Rob Lake & Kermit the Frog Talk Making Broadway Magic with The Muppets

Long before Rob Lake was a professional magician, he was a Broadway lover. As a self-described “theater kid,” the Oklahoma native made regular sojourns to New York City, saving up money to see as many Broadway shows as he possibly could on every trip.

Now, the world-renowned illusionist is back in the Big Apple, but this time, he won’t be sitting in the audience. Instead, he’ll be performing in his very own Broadway spectacle, Rob Lake Magic With Special Guests The Muppets.

As the show’s title hints, Lake won’t be taking the stage at the Broadhurst Theatre by storm all alone. For part of the show, he’ll be joined onstage by The Muppets — a prospect Lake himself still can’t quite believe.

“These are my guys. I was obsessed with them as a kid,” he tells Ticketmaster of Kermit, Miss Piggy and the rest of the gang. “In rehearsal, I still pinch myself saying, ‘Oh my god, I’m next to Kermit the Frog!’”

Of course, Kermit is just as effusive about receiving the invitation from Lake to join in the magic — though the famous frog is quick not to give away any spoilers about who else might pop up during the act. “I can’t think of a more fun or a more — dare I say magical — way to be on Broadway than to join my friend, Rob, while he performs one of his illusions,” Kermit tells Ticketmaster. “Being on stage is always easier when you’re there with a friend like Rob. His magic is so creative and most of all, it’s really fun!”

The curtain rose for Rob Lake Magic With Special Guests The Muppets on October 28, and the awe-inspiring show will play for a limited run of just 12 weeks. Ahead of opening night, Ticketmaster caught up with Lake and Kermit in between rehearsals for an exclusive chat about the magic of Broadway, The Muppets Take Manhattan and more.

Congratulations on your show! You’re about a week away from starting performances. How is it going?

Rob Lake: Thank you, it’s a dream. You know, we’re a touring show normally. We kind of travel like a group of vagabonds, almost like a circus family, where everyone in the crew does everything. So we’re used to doing a lot of tour stops, and this is definitely not like a tour stop. We’re used to setting up at 7:00 or 8:00 in the morning and having a show that night. It’s just so much different in New York and on Broadway.

Where did the idea come from to bring the show to Broadway?

RL: It’s always been the idea, if I’m being honest. I was a theater kid ever before magic, and I never let go of that part of me. So when I got into magic, I knew that would be my type of theater.

When did you get into magic?

RL: I started when I was 10 years old, I saw a big magic show. I’d seen magic at birthday parties and school assemblies, and I thought it was cool and fun, but it had never grasped me. But I saw a very big magic show — it had maybe 30 dancers and assistants, and had tigers and appearing vehicles and helicopters. So it was a very big-scale show. And I’m pretty sure it had to have been the scale and the theatricality of it that really said, “Oh, this is what you can do!”

Had you already been performing at that age?

RL: Yeah, I did all those acting camps and theater camps and school shows. And I would make all of my friends come over — and they tell me this now — as little, little kids, they didn’t want to come over ’cause I’d always make ’em do shows and puppet shows all the time. But now who’s calling me for tickets? [Laughs]

What can Broadway-goers expect from the show?

Kermit: Rob has put together the most incredible show, and it’s all about his magic and illusions. A few of my friends and I will make a guest appearance and help him with an illusion or two. But I don’t want to be the one to spoil the show, so you’ll have to see it for yourself.

RL: I’m bringing my favorite illusions. Because the New York theaters are so small and wing space is non-existent and, you know, because I can’t perform a five-hour show, I really had to pick through my entire repertoire of what I wanted to perform. So [the show] is hand-picked of my favorite pieces of my career. And I take the audience on a journey. It’s not just trick, trick, trick, trick, trick. That wouldn’t engage or entertain me. My favorite storytelling is theater. So I use theater to tell the story of my illusions, and what magic means to me, and why magic and wonder are inspiring to me.

Rob, you also have previous Broadway credits helping design illusions for shows like Death Becomes Her and the national tour of Disney’s Aladdin. What were those experiences like for you?

RL: Amazing. I got to dabble in the world of theater, because it’s my passion and my excitement and my enthusiasm. And I love creative challenges. So I was able to create magic and illusions for worlds where I wouldn’t perform. Like the things I created for the Genie to do [in Aladdin], I would never do for myself. It was fun because, in both of those shows, I created these illusions in worlds that already existed. The script was done, the set was done, the characters were done. So I had a lot of parameters.

