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Credit: Disney Sad news for The Muppets fans…Days before the scheduled grand opening, a Broadway show guest starring Jim Henson’s beloved characters has announced that it will close months earlier than anticipated.
“Rob Lake Magic With Special Guests the Muppets” on Broadway
“Rob Lake Magic With Special Guests the Muppets” started preview performances at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York City on October 28. The show was initially scheduled to open on November 6, but the grand opening was delayed to November 11. It was planned for a limited run through January 18, 2026.
As the title suggests, the show heavily features magician Rob Lake performing visual stunts alongside special appearances from Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog, and friends. It marks the Broadway debut for Jim Henson’s iconic characters, though the idea of bringing The Muppets to the Big Apple stage has been circulating for over 50 years.
“The idea of bringing The Muppets to Broadway has been around for 50 years,” Producer Joe Quenqua told Entertainment Weekly. “That we are the ones who finally have the honor of making that dream come true is truly humbling.”
A Sudden Closure
On November 11–the day of the grand opening–Playbill reported that “Rob Lake Magic With Special Guests the Muppets” had announced an early closure. The final performance is set for November 16, 2025. At the time of closure, the show will have played 20 preview performances and just four regular performances.
Critic reviews of Broadway shows typically come out the evening of or the day after a grand opening, giving productions a chance to make changes during the preview period. However, the unfortunate closure announcement seems to have delayed publication.
Still, that tradition doesn’t stop theatregoers from sharing their unfiltered thoughts on new shows. In response to Playbill’s Instagram announcement of the production’s closure, many shared their disappointment that the 90-minute show (with no intermission) had less than ten minutes of performances by The Muppets.
The limited holiday engagement of Rob Lake Magic With Special Guests The Muppet [sic.] will take its final bow early.
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“The problem is, the people were promised a show with The Muppets fully being a part of it, but instead, Rob Lake decided to have the show centered around him and have The Muppets, the real main appeal of the show, only on stage for 10-15 minutes,” read one of the most popular comments from @mandiistone.
“We’d have paid full price for an actual play with Muppets,” @ahnagler replied.
Still, others blamed the show’s producers for opening before the holiday tourism season began in New York City.
“It opened too early,” said @siennaroseofficial. “If it waited a month they would’ve got the holiday crowd.”
The Future of The Muppets
Despite the early closure of “Rob Lake Magic With Special Guests the Muppets,” the Jim Henson characters aren’t going anywhere. In September, Disney+ announced that it was developing an exclusive The Muppet Show special starring Sabrina Carpenter, set to premiere in 2026.
Then, a few days ago, Jennifer Lawrence confirmed that she and Emma Stone are developing a Miss Piggy movie, written by Tony Award winner Cole Escola.
Unfortunately, though, the Rob Lake show wasn’t the first Muppet-related project to say goodbye this year. This summer, Muppet*Vision 3D welcomed its final guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The Walt Disney Company has promised to preserve the show for future enjoyment by fans, but hasn’t shared any details on what that might entail.
Luckily, The Muppets will return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2026! Catch the Muppets Mayhem cast on the reimagined Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets next summer.
Can’t wait til then? Catch Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog live on stage during the Disney Holidays in Hollywood show during Disney Jollywood Nights, a seasonal event at Walt Disney World Resort!