'Puppet Up! - Uncensored' Finds a Home in Hollywood

'Puppet Up! - Uncensored' Finds a Home in Hollywood

Internationally renowned adult puppet comedy show from The Jim Henson Company will appear monthly at Avalon Hollywood Opening August 17th, 2007

'These brilliant American puppeteers are seducing all they meet ... the apparently effortless technical excellence is matched only by some of the quickest and wickedest humor in town.' - The Telegraph (UK)

'The puppeteers' quick-wit and nothing-is-taboo attitude make this show a riot of very wrong things.' - The Stage (UK)

'It's naughty, fast, funny and has freaky-looking puppets. It's unshackled creativity.' - Daily Telegraph (AUS)

' ... marvelous puppets, top-drawer improvisation and mild filth that is bound to please.' - The Age (AUS)

' ... a mind boggling degree of on-demand creativity' - Aspen Times (US)

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Aug. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- After critically acclaimed standing-room-only performances in Aspen, Edinburgh, Sydney and Melbourne, "Puppet Up! -- Uncensored" has found a home in Los Angeles for a monthly engagement at Avalon Hollywood. Performances will begin on Friday, August 17th with additional dates confirmed for Saturday, September 22nd and Saturday, October 20th. Monthly shows will continue to be scheduled thereafter. Tickets are available at http://www.avalonhollywood.com/ or by calling (323) 462-8900.

The live stage show from The Jim Henson Company features more than 75 puppets and a cast of puppeteers who perform sketches on the spot using suggestions from the audience. "Puppet Up! -- Uncensored" was conceived by Brian Henson ("Farscape", "Muppet Treasure Island") and began as a class where performers in the Company's troupe could hone their improvisational and comedic skills. Quickly, the irreverent hilarity and fascinating puppeteering techniques proved to be appealing to comedy audiences and the show was invited to festivals around the world. Since its premiere at the HBO Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen in March 2006, the show has played at the Edinburgh Fringe in Scotland, The Comedy Festival in Las Vegas, The Big Laugh Comedy Festival in Sydney and The Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Additionally, TBS aired the show as a television special last November and web clips can currently be seen at http://www.tbs.com/shows/puppetup/

"'Puppet Up! -- Uncensored' is like a high-wire act. It combines the technical challenges of puppeteering with the quick-thinking needed for each sketch -- along with the high stakes of performing in front of a live audience. It is quite an adrenaline rush and a lot of fun," says Brian Henson, co-CEO of The Jim Henson Company and producer of the show. "We have been thrilled with the excellent response the show has received around the world and we are excited to partner with Avalon Hollywood to bring 'Puppet Up! -- Uncensored' to a local audience."

About The Jim Henson Company

The Jim Henson Company has remained an established leader in family entertainment for over 50 years and is recognized worldwide as an innovator in puppetry, animatronics and computer graphics. Best known as creators of the world famous Muppets (the rights to which are now owned by The Walt Disney Company), Henson is the recipient of over 50 Emmy Awards and nine Grammy Awards. Credits include the Saturn Award-winning "Farscape" and the features "MirrorMask", "Five Children and It" and "Good Boy!". 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 post-production facilities. Independently owned and operated by the five adult children of founder Jim Henson, the Company is also home to Jim Henson's Creature Shop, a pre-eminent character-building and visual effects group with international film, television 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 recently launched "Puppet Up! -- Uncensored", a live puppet improvisational show that has played to sold out crowds in Aspen, Hollywood, Edinburgh, Sydney and Melbourne and premiered as a special on TBS. The Company has also announced the creation of Jim Henson Designs, a merchandise collection inspired by Jim Henson's earliest sketches. The Jim Henson Company's website is located at: http://www.henson.com/

About Avalon Hollywood

In 2002 the original Hollywood Playhouse, and previously infamous Palace, was transformed by a state-of-the-art face lift orchestrated by John Lyons and Steve Adelman. Avalon Hollywood has grown into one of the most prestigious venues for live performances and special events. Its stage is home to the Beatles first west coast performance and the first broadcast of the American Music Awards. The list of performers is legendary: Rolling Stones, Madonna and Nirvana, to current entertainers such as Kanye West, Justin Timberlake and the Black Eyed Peas to name a few.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: The Jim Henson Company

CONTACT: Nicole Goldman of The Jim Henson Company, +1-323-802-1608,
ngoldman@henson.com; or Preston Gaspar of Avalon Hollywood, +1-323-462-1412,
preston@avalonhollywood.com

Web site:

http://www.henson.com/
http://www.avalonhollywood.com/
http://www.tbs.com/shows/puppetup

NOTE TO EDITORS: PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST OR BY VISITING http://digital.ihenson.com/puppetup/, Reviewers can reserve tickets by contacting 323.802-1608

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