Andy Mientus and Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone Will Lead the Chicago Premiere of JIM HENSON'S EMMET OTTER'S JUG-BAND CHRISTMAS

Performances run November 14-December 31, 2023.

By: Sep. 22, 2023
Andy Mientus and Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone Will Lead the Chicago Premiere of JIM HENSON'S EMMET OTTER'S JUG-BAND CHRISTMAS

Casting for the live theatrical adaptation of “Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas” is now set for the Chicago premiere production, November 14-December 31, 2023, 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 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 and starring Andy Mientus (Broadway’s Spring Awakening, Les Misérables) in the title role and Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone (Broadway’s Hands on a Hardbody) as Ma, Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas is a heartwarming celebration of the true spirit of the holidays. The press opening is November 20, 2023 at 7:30pm.

Tickets, starting at $43, are now on sale at the Studebaker Theatre box office (410 South Michigan Avenue), fineartsbuilding.com/studebaker/, and 312-753-3210. Private balcony boxes for up to 6 people are available for family-friendly pricing of $300, including fees. Group reservations (8 or more people) are currently available through Group Tix and Tours at www.grouptixandtours.com.

Direct from its triumphant New York City run, Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas brings the beloved television special to life, live on stage. Hailed by The New York Times for its “enchanting puppets” created by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop and “superb score” by Academy Award®–winning songwriter Paul Williams, this 75-minute tale takes us to Frogtown Hollow, where Ma and Emmet Otter risk what little they have to make each other’s holiday dreams come true. Directed by Tony Award® winner Christopher Gattelli (Newsies, SpongeBob: The Musical, “Schmigadoon”), this very merry musical is a heartwarming celebration perfect for the entire family.

Leading the cast are Andy Mientus (Broadway’s Spring Awakening, Les Misérables, TV’s “Smash” and “The Flash”) in the role of Emmet Otter, and Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone (Broadway’s Hands On A Hardbody, TV’s “Good Behavior”) as Ma. The cast also includes Jordan Brownlee (Puppeteer/Doc Bullfrog), Nick Cearley (Charlie Muskrat), Kevin Covert (Mayor Fox), Adam Fane (Understudy), Matt Furtado (Puppeteer/Stan Weasel), Sharriese Hamilton (Mrs. Mink), Steven Hunyn (Wendell Porcupine, u/s Emmet Otter), Ben Mathew (Harvey Beaver), Leah Morrow (Swing), Anney Ozar (Puppeteer/Old Lady Possum), Emily Rohm (Gretchen Fox), James Silson (Puppeteer/Snake), Sawyer Smith (Madame Squirrel), and David Stephens (Puppeteer/Yancy Woodchuck).

Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas, produced by iTheatrics in association with The Jim Henson Company, is a theatrical adaptation of Jim Henson’s 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.

This Production of Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas was Licensed by Music Theatre International.

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.”

Puppets are created by the iconic Jim Henson’s Creature Shop (My Neighbor Totoro, Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock). 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 orchestrations are by Dan DeLange (Oliver nominated production of Showboat, Goodspeed Musicals) and the music supervisor is Larry Pressgrove (Tony nominated production of [title of show]). Two-time Tony nominee Alexander Robertson (The Wiz; New York, New York; and The Piano Lesson) is Senior Associate Producer.

Follow Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok at EmmetOtterLive. The official website is www.EmmetOtterLive.com.

 


BroadwayWorld Awards Voting

RELATED STORIES - Chicago

1
Upcoming Shows At The Den to Feature Alonzo Bodden, Danny LoPriore, Stephen Kramer Glickma Photo
Upcoming Shows At The Den to Feature Alonzo Bodden, Danny LoPriore, Stephen Kramer Glickman & Scott Seiss

THE DEN THEATRE announces upcoming performances by Alonzo Bodden, Danny LoPriore, Stephen Kramer Glickman, and Scott Seiss. Tickets on sale now.

2
Tickets for All BLUE MAN GROUP Chicago 2024 Performances On Sale Now Photo
Tickets for All BLUE MAN GROUP Chicago 2024 Performances On Sale Now

Tickets for all 2024 Blue Man Group Chicago performances at the Briar Street Theatre are now on sale.

3
Curious Theatre Branch Shares New Dates For Beau OReillys HIT ME LIKE A FLOWER Photo
Curious Theatre Branch Shares New Dates For Beau O'Reilly's HIT ME LIKE A FLOWER

Curious Theatre Branch, currently celebrating its 35th Anniversary Season, announced today that the revival of Hit Me Like a Flower, written and directed by Beau O'Reilly and assistant directed by Chris Zdenek, will now be performed January 12 - February 4, at Facility Theatre, 1138 N. California Ave.

4
5th Installment Of THE HOLIDAY CABERNET is Coming to Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro Photo
5th Installment Of THE HOLIDAY CABERNET is Coming to Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro

Join us for the fifth installment of the Holiday Cabernet on December 17. Tickets available now.

More Hot Stories For You

Videos


Cry It Out in Chicago Cry It Out
Oil Lamp Theater (1/25-3/03)
Lucy's Comedy in Chicago Lucy's Comedy
Raue Center For The Arts (1/05-1/05)
Native Gardens in Chicago Native Gardens
Raue Center For The Arts (2/23-3/17)
GreenRoom Improv in Chicago GreenRoom Improv
Raue Center For The Arts (3/23-3/23)
For Kids From 1 to 92 in Chicago For Kids From 1 to 92
Raue Center For The Arts (12/23-12/23)
Chicago Tap Theatre in Chicago Chicago Tap Theatre
ECC Arts Center (2/10-2/10)
American English in Chicago American English
Raue Center For The Arts (12/31-12/31)
Eleanor's Very Merry Christmas Wish: The Musical in Chicago Eleanor's Very Merry Christmas Wish: The Musical
Citadel Theatre (12/20-12/31)
MJ LIVE: Michael Jackson Tribute Concert in Chicago MJ LIVE: Michael Jackson Tribute Concert
Rosemont Theatre (1/29-1/27)
Music of the Baroque: Mullova Plays Bach in Chicago Music of the Baroque: Mullova Plays Bach
Harris Theater for Music and Dance (1/29-1/29)
VIEW ALL SHOWS  ADD A SHOW  

Recommended For You