The Walt Disney Family Museum has been celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Jim Henson Company all year. On Saturday, November 15, the Museum will be closing out the celebration with an exclusive Talk with Author Craig Shemin as he discusses his two books about Sam and Friends—Jim Henson’s first television show—with Dave Goelz, the master puppeteer and voice actor behind Gonzo and other Henson favorites. The event will take place in the theater at the Museum at 1 pm.
Craig Shemin, author of Sam and Friends: The Story of Jim Henson’s First Television Show—and its upcoming follow-up volume The Sam and Friends Script Book—began his career with a 14-year stint at the Jim Henson Company. While at Henson, Shemin wrote for Telling Stories with Tomie DePaola (2001), Donna’s Day, and WGA Award®-nominated The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss. He also wrote the award-winning computer game Muppets Inside and the Muppet Treasure Island CD-ROM game. He co-wrote the Webby-nominated web series The Muppets Kitchen, assisted Miss Piggy with her cookbook In the Kitchen with Miss Piggy, and worked on numerous Muppet television appearances and other projects. His more recent Muppet work includes Carnegie Hall’s Jim Henson’s Musical World (2012) and The Jim Henson Retrospectacle in Concert (2018) in New Zealand.
Now serving as President of the Jim Henson Legacy, a non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating the work of Jim Henson, Shemin is a noted Henson historian. He is the author of The Muppets Character Encyclopedia and produced and directed the award-winning documentary Behind the Scenes in Frogtown Hollow (2005) about the making of Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas (1977). He also curates the Henson screening events at Museum of the Moving Image, and in 2022 produced Disney’s D23 Expo’s There’s Magic in the Air, a special performance and panel marking the 30th anniversary of The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992).
Outside of the world of Jim Henson, Shemin’s television work includes the recent PBS/Amazon series Clifford the Big Red Dog and Nick Jr.’s Abby Hatcher. For Disney, he created and wrote Lou and Lou: Safety Patrol and wrote the Emmy®-nominated Tasty Time with ZeFronk. He directed a series of streaming holiday specials featuring Spookley the Square Pumpkin. His writing credits also include Nick Jr.’s Dora and Friends: Into the City, Oobi, Gullah Gullah Island, and the Cartoon Network series Courage the Cowardly Dog.
He writes and directs the L.O.S. Kids live concert series for New York City’s Little Orchestra Society. At the Lincoln Center, his adaptation of Babes in Toyland played for three holiday seasons and his updated version of Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel made its debut in 2014. He is also working on a book about Jack Benny’s television guest appearances.
Shemin was honored by the Puppeteers of America with the George Latshaw Award for achievement in writing in 2023.
He is married to the delightful Tony®-nominated performer Stephanie D’Abruzzo.
Dave Goelz joined the Jim Henson Company in 1973 as a puppet designer/builder and eventually became a core Muppet Performer. He performs The Great Gonzo, Bunsen Honeydew, Zoot, Beauregard, Waldorf, Chip, Boober, and Traveling Matt Fraggle, along with many others. He has starred in most Jim Henson and Muppet television programs and feature films since 1973, including The Dark Crystal (1982) and Labyrinth (1986).
Tickets for Jim Henson’s Sam and Friends Scripts with Author Craig Shemin and Special Guest Dave Goelz are available now as follows:
- Walt’s Circle Donors: Purchase tickets now by emailing membership@wdfmuseum.org.
- Founding, Supporter, and Friend-level members: Purchase tickets now by emailing membership@wdfmuseum.org.
- All member levels: Purchase tickets online now via the Member Portal.
- Public (non-members): Remaining tickets are now available online.
- Tickets for Members are $15. Non-member adult tickets are $35, seniors and students with ID are $30, youths are $25, and children 5 and under are free. Registration is required.
Upgrade your membership to receive priority access to purchase tickets. For more information, please email the Membership Department at membership@wdfmuseum.org.
What do you think of this event at the Walt Disney Family Museum? Are you a fan of the Muppets and the Jim Henson Company? Let us know in the comments.