[Usually] when I create something, ultimately I’m the creator, the producer, the check-writer. The buck stops with me. But here, I had to work within different limitations, which meant very creative working. And also, the magic had to feel organic to those worlds. The illusions had to be natural and built in… you know, those properties are movies that became stage shows. So I kind of had to do it like CGI, where it’s like, it doesn’t feel like a standalone trick but just happens organically with those characters. And that was really fun for me, because I got to put my foot in the world of Broadway and work with some amazing, talented, heroic people and just really get to do some fun, fun stuff.

Did you learn any lessons working on Death Becomes Her that helped prepare you for your solo show?

RL: I learned a lot about how the process is different for New York and Broadway than anywhere else. There are things that you have to do, or can’t do, or can do only in New York. So I went in understanding a lot more than if I had just come in, like, showing up for the morning-of and loading the show and doing a tour stop. Broadway operates just completely differently than everything else… you know, I’ve performed on stages all around the world, but I’m now performing on the world’s stage.

Do you have any favorite Broadway shows that are close to your heart?

RL: How much time do we have? I could go on for hours. I recharge by going to see theater. I used to save my money to come on trips to New York, and I would eat slices of pizza or tuna sandwiches from Pret just so I could see as many shows as possible. I would have a whole grid and matrix of what shows I could see at what time. I would plan my entire trips by how many shows I could see. And I would just try to see everything possible.

 

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Anything you’ve seen recently that you’ve loved?

RL: Currently playing, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen MJ. It’s a tribute to the creative process and to follow your passions and your dreams. I just saw Ragtime yesterday and it is fabulous. That is one of my favorite shows ever, and this is such a great production. It was a brilliant show. I really love it all. It’s rare that I don’t love a show.

How does it feel to be on the stage of one of those very theaters that was on your list for all those trips to New York?

RL: I haven’t thought about that exactly. Just being on stage on Broadway in general is a pinch-me moment. Seeing my name on the marquee is a big, special moment. Yeah, just being here is overwhelming. It’s like, people come to Broadway if they never give up on their dreams. I feel like I haven’t given up, and I also haven’t fully awakened from my dreams yet.

You’re also helping The Muppets make their real-life Broadway debut in this show. I assume you’re a big Muppets fan?

RL: In addition to being a theater person, I’ve been a Disney and a Muppet person even longer. These are my guys. I was obsessed with them as a kid. My heroes were never magicians. They were Walt Disney and Jim Henson and [Steven] Spielberg and Ron Howard — the true wizards of our time, people who create these magical worlds where anything is possible. I was obsessed not only with The Muppets, but probably just as much with the behind-the-scenes, the movie magic, the making-of. Watching Jim Henson making stuff, watching behind-the-scenes of the new Disney attractions coming in and the old clips of Walt Disney giving us a tour of the Haunted Mansion or Pirates of the Caribbean.

I was a weird kid in that way. Those were my favorite shows, like Mega Movie Magic for the Discovery Channel. And I would get these big coffee table books from the library on the making of movies and shows, and just study them. So I’ve always had that in me. So you can’t tell my story and what magic is to me without starting with The Muppets.

Obviously, in the movies, The Muppets have already starred on Broadway in their own show in The Muppets Take Manhattan.

RL: Manhattan Melodies, yeah! I would have to say, one of my all-time favorite movies. Definitely my favorite movie as a child growing up — my most-watched VHS tape, no doubt. It taught me what show business is. It taught me what Broadway is. It taught me what following your dreams and clinging to your passions is. It really did. So I think that was a roadmap, and I probably watched that movie as a very, very young kid and took it as an instructional tape.

Along with Kermit, it’s been confirmed that Miss Piggy will also be making an appearance in the show. Can you tease any other Muppets joining in the fun?

RL: A magician never reveals his secrets!

What’s it been like working alongside Kermit?

RL: I’ve been able to work with him for two or three years now on this project, and it never gets old. In rehearsal, I still pinch myself saying, “Oh my god, I’m next to Kermit the Frog!” This is my hero here with me. Just coming to Broadway is a dream. Coming to Broadway with [The Muppets] is a dream on top of a dream.

I’ve been able to meet some of the Henson family and several of the world’s biggest Muppet