Reimagined ‘Fraggle Rock’ a production for all ages

The whimsical, underground world of Fraggle Rock comes to life once again with puppeteers and self-proclaimed fanatics of the 1980s-era popular children’s TV show delivering a live performance to capture audiences of all ages.

The Jim Henson series, which originally aired in 1983, has been reimagined for the stage in “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Live,” with the show’s arrival at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan Sunday, March 2.

Audience members can watch the Fraggles embark on an adventure to find an ancient celebration stone from old Fraggle Rock, according to Geneviève Flati, the show’s puppeteer captain.

“Everybody on Fraggle Rock parties and has a good time,” said Flati. “It’s about bringing people together.”

John Tartaglia — the show’s writer, director and choreographer and the voice of Gobo — said the production is a welcome space for people of all ages to experience the wonder of Fraggle Rock.

“We felt like it was not only a way to introduce people to the show, but also to celebrate fans who grew up with the original series,” Tartaglia said. “We were really mindful that this production is for all ages. I think the best entertainment always works when it's for everybody.”

Tartaglia, along with Flati and a cast of eight total puppet actors, have been touring since January, and will continue to bring live performances across the country through May. The show employs different kinds of puppets to convey the story, including half body rods, handheld and parade-style puppets.

Flati began her career as a puppeteer after being spotted as a performer at Disneyland’s California Adventure. She said much of the joy in this production comes from the passion from those who put it on.

“Everyone in the cast and the crew is a fan of the show, so you can tell when people onstage are having a good time doing what they’re doing,” Flati said. “If anyone out there is looking for a good time and people who are genuinely excited, this is the show to see.”

Flati was plucked from her work at Disney at age 25, and now is the youngest female puppeteer captain in the history of The Jim Henson Company.

Among the show’s featured Fraggles are Mokey, Gobo, Boober, Wembley and Red — characters, Tartaglia said, bringing to life has been a manifestation of his childhood dreams.

“When you’re a kid, all you know is what’s in front of you — what feels real,” Tartaglia said. “For me, as a little kid, I absolutely had this immense passion for ‘Fraggle Rock,’ and a love for all things Jim Henson and ‘The Muppets.’ I just wanted to be part of that world.”

After stumbling upon the original “Fraggle Rock” series by chance at age 7, Tartaglia said his instantaneous fanaticism with that world set him on a path toward his current life in show business.

“When people would ask me, ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?,’ I’d always say it doesn’t exist anymore, it was to be a puppeteer on ‘Fraggle Rock,’” Tartaglia said. “The fact that not only did we get to bring the show back to life, but I’m playing one of my favorite characters, and I'm getting to now kind of oversee all these wonderful projects we’re doing with ‘Fraggle Rock’ — it just feels like this weird manifestation of whatever I had in my childhood head.”

Love of “Fraggle Rock” transcends age. Tartaglia and Flati say fans of all ages opt into the world of the Fraggles for date nights, family outings and everything in between.

“Now, because of the reboot on AppleTV+ we’ve been working on, it’s such a multigenerational love for (the show),” said Tartaglia. “One of the most amazing experiences a family can have is going to see something live in the theater together.”

The production is not without its challenges, however. Other than operating heavy equipment and making inanimate puppets emote, puppeteers often have to perform puppet pit stops before, after — and sometimes even during the show.

“The big kind of joke in puppeteer world is that puppets break — puppets are made to break,” Flati said. “But, to be so honest, that’s what makes it fun. It’s the same thing in theater, you’re watching it in real time, it’s happening in front of you. There’s something special about that, in general.”

Tartaglia tells his performers, they’re more like athletes and need to treat themselves as such.

“Just like an athlete has to warm up and cool down, hydrate and nourish themselves, it's the same thing with these performers,” he said. “They work so hard, and they were chosen not just for their talent, but they’re all passionate about what they do. I think when you love what you do, you give the best performance you can give.”

Tartaglia and Flati agree every ounce of effort is worth it to see the joy among audiences.

“A lot of people say it’s their comfort show because ‘Fraggle Rock’ is all about bringing people together from different backgrounds. It takes everybody to make ‘Fraggle Rock,’ that world, special,” said Flati. “Whether people are 99 or 9 days old, there’s something in it for everybody.”

Tartaglia agrees about the show’s timeless, broad appeal.

“If I wasn’t doing this job, if I was still just a fan, I would absolutely be the first one in line to buy tickets,” Tartaglia said. “We all live in this crazy world, and sometimes we just want to get away from it. We want to feel that there’s a place where we all belong, a place where we’re safe and accepted for who we are — and that’s always been the power of ‘Fraggle Rock.’”

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Location: Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan; (847) 263-6300 or genesee

theatre.com/.

Time: 3 p.m. Sunday, March 2

Tickets: $35-$49; $75 VIP packages