OK, reviving an old thread here. I'm a newbie, so be kind.
I want to see THE MUPPET MIKADO! Gilbert & Sullivan's classic Japanese comedy would be a natural for the Muppets. And it's out of copyright! "*** Willow" (sung by Rowlf & Sam on the Muppet Show Album) is from this show, as is the classic "Three Little Maids from School Are We." (G&S also wrote "The Pirates of Penzance" as featured in the Gilda Radner episode.)
Kermit - Nanki Poo, a wand'ring minstrel (the Mikado's son in disguise)
Piggy - Yum-Yum, a blushing maiden (beautiful & vain, loves Nanki Poo)
Two other pigs - Pitti Sing & Peep Bo (her sisters)
Gonzo - Ko Ko, the Lord High Executioner
(he's got a little list of those who won't be missed, but
can't bring himself to actually kill anything...loves Yum
even tho she is repulsed by him)
Sam the Eagle - Pooh Bah, a haughty nobleman (easily bribed)
Scooter - Pish Tush, Pooh Bah's subordinate (a yes-man)
Uncle Deadly - The Mikado, ruler of Japan (a jolly despot)
New Muppet - Katisha, an elderly noblewoman, loves Nanki Poo
(just a wee-bit bloodthirsty)
Various others - Chorus of Japanese townspeople
Hmm, the only problem is there's no role for Fozzie. Perhaps he could play Pish Tush but it's not a large part and Scotter is better suited, really, since he's a go-fer anyway. Pepe would be funny but it's a singing role.
Piggy is an interesting case. She's more suited to play Katisha, but she'd never stand for being cast as anything but Yum Yum! Her "wrongness" for the role could actually be very funny.