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A frog, a pig and Constantine Kitsopoulos
The Philadelphia Orchestra presents: The Muppets Christmas Carol
Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer
In 1992, two years following his father Jim’s tragic death, Brian Henson made his directorial debut with The Muppet Christmas Carol, a musical adaptation of Dickens’ classic holiday tale of redemption and compassion. As with the Muppets three previous feature films—The Muppet Movie (1979), The Great Muppet Caper (1981), and The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)—The Muppet Christmas Carol successfully integrates the most beloved Muppet characters with accomplished human actors. In this case, the inimitable Michael Caine plays Dickens’ cold-hearted miser Ebenezer Scrooge (Caine was said to have told Henson, “I'm going to play this movie like I'm working with the Royal Shakespeare Company”). Kermit the Frog portrays the hardworking, kindly Bob Crachit, an unusually demure Miss Piggy plays Mrs. Crachit and Kermit’s nephew Robin naturally fits Tiny Tim. Now, over thirty years after the film’s release, the Philadelphia Orchestra will engage audiences in a special holiday production, playing the score live while the film is shown on a large screen at a two-night engagement (December 18-19) at the Kimmel Center’s Marian Anderson Hall.
Cultivating a holiday classic
Constantine Kitsopoulos will conduct the Orchestra in the film’s musically rich score, which was written by composer Miles Goodman with original songs by the award-winning Paul Williams (whose hits include the Muppets’ classic ‘The Rainbow Connection’). Memorable musical numbers from the film include ‘Marley and Marley,’ featuring Muppet curmudgeons Statler and Waldorf as the ghosts of Scrooge’s dead business partners and ‘Fozziwig’s Party’, featuring Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem at a party hosted by Scrooge’s nephew Fozziwig (Fozzie the Bear). The pairing of the film with a live orchestra has been performed by a number of other orchestras in recent years (including the Cleveland Symphony, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.)
While The Muppet Christmas Carol did not receive the same critical acclaim that the previous three Muppet features did, it has since grown a vibrant cult following. Two years ago, Disney released a 30th anniversary streaming version of the film, so a new generation of kids have the opportunity to grow up watching it now. In featuring The Muppet Christmas Carol, the Philadelphia Orchestra wisely selected a holiday production that holds nostalgic appeal for Gen X parents, but will be sure to bring in a multigenerational audience.
"The original Muppet show was a staple in my house as a kid growing up. Now as an adult and a parent I have an even greater appreciation for the incredible imagination of those characters. Their zesty, irreverent humor and timeless music bridges generations. I can think of no better group of friends to bring us together for the holidays than the Muppets,” says Jeremy Rothman, chief programming officer for the Philadelphia Orchestra.
“I think we all relate to one individual Muppet at various points in our lives. As a kid I probably most felt like Gonzo. Now I’m more of a Scooter given my line of work. Someday soon I’ll probably be a Statler."
Whether you arrive knowing who your Muppet is (I am, always have been, and always will be a Miss Piggy) or are open to discovering that, The Muppets Christmas Carol with live orchestral music is sure to be a stellar holiday music experience.
What, When, Where
Disney’s The Muppet Christmas Carol In Concert Live to Film. Directed by Brian Henson with original score by Miles Goodman and songs by Paul Williams. $46-122. December 18-19, 2024 at Marian Anderson Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 300 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia. (215) 731-3333 or ensembleartsphilly.org.
Accessibility
The Philadelphia Orchestra’s priority is to provide more accessible programming for all; please contact them with accessibility requests. Their accommodations include reserved wheelchair-accessible locations within all theaters; assistive listening devices; and sensory-friendly kits.
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