The Muppet Show: Rebuilding the Original Muppet Theatre

How do you bring back one of television’s most beloved environments when almost none of the original scenery or plans still exists?Emmy-nominated Production Designer Denise Pizzini and Set Decorator Bethany Barton reveal how their team recreated the original Muppet Theatre for the Disney+ special The Muppet Show.Using screenshots, extensive research and one surviving drawing of Kermit’s backstage office, they reconstructed the theatre’s architecture, auditorium, backstage spaces, practical lighting and decades of beautifully controlled clutter.Denise and Bethany explain the hidden engineering required to design simultaneously for Muppets, puppeteers and human performers—from elevated stages and hollow counters to removable chair backs, adjustable furniture and performer pits.They also take us inside Sabrina Carpenter’s glittering cowboy bar, Miss Piggy’s Bridgerton-inspired ballroom, the Bayou musical number and Gonzo’s practical stunt set with real fire and sparks.It’s a detailed look at nostalgia, scale, fabrication and the high-stakes scavenger hunt required to make Jim Henson’s world feel as though it never stopped living.Hosted by Emmy-winning Set Decorator Kim Wannop.👉 Get the FREE Quick Reference Set Decorating Template: www.decoratingpagespodcast.comDiscover the Art of TV & Film Design with Decorating Pages PodcastHosted by Emmy-winning Set Decorator Kim Wannop, this podcast takes you behind the scenes of your favorite shows and movies. Each episode features in-depth conversations with the industry’s top production designers, set decorators, prop masters, and art department professionals, offering rare insight into the creative process of visual storytelling.Whether you’re a film and TV fan, aspiring designer, or entertainment industry pro, Decorating Pages Podcast is your backstage pass to the world of production design. Learn how sets are built, stories are shaped visually, and characters come to life—one episode at a time.🔔 Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, TuneIn, and iHeartRadio so you never miss an episode.📲 Follow for daily design contentInstagram: @decoratingpagesTikTok: @decoratingpagespodcastYouTube: Decorating Pages Podcast