Jim Henson’s Imagination Illustrated: Exploring the Archives of a Creative Mind

Join Karen Falk, Archives Director of The Jim Henson Company and Vice President of The Jim Henson Legacy, as she discusses her book, Jim Henson’s Imagination Illustrated. This presentation explores Henson’s story through the lens of his “Red Book” journal and personal and production material drawn from his archives, as well as rare video clips illustrating his creative thinking and the arc of his visionary career. Following the presentation, Jim Henson Legacy President Craig Shemin leads Henson trivia and giveaways. Arrive early to enjoy a banjo performance by musician and Kermit collaborator Lucas Ross! 

Tickets: $15 / $11 senior and students / $9 youth (ages 3–17) / free for MoMI members at the Senior/Student level and above. There is a $1.50 transaction fee per ticket for all online purchases. The cost of admission may be applied toward a same-day purchase of a membership. 

Order tickets. Please pick up tickets at the Museum’s admissions desk upon arrival. All seating is general admission. 

Karen Falk
Since 1992, Karen Falk has served as the Archives Director and historian for The Jim Henson Company and is Vice President of The Jim Henson Legacy. She is the author of Jim Henson’s Imagination illustrated and the main contributor to The Jim Henson Company website “Jim’s Red Book.” As part of her work with The Jim Henson Legacy, she curated the Jim Henson’s Fantastic World traveling exhibit and has organized numerous Henson exhibits for museums and universities. Falk works closely with the Worlds of Puppetry Museum at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta on their Jim Henson Collection and special exhibitions. She collaborates with the Museum of the Moving Image in New York on their Jim Henson Exhibition and serves on their Board. In addition, Falk has contributed to numerous publications, web sites, video releases, and documentaries, including director Ron Howard’s Jim Henson: Idea Man, relating to the life and work of Jim Henson. 

Craig Shemin
President of The Jim Henson Legacy, Muppet historian, and author of Sam and Friends: The Story of Jim Henson’s First Television Show, Craig began his career with a 14-year stint at The Jim Henson Company, where he wrote television scripts, meeting films, computer games, trading cards, licensed product, and most anything else the Muppets were associated with. Craig’s television writing credits include Clifford the Big Red Dog, Lou and Lou: Safety Patrol, Tasty Time with ZeFronk (Emmy nomination), The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss (WGA Award nomination), Courage the Cowardly Dog, Oobi, and Dora and Friends: Into the City. He produced and directed an award-winning documentary about the making of Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas and wrote The Muppets Character Encyclopedia. 

Lucas Ross
Lucas is an actor/comedian/musician and beekeepers’ son from Minco, Oklahoma. He is a 7-time Heartland Emmy-winner as well as winner of a national Emmy for on-air performance for Oklahoma’s KFOR-TV. Lucas has been featured on national television and feature films including his appearance as a banjo player on screen in Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon. Lucas has worked on stage or screen with Conan O’Brien, “Weird Al” Yamkovic, Matthew McConaughey, Kurt Russell, Robert Picardo, Béla Fleck, Willie Nelson and Kermit the Frog as well as with the Oklahoma Philharmonic. He is a Deering Banjo artist and has released 5 banjo albums: “Son of a Beekeeper,” “Banjo Farm,” “Banjos in Space,” “Aubrie & Lucas,” which he recorded with his wife, and “There Will Be Banjo: Lucas Ross Live at the Oklahoma Opry!” When he’s not making TV, Lucas can be found at the American Banjo Museum in Bricktown, OKC as their Community Outreach and Promotions Coordinator where he develops educational programs, leads their award-winning “Pick-a-Tune” class, and appears alongside Kermit the Frog in their award-winning ‘Banjo Roots’ program.