Henson Nativity puppet show coming to Winter Garden

West Orange County has professional stages, art galleries, music venues and cinemas, but there’s still something missing from the arts world.

“We love Winter Garden, and what does it need? A puppet theater,” Sean Keohane said. “If Florida has one, it should be here.”

Keohane remembers having the ability to see performances at five puppet theaters as a child growing up in New York, but the opportunity to witness this genre is rare in Florida. He used to manage Pinocchio’s Marionette Theater at Altamonte Mall, but since Pinocchio’s closed, he has developed a vision for a permanent, nonprofit puppet theater in Winter Garden.

Keohane wants the new theater to be folksy and fun, evoking themes of the history of puppetry but also the history of Florida. He just needs to find a place for it.

Until then, Keohane will be organizing performances at other venues in the community, including a Christmas show that was born from his relationship with the Henson family, who created the muppets.

About 15 years ago, Jane Henson wanted to create a nativity show, and she asked Keohane to write it. Jim Henson’s Creature Shop in New York built the puppets and a professor from the University of Central Florida built the set.

“It’s the stry of the birth of baby Jesus, biblically-based, gospel-based,” Keohane said. “It’s basically the Bible turned into old English drama, and they were very good dramatists.”

Jane funded the show’s tour to schools and churches for a few years, but then she died. In 2013, CBS broadcasted a special of an abridged version of the show, filmed at a New York cathedral. But the show hasn’t been seen since.

Keohane wanted to revive the show this year, but without continued funding from the Hensons, he has to raise money to make it happen.

The first stop on the tour is in Michigan, but the show will be coming Jan. 9 to Episcopal Church of the Messiah in Winter Garden, where Suzanna Leigh is a parishioner. Leigh, now 70, is known for her roles as an actress in British movies in the 60s and 70s, including a starring role with Elvis Presley in the film “Paradise, Hawaiian Style.”

Leigh will be playing the puppet of Elizabeth in the nativity show. She said puppetry is a great type of performance for children because they can interact with the characters, unlike watching TV.

“When you shout out to the baddie or the goodie, they actually respond to you,” Leigh said. “The child’s face is absolutely riveted.”

Proceeds from the performance at Episcopal Church of the Messiah will be donated to the church’s sponsorship of a Christian family from the Middle East that was displaced by ISIS. 

“Culturally, (the nativity) is a good story with a great message, and it relates today because the holy family becoming refugees at the end of the show, they have to flee for their lives,” Keohane said. 

Other churches that are interested in hosting a performance this season or for Christmas 2016 can contact Keohane at [email protected].

Contact Catherine Kerr at [email protected].