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MuppetFest fan convention to be held in September

Courtesy of the Jim Henson Company
June 12, 2001

In honor of the 25th anniversary of The Muppet Show, the first MUPPETFEST! -- a two day celebration of the comedy, mayhem, and magic of the Muppets, will be held at the Pasadena Civic Center on September 22 and 23, 2001.

Today Kermit the Frog announced the event and invited Muppet fans from across the globe to take part in the MUPPETFEST! activities. Muppet fans are urged to visit www.henson.com for full details on registering for the event. Part of the proceeds from MUPPETFEST! will benefit charity.

For nearly five decades Jim Henson's Muppets have entertained audiences worldwide with the mission of "making the world a better place by inspiring people to celebrate life.'' From comedy to creativity, innovation to irreverence, performance to puppetry, the Muppets truly embody the best of all of these talents and qualities, and so much more. As such, MUPPETFEST! is the first in what promises to be an annual celebration of all past, present and future memories and milestones of the Muppets and The Jim Henson Company.

This year's MUPPETFEST! will mark the silver anniversary of The Muppet Show's television debut, and the start of a yearlong series of tributes and activities. The zany cast of The Muppet Show has brought joy to generations since their television introduction a quarter of a century ago. The show first debuted in syndication on September 26, 1976 and continued for five seasons with 120 shows. Since then, the Muppets have become international superstars, known for their clowning, conjuring, characters, quirkiness, and kindness.

Special MUPPETFEST! highlights will include guest appearances by the original multi-talented puppeteers and writers who helped create the Muppets, live musical performances of original Muppet music, screenings of rare footage, presentations from Jim Henson's Creature Shop(TM), and interactive exhibitions. In addition, a VIP charity event will be held at The Jim Henson Company's Studio in Hollywood.

"The Muppets have a truly one-of-a-kind relationship with long-time fans around the world,'' said Michael Polis, Senior Vice President of Marketing for The Jim Henson Company. "With MUPPETFEST! we are thanking those who have taken our characters to their hearts, while simultaneously recognizing the amazing talents that epitomize the history and future of the Muppets.''

MUPPETFEST! is a co-production of The Jim Henson Company and Creation Entertainment, a Glendale, California based company that specializes in producing touring live events for fans.

Erin Ferries, Vice President of Licensing for Creation, stated, ``It is a particular joy for all of us at our company to expand our wonderful relationship with The Jim Henson Company through this tribute to the Muppets. We look forward to providing fans with a weekend they will treasure.''

The Jim Henson Company, an established leader in family entertainment for more than 40 years, is an independent multimedia production company; one of the top character licensors in the industry; a leading publisher of children's books; and home to Jim Henson Television, Jim Henson Pictures, Jim Henson Interactive and Jim Henson's Creature Shop(TM). With headquarters in Los Angeles and offices and production facilities in New York and London, the company is a wholly owned subsidiary of EM.TV & Merchandising AG based in Munich, Germany. The Jim Henson Company website is located at: www.henson.com.

Creation Entertainment was founded to offer live events and merchandising for fans of television series and films. With over 1,000 events promoted, the company is currently celebrating its 30th Anniversary.