Calling All Muppets and Sesame Street Lovers!

Gaithersburg Book Festival to Host an Evening with Jim Henson Biographer Brian Jay Jones

Since the 1970s, Kermit, Miss Piggy, Animal, Beaker, Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Bert and Ernie, the Fraggle Rock crew and a slew of other Muppets have been delighting children and adults alike. And now, adults who grew up loving The Muppet Show and Sesame Street – and watching them on television – have an opportunity to learn more about Jim Henson, the creative and brilliant man behind these cultural icons.

WHAT: An evening with Brian Jay Jones, author of “Jim Henson: The Biography”

WHEN: Wednesday, April 16, 7 p.m.

WHERE: Gaithersburg Public Library, 18330 Montgomery Village Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20879

COST: FREE. No tickets are required.

During the evening, Jones will be showing extensive video footage that many have not seen before, including commercials that aired in Washington, D.C., and clips from the early days of “Sam and Friends.”

“I’m going to show people things they haven’t seen that are all still very Jim, all still very funny,” Jones said during this minute-long Montgomery Community Media video. “ I think everyone will have a good time. But that’s what makes Jim such a great, compelling subject. There are so many things to show people, so many things you’re probably not familiar with that people don’t realize Jim does.”

While writing “Jim Henson: The Biography,” Jones interviewed all five Henson children and Henson’s widow, Jane—who passed away earlier this year—as well as countless colleagues, friends and collaborators.

Politics & Prose will have Jones’ book available for purchase at the event.

For more information please visit the Gaithersburg Book Festival website.