WORLDS OF PUPPETRY MUSEUM
Grand opening. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 14. $10.50 timed entry tickets; $20.50 all-inclusive tickets, including Create-a-Puppet Workshop and admission to "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."
Meet Abby Cadabby from "Sesame Street," Sockly and Leslie Carrara-Rudolph and her puppet pal Lolly Lardpop. Dine from food trucks Hail Caesar and Spiedie Zone, and enjoy happy hour (4-6 p.m.).
Beginning Nov. 15. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays; noon-5 p.m. Sundays. Last entry 4:30 p.m. each day. $10.50 ages 2 and older; free for members. 1404 Spring St. N.W., Atlanta. 404-873-3391, www.puppet.org.
The Center for Puppetry Arts has long been one of the crown jewels of Atlanta's attractions, but on Nov. 14, it marks a major milestone with the grand opening of the new Worlds of Puppetry Museum. Here are nine things to know before you go.
1. The Center for Puppetry Arts' 15,000-square-foot, $14 million Worlds of Puppetry Museum broke ground in June 2014. It was paid for by individual and corporate donations.
2. The museum features two galleries. The Global Collection Gallery houses 175 puppets and artifacts representing five continents. The Jim Henson Collection Gallery offers a changing array of more than 75 items chronicling Henson's career in TV and film.
3. A highlight of the Jim Henson Collection Gallery is a re-creation of an interactive, operational TV studio. There's also a re-creation of a Henson puppet workshop.
4. Jim Henson first met Vince Anthony, president and executive director of the Center for Puppetry Arts, in 1974 when Anthony was trying to drum up interest and funds for the center at a Puppeteers of America festival in New Orleans. Four years later, Henson — along with Kermit the Frog — was in Atlanta to cut the ribbon on opening day.
5. Henson died in 1990. In 2007, his family donated more than 500 artifacts from his career to the Center for Puppetry Arts, including puppets and other items from "Sesame Street," "The Muppet Show," "Fraggle Rock" and "The Dark Crystal."
6. One highlight of the Global Collection Gallery is a pair of stop-motion puppets from director Tim Burton's 2005 film "Corpse Bride." They share space with Gumby and Pokey from "The Gumby Show."
7. Speaking of Gumby, celebrate the rubbery green dude's 60th anniversary with an evening of your favorite episodes at 7 p.m. Dec. 5. Specially curated for the center by Joe Clokey, son of Gumby creator Art Clokey, the screening will feature handpicked episodes and clips of "The Gumby Show." $10.50.
8. Among a collection of puppets representing Africa in the Global Collection Gallery are prototype masks of the characters Scar and Mufasa from "The Lion King" Broadway musical.
9. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," a Jon Ludwig adaptation of the classic TV special and a holiday favorite with families, runs through Dec. 27. Ticket includes admission to the museum and Create-a-Puppet workshop. $20.50-$24.50.
— Compiled from staff reports
