Thank you, Loft Cinema. Thank you so much. Tickets and passes go on sale tomorrow.

MUPPETS™, MUSIC & MAGIC: JIM HENSON'S LEGACY / A Month-Long Celebration!
Jim Henson and the Muppets!

All through the month of August!
Starts Thursday, August 2nd
Individual screening admission: $8.00 general; $6.00 Loft members & Children 12 and under.
Series pass: $40.00 general; $35.00 Loft members & Children 12 and under (series pass DOES NOT INCLUDE admission to the three feature films: The Muppet Movie, The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth - separate admission is required).

It's time to play the music, it's time to light the lights, it's time to meet the Muppets ... because August is Muppets Month here at The Loft Cinema! We’ve partnered with The Jim Henson Legacy and Brooklyn Academy of Music to present a very special series celebrating the best of Jim Henson and the Muppets! All throughout the month of August, you’ll see some of the greatest, most hilarious moments from the 50+ year history of The Muppets, rarely seen gems from the Sesame Street vaults, and even a collection of Henson’s experimental short films. We’ve also included the classic Henson feature films The Muppet Movie, The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth in the mix!

The series begins with the MUPPET HISTORY 101 program, presented live by our very special guest, Jim Henson Company puppeteer DAVE GOELZ, creator of Beauregard the Janitor, Zoot (the saxophonist of Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem) and the one-and-only Gonzo the Great!

This series is produced by The Jim Henson Legacy and Brooklyn Academy of Music. Tour Executive Producer Irena Kovarova. Please visit: www.JimHensonLegacy.org / www.BAM.org

The (amazing) schedule is below the cut.

Thursday, August 2nd @ 7:00 p.m.
MUPPET HISTORY 101 introduced by Jim Henson Company puppeteer DAVE GOELZ, creator of Gonzo!
This unique program of rarities examines the origins of the Muppets. Includes early live TV appearances, unusual commercials, guest spots on the Jimmy Dean and Dick Cavett Shows, and much more. Plus, this program contains excerpts from the rarely seen pilot for what would become The Muppet Show, The Muppets: Sex and Violence featuring a tribute to the Seven Deadly Sins. This program will be introduced by DAVE GOELZ, puppeteer for The Jim Henson Company, and creator of Gonzo the Great and many other beloved characters. (Running time: 67 min. plus introduction and Q&A with Dave Goelz) HD Digital Presentation

Saturday, August 4th @ 12:00 p.m.
MUPPET FAIRY TALES: THE FROG PRINCE & THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER
A program of two classic Muppet fairy tales! In THE FROG PRINCE (directed by Jim Henson, 1971), the Muppets explore the age-old question: What happens when you kiss a frog? No one can better tell that classic fairytale than Kermit and his friends. In THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER (directed by David Grossman, 1994), a wacky dilemma pops up: What if the elves that come to the aid of the shoemaker are actually Elvises? If Rapunzel appeared on Sesame Street,what twists on the story would you expect? See these classic tales told through the eyes of the Muppets in this program of rarely seen shorts. (Running time: 70 min.) HD Digital Presentation

Thursday, August 9th @ 7:00 p.m.
MUPPET MUSIC MOMENTS
Music was always an integral part of THE MUPPET SHOW, and the Jim Henson Legacy has assembled a collection of some of the classic music numbers interpreted as only the Muppets can. This compilation features a wide range of musical genres, including performances by guest stars Harry Belafonte, Elton John, and Linda Ronstadt. (Running time: 70 min.) HD Digital Presentation

Friday, August 10th @ 10:00 p.m. / Saturday, August 11th @ 10:00 p.m. / Sunday, August 12th @ 10:00 a.m.
THE MUPPET MOVIE / Late Night Cult Classics and Kiddie Cult Classics screenings!
From Kermit the Frog's humble origins in a swamp, to the entire gang being hired by studio head Orson Wells, THE MUPPET MOVIE is an absolute delight. As Kermit makes his way to fables Hollywood, he assembles his team of like-minded individuals, including Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, Gonzo the Great, and others. The movie includes Kermit's heart-tugging "Rainbow Connection," and the film ends on a surprisingly existential note. (Directed by James Frawley, 1979, 95 min., rated G) 35mm

Saturday, August 11th @ 12:00 p.m.
SESAME STREET AT 40: MILESTONES ON THE STREET
This “best-of” compilation features dozens of classic moments in the forty-year history of the show, including excerpts from the first episode, celebrity guests, and some of the best bits from Ernie and Bert, Big Bird, Snuffy, and the rest of the gang.
(Running time: 81 min.) HD Digital Presentation

Thursday, Saturday, August 16th @ 7:00 p.m.
COMMERCIALS AND EXPERIMENTS
This program is a collection of experimental shorts, crazy commercials, and other rarities from the Henson vault. Highlights include: a legendary commercial and industrial film for Wilson’s Meat that must be seen to believed, excerpts from Henson’s experimental television programs THE CUBE and YOUTH 68: EVERYTHING’S CHANGING...OR MAYBE IT ISN’T, and TIME PIECE, an 8-minute experimental masterpiece from 1965 that showcases Henson’s talent for making music out of everyday sounds. (Running time: 60 min.) HD Digital Presentation

Friday, August 17th @ 10:00 p.m. / Saturday, August 18th @ 10:00 p.m. / Sunday, August 19th @ 10:00 a.m.
THE DARK CRYSTAL / Late Night Cult Classics and Kiddie Cult Classics screenings!
Mixing Brian Froud's conceptual design and elements of traditional fairy tales, Henson and longtime collaborator Frank Oz create a fantastic world ruled by the hulking, dragon-like Skeksis, where an elf-like orphan must venture forth to defeat them. Using a mix of puppetry, marionettes, modern special effects, and more, DARK CRYSTAL creates a visual world rarely e quled in any fantasy film while remaining true to its basis in universal myths. (Directed by Jim Henson & Frank Oz, 1982, 93 min., rated PG) 35mm

Saturday, August 18th @ 12:00 p.m.
JIM HENSON AND FRIENDS: INSIDE THE SESAME STREET VAULTS
This super-entertaining program highlights the contributions of Jim Henson and his early SESAME STREET collaborators, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Fran Brill, and Caroll Spinney. In addition to old favorites, there are some extremely rare clips from specials and guest appearances on other television programs. (Running time: 83 min.) HD Digital Presentation

Thursday, August 23rd @ 7:00 p.m.
SING! THE MUSIC OF SESAME STREET
A joyous, sometimes hilarious and poignant salute to forty years of SESAME STREET music, featuring the original show classics, parodies, and special visits from some of the music industry’s biggest names. (Running time: 82 min.) HD Digital Presentation

Friday, August 24th @ 10:00 p.m. / Saturday, August 25th @ 10:00 p.m. / Sunday, August 26th @ 10:00 a.m.
LABYRINTH / Late Night Cult Classics and Kiddie Cult Classics screenings!
Henson returns to the land of fantasy, this time creating a modern-day Alice in Wonderland (with conceptual design by illustrator Brian Froud). Jennifer Connelly plays Sarah, a young girl who must travel through the Labyrinth to save her baby brother from the Goblin King (David Bowie, "perfectly cast" - The New York Times). Full of Jim Henson's Creature Shop's typically imaginative design, the film's eye-popping sets, including the M.C. Escher inspired castle, create a wholly believable world existing just behind the facade of reality. (Directed by Jim Henson, 1986, 101 min., rated PG) 35mm

Saturday, August 25th @ 12:00 p.m.
MUPPET MUSIC MOMENTS (Encore Presentation)
Music was always an integral part of THE MUPPET SHOW, and the Jim Henson Legacy has assembled a collection of some of the classic music numbers interpreted as only the Muppets can. This compilation features a wide range of musical genres, including performances by guest stars Harry Belafonte, Elton John, and Linda Ronstadt. (Running time: 70 min.) HD Digital Presentation

Thursday, August 30th @ 7:00 p.m.
JIM HENSON AND FRIENDS: INSIDE THE SESAME STREET VAULTS (Encore Presentation)
This super-entertaining program highlights the contributions of Jim Henson and his early SESAME STREET collaborators, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Fran Brill, and Caroll Spinney. In addition to old favorites, there are some extremely rare clips from specials and guest appearances on other television programs. (Running time: 83 min.) HD Digital Presentation