The Muppets Present... Great Moments in American Historywas a live show located in theLiberty Squarearea at theMagic Kingdom,performed daily and featuredthe Muppetspresenting abridged accounts of notable milestones fromthe Colonial eraofAmerican historyand its majority unfolded from the second-story windows of the Heritage House, adjacent to theHall of Presidentsattraction.[2]The show premiered on October 2, 2016[3]and went on a brief hiatus on October 5, 2019, before temporarily returning three months later for a brief holiday run from December 23 to 31, 2019[4][5]before closing on February 17, 2020 due to theCOVID-19 pandemicclosure. This was the last Muppets production to featureSteve Whitmirebefore his dismissal from the role of Kermit and other characters sometime in the same month of October 2016.
| The Muppets Present...Great Moments in American History | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Magic Kingdom | |
| Area | Liberty Square |
| Status | Removed |
| Opening date | October 2, 2016 |
| Closing date | February 17, 2020 |
| Ride statistics | |
| Attraction type | Puppet show |
| Designer | Disney Live Entertainment |
| Theme | The Muppets,American history |
| Music | Valerie Vigodaand Brendan Milburn[1] |
| Duration | 7–11 minutes |
 Wheelchair accessible | |
The Muppets are physically performed live in the show by the park's in-house puppeteers in synchronization to a pre-recorded dialogue track.The Muppets Studioand Muppet performersSteve Whitmire,Eric Jacobson,andDave Goelzprovided consultation, as well as recording the voices for their respective characters.[1]
Show
editKermit the Frog,Miss Piggy,Fozzie Bear,Gonzo,andSam Eagleare featured in the show. A live cast member portrays James "J.J." Jefferson, thetown crierwho engages the audience in the "Declaration of Independence" sketch.[2][6][7]
Each show performance features one of the following sketches:[8]
- Declaration of Independence— Sam and J.J. narrate the events that unfolded during the 1776Second Continental CongressinPhiladelphia,and the eventual drafting of theDeclaration of Independence.The historical figures included here areThomas Jefferson(portrayed by Kermit),John Adams(portrayed by Gonzo), andBenjamin Franklin(portrayed by Fozzie). Miss Piggy portrays the dual gender role reversal ofGeorge WashingtonandKing George III.[9]
- Midnight Ride of Paul Revere— Sam retellsHenry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1860 poem, "Paul Revere's Ride",depicting the subject ofPaul Revere's (portrayed by Kermit) historical "Midnight Ride".[9]
Voice cast
edit- Steve Whitmireas Kermit the Frog
- Eric Jacobsonas Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and Sam Eagle
- Dave Goelzas Gonzo
Development
editThe show's development started in the spring of 2014, following the release ofMuppets Most Wanted.Originally, the show was only going to feature Sam Eagle interacting with guests and telling them about American history. However, it was later decided that, to make the show more entertaining, Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and Gonzo would be added in.[10]Jim Lewiswas asked to provide consultation on the show's scripts. Due to the distance between guests and the Muppet characters, the puppets are made 5% larger than the size traditionally used for film and television.[10]
References
edit- ^abDeitchman, Beth (October 3, 2016)."The Muppets Make History at Magic Kingdom Park".Disney D23.RetrievedOctober 8,2016.
- ^abMunarriz, Rick (October 2, 2016)."Disney World's Next Trick: Muppets".The Motley Fool.RetrievedOctober 13,2016.
- ^Fickley-Baker, Jennifer (October 8, 2016)."'The Muppets Present… Great Moments in American History' Opens at Magic Kingdom Park ".Disney Parks Blog.RetrievedOctober 13,2016.
- ^Sterling, Derek (December 16, 2019)."BREAKING:" The Muppets Present…Great Moments in American History "Returning to the Magic Kingdom for a Limited Time".WDW News Today.RetrievedJanuary 20,2020.
- ^"The Muppets will return to Present Great Moments in American History during the Christmas week".WDWMagic.December 19, 2019.RetrievedJanuary 20,2020.
- ^Bevil, Dewayne (July 28, 2016)."Disney: Muppets show coming to Magic Kingdom".Orlando Sentinel.RetrievedJuly 28,2016.
- ^Slater, Shawn (July 28, 2016)."The Muppets Are Coming to Walt Disney World Resort This Fall in an All-New Show".Disney Parks Blog.RetrievedJuly 28,2016.
- ^Bevil, Dewayne (September 29, 2016)."Disney to debut 'The Muppets Present... Great Moments in American History'".Orlando Sentinel.RetrievedOctober 13,2016.
- ^abBevil, Dewayne (October 4, 2016)."First look: Disney's new Muppet show makes history".Orlando Sentinel.RetrievedOctober 13,2016.
- ^abHill, Jim (November 9, 2016)."WDW's new" The Muppets Present… Great Moments in American History "show brings authentic Muppet mayhem to Liberty Square".The Huffington Post.RetrievedNovember 10,2016.