Podcast Episode Summary

Podcast: MickeyJoTheatre
Host: Mickey Jo
Episode: The MUPPETS are going to Broadway! | Magic show to feature Muppets as guests, prior to more?
Release Date: August 22, 2025

Overview

In this energetic and deeply affectionate episode, Mickey Jo breaks down the landmark announcement that the Muppets are making their Broadway stage debut—not in a full Muppet musical, but as special guests in a new magic show led by illusionist Rob Lake at the Broadhurst Theatre for the 2025 holiday season. Mickey Jo shares context on the production, his personal excitement and anxieties (including a fear of magicians), and muses on the implications for the future of Muppets on Broadway. The discussion touches on the logistics of bringing puppets to the stage, the history and stewardship of the Muppet brand, and the passionate overlap between Muppet and musical theatre fans.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Announcement: Muppets On Broadway (01:00 - 02:52)

• Mickey Jo shares effusive excitement as a lifelong Muppet fan and gives context:
  • The Muppets will appear live in-person on Broadway for the first time.
  • The new show, titled "Rob Lake Magic with Special Guests the Muppets", will run at the Broadhurst Theatre for a festive 12-week limited engagement (late October 2025 – January 18, 2026).
  • Not a full Muppet musical (e.g., not a stage adaptation of “Muppet Christmas Carol”), but a big first step.

“It is time to play the music. It is time to light the lights because the Muppets are taking Manhattan IRL.”
— Mickey Jo (01:06)

2. Comedy Banter and Official Reveal (02:52 - 04:18)

• Rob Lake and Kermit the Frog share a playful promotional exchange, establishing the show’s family-friendly, whimsical tone.
• Confirmation: Kermit and his friends (at least two more Muppets, possibly Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and Gonzo) will appear in featured “show-stopping moments” during the magic show.

Kermit: “Most of us are pretty low maintenance. Gonzo just needs a bucket of tapioca pudding and an oversized spool of twine. ... And Fozzie loves to keep bananas around because they're appealing. You're gonna fit right in.”
— Kermit the Frog (03:39, 03:48)

3. Details About the Show & Creative Team (04:28 - 08:42)

• Reading from the press release, Mickey reviews production details and background:
  • Previews begin October 28. Official opening November 6. Closes January 18.
  • Tickets on sale beginning September 4.
  • Rob Lake, dubbed “the world’s greatest illusionist” by NBC, will create custom illusions for the Muppets.
  • Producers see the show as a dream come true and a potential trend-setter for future holiday events on Broadway.
  • Creative Team: Bethany Pettigrew (creative consultant), Kevin Zak (script consultant).

Industry Insight

• Mickey praises the scheduling of a new holiday show, noting it’s more common (and logistically easier) to fill vacant London theatres quickly, whereas Broadway often lets houses sit dark.
• Holiday programming like this can keep Broadway vibrant and accessible, especially for families and for fans who haven’t seen the Muppets live before.

4. Who is Rob Lake? (08:42 - 09:44)

• Rob’s CV: major TV appearances, 80+ million online views, America’s Got Talent finalist, illusion designer for Adele’s Las Vegas residency, many international dates and awards—including the “Merlin Award,” akin to the Oscars for magicians.
• Rob’s Disney and Broadway connection: Magic consultant for Disney Imagineering and previous Broadway shows (e.g., Death Becomes Her). Disney connection explains seamless collaboration with the Muppets, now a Disney property.

“In 2008, Rob Lake became the youngest magician in history to receive the holy grail of the magic world, the Merlin Award.”
— Mickey Jo (09:44)

5. The Muppet Brand: Legacy and Caution (09:44 - 11:25)

• The Muppet Studio (now a Disney subsidiary) prioritizes brand stewardship; previous work includes Muppets Haunted Mansion, Muppets Mayhem, and the televised Muppets movies.
• Producer Joe Quainkwa is making his Broadway producing debut—a former Disney exec with a history of bringing Muppets to major screen projects.

“When you have a brand like Muppets, I feel like it’s all just charming and delightful, but also ... not dangerous as such. But they have to be very careful with how they utilize the Muppets brand. You know, people really love the Muppets and I think you have to take care of them, literally and figuratively.”
— Mickey Jo (11:07)

6. The Big Question: How Do You Stage the Muppets? (11:25 - 16:52)

• Discussion about the unique challenges of staging Muppet puppets in a Broadway house:
  • Historically, Muppets are always performed with hidden puppeteers on TV/film—unlike Avenue Q (where puppeteers are visible).
  • Previous live puppet shows (Sesame Street the Musical, Basil Brush at Edinburgh) used single-level stages and clever concealment.
  • A Broadway house, with mezzanines and balconies, makes this much harder.
  • This production could serve as a “test run” for more ambitious Muppet-on-stage projects.
  • There is a strong sense from rumors and Disney’s involvement that this project is an intentional experiment to solve these logistics.

“With the Muppets, I think Avenue Q is one thing, but I think it would be really disappointing to have a live Muppets performance and to see the puppeteers. I think a big part of it is just being able to truly believe in these characters, which is a big part of what makes their imminent appearance so exciting.”
— Mickey Jo (14:35)

7. Future Possibilities: Will There Be a Muppet Musical? (16:52 - 19:28)

• Mickey envisions a world where a hit here would lead to:
  • Full-scale Muppet musicals or revues.
  • Original stage stories for Kermit and company—possibly in a fourth wall-breaking variety show with musical numbers, hijinks, and rotating celebrity guests (à la the original TV series).
  • A flood of cross-promotional opportunities across Broadway (“Send Sam the Eagle to Hamilton. Send the Electric Mayhem to Hell’s Kitchen. All of these crossovers are just waiting to happen.”).

“I am deeply passionate about this because like I said, I am a lifelong fan of the Muppets. ... And this news has made me realize that a lot of my fellow theater content critics, creators also really like the Muppets. But I don't just like the Muppets. I love the Muppets.”
— Mickey Jo (18:40)

8. Personal Connection: The Muppets/Musical Theatre Pipeline (19:28 - 20:34)

• Mickey shares how his love of the Muppets led him to discover Stephen Sondheim and a passion for theatre.
  • The fan overlap between the Muppets and musical theatre is “enormous”; a Muppets show on Broadway could be a massive hit and bring more buzz to neighboring shows.

9. Confession: The Magician Fear (20:34 - 21:39)

• Mickey’s irrational fear of magicians:
  • It’s close-up magic and mentalism in particular that unnerves him—not clowns, interestingly.
  • He’s often turned down press invites to magic shows because of this, but he’ll make an exception for the Muppets.
  • Expecting “family friendly magic,” with less of the “insidious” illusionism that scares him.

“But it is a testament to the extent of my love for the Muppets that I'm willing to make an exception for this particular show.”
— Mickey Jo (21:23)

10. Playful Fantasies & Sign-Off (21:40 - 22:44)

• Mickey would watch the Muppets perform anything—up to and including Chekov or Waiting for Godot (“Waiting for Gonzo”).
• Invites listener feedback on their own hopes and expectations for the show and for the future of the Muppets in live theatre.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It is time to play the music. It is time to light the lights because the Muppets are taking Manhattan IRL.”
  — Mickey Jo [01:06]

• “With the Muppets, I think Avenue Q is one thing, but I think it would be really disappointing to have a live Muppets performance and to see the puppeteers. I think a big part of it is just being able to truly believe in these characters...”
  — Mickey Jo [14:35]

• “But it is a testament to the extent of my love for the Muppets that I’m willing to make an exception for this particular show.”
  — Mickey Jo [21:23]

• “I would go and see the Muppets do Chekov, in fact, that sounds thrilling to me. ... Waiting for Gonzo, the Muppet version, like text unaltered—I would still delight in going to see that.”
  — Mickey Jo [21:40]

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment / Topic | |---------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:00 | Mickey Jo introduces the big news: Muppets going to Broadway | | 02:52 | Show reveal via in-character promo with Rob Lake and Kermit the Frog | | 04:28 | In-depth show details: title, run, tickets, production team, logistics | | 09:44 | Who is Rob Lake? Background, awards, Disney/Broadway connection | | 11:25 | The challenge of staging the Muppets; legacy brand concerns | | 14:35 | The puppeteers question; why this show is a “test run” for future projects | | 16:52 | Speculation and hopes for a full Muppet musical on Broadway | | 18:40 | Personal fan connection and community reaction | | 19:28 | The Muppets/musical theatre pipeline, marketing potential | | 20:34 | Mickey’s fear of magicians: Confession | | 21:40 | Muppets in Chekov and “Waiting for Gonzo” humor, call for audience input |

Overall Tone

The episode is lively, witty, and affectionate—with Mickey Jo’s characteristic mix of critical insight and fan enthusiasm. He balances theater industry savvy with genuine personal storytelling, engaging listeners whether they’re seasoned theatre fans, Muppet aficionados, or simply curious about this Broadway first.

This summary captures the core themes, lively quotes, major discussion points, and memorable humor of MickeyJoTheatre’s big news recap on the Muppets’ long-awaited Broadway debut.