Puppets For Puppetry" Fundraiser to Honor The Esteemed Puppeteer Dave Goelz on September 24, 2016

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Aug. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Jim Henson Company is hosting "Puppets for Puppetry," a fundraiser for The Center for Puppetry Arts honoring the esteemed puppeteer Dave Goelz, best known to fans around the world as the performer of iconic puppet characters like The Great Gonzo, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Boober Fraggle, Traveling Matt, and many more. The event will be held at The Jim Henson Company's historic Hollywood studio lot on September 24, 2016 – a doubly auspicious date for Henson friends and fans as it would have been Jim Henson's 80th birthday. The unique live performance will be led by Tony Award-nominee John Tartaglia (Avenue Q) and promises to be a musical and fun evening.

The event benefits The Center for Puppetry Arts, whose mission is to inspire imagination, education and community through the global art of puppetry. The Atlanta-based nonprofit is the nation's largest and only resource of its kind, featuring a worldwide puppetry collection, vibrant theatre spaces, and an education department that develops puppetry talent through workshops and performances. The Center for Puppetry Arts also uses the latest technology to offer its award-winning Distance Learning programs for PreK-adult through videoconferencing and recorded content.  The arts-infused workshops and interactive puppet performances are conducted via videoconferencing and are tailored to specific classroom topics and curriculum. The programs complement national curriculum standards in language arts, social studies, science, math and other areas and serve schools nationwide.

The Center for Puppetry Arts recently expanded to include a new gallery housing the Jim Henson Collection and the Worlds of Puppetry Global Collection. These two permanent exhibits together represent the most definitive display of both Henson puppets and other puppetry traditions from around the world.

"The Center for Puppetry Arts is the only location of its kind in the U.S., and is particularly special to me and the entire Henson family," said Lisa Henson, CEO of The Jim Henson Company. "My father dedicated the Center for Puppetry Arts at its opening, and he continued to support both the Center and the art forms of adult and traditional puppetry throughout his years of success with the Muppets."

"The Center for Puppetry Arts is extremely happy to have The Jim Henson Company's continued support which allows us to bring programs that educate and inspire imagination to communities across the country," said Vincent Anthony, the Barbara and Bill Wylly Executive Director at the Center for Puppetry Arts.

"Dave Goelz is an inspiring puppeteer and has brought some of the world's most beloved characters to life," said John Tartaglia.  "From a 'whatever' who eats rubber tires, to an explorer fascinated by 'silly creatures,' Dave's characters are full of joy and have a love of playfulness.  We are planning an exciting performance to honor his incredible contribution to the art of puppetry." 

"Puppets for Puppetry" is hosted by The Jim Henson Company with support from The Muppet Studio. Individual tickets start at $250 with tables and sponsorship packages beginning at $7,500.  For additional information please visit: http://www.puppetsforpuppetry.eventbrite.com/

About The Jim Henson Company

The Jim Henson Company has remained an established leader in family entertainment for 60 years and is recognized worldwide as an innovator in puppetry, animatronics and digital animation. Best known as creators of the world famous Muppets, Henson has received over 50 Emmy Awards and nine Grammy Awards. Recent credits include the Emmy®-nominated Sid the Science Kid, Dinosaur Train, and Pajanimals, as well as the CG-animated preschool series Doozers, the Netflix Original series for young preschoolers Word Party and the upcoming digital citizenship series for preschoolers Dot. Top titles currently in production include the groundbreaking marine biology series Splash and Bubbles for PBS KIDS® and the Netflix Original preschool show Julie's Greenroom, starring award-winning actress Julie Andrews. Features include Disney's Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, as well as The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, and MirrorMask. Television productions include Fraggle Rock, the sci-fi cult series Farscape, Henson Alternative's No, You Shut Up! and the TV film Jim Henson's Turkey Hollow.

With additional locations in New York and London, The Jim Henson Company is headquartered in Los Angeles on the historic Charlie Chaplin lot, complete with soundstage and postproduction facilities. The Company is home to Jim Henson's Creature Shop™, a pre-eminent character- building and visual effects group with international film, television, theme park and advertising clients, as well as Henson Recording Studios, one of the music industry's top recording facilities known for its world-class blend of state-of- the-art and vintage equipment. The Company's Henson Alternative brand is currently touring Puppet-Up! – Uncensored, a live puppet improvisational show.
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About Center for Puppetry Arts

The Center for Puppetry Arts is supported in part by: Fulton County Arts Council • City of Atlanta Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs • Georgia Council for the Arts • PNC • The Zeist Foundation • Fifth Third Bank • Publix Super Markets Charities • Regency Suites Hotel • WSB-TV Family 2 Family Project • YP.  For a complete list of the Center's major supporters, visit www.puppet.org/about/sponsors.

Center for Puppetry Arts® is a unique cultural treasure – a magical place where children and adults are educated, enlightened, and entertained. Since 1978, the Center has introduced millions of visitors to the wonder and art of puppetry and has touched the lives of many through enchanting performances, curriculum-based workshops, and the hands-on Museum as well as Distance Learning and Outreach programs. Center for Puppetry Arts is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization and is supported in part by contributions from corporations, foundations, government agencies, and individuals. Major funding is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners and the City of Atlanta Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs. These programs are also supported in part by the Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. GCA is a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. The Center is a member of Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA/USA/ASSITEJ) and also serves as headquarters of UNIMA-USA, the American branch of Union Internationale de la Marionnette, the international puppetry organization.

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The Jim Henson Company
Nicole Goldman
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