I am thrilled
to announce that Brian, Cheryl, Heather, John and Lisa Henson have concluded
a deal to repurchase the Henson Company! A summary of the transaction
and some comments on its significance appear in the attached
news release. This announcement is a wonderful and quite extraordinary
ending for what has been a tumultuous three-year period.
Over
the years, this company’s extraordinary team of performers, producers,
writers, and artists has fought an uphill battle against what has seemed
at times overwhelming odds. Despite those odds, together we’ve
managed to create some absolutely brilliant productions and products,
and made a difference in people’s lives. What we’ve produced—in
spite of everything, including the turmoil at our parent company, and
the challenges facing every independent production company in today’s
entertainment environment—has been achieved with integrity, creativity,
and a respect for our audience and our history.
I think
we can all feel proud of what we have accomplished together. And I think
that those of us who have devoted much, or all, of our working lives
to this company and its wonderful characters and productions should
take pride and comfort in knowing that all of our great work will once
again be in Henson hands.
Over the
next few weeks, I will be meeting with Brian and Lisa to discuss their
vision for the new JHC and how it will be structured. I’ll be
in touch with each of you individually once these decisions have been
finalized.
Like
many of you, I had the privilege of working closely with Jim Henson,
and like many of you, I know how pleased Jim would be to hear this wonderful
news. As we finally end this long, sometimes painful, but ultimately
happy chapter of the Muppet story, I want to thank every one of you
for believing in the dream and for all you have done to make this very
special company what it has been, what it is, and what it will be.
-Charlie
Rivkin, Henson CEO and President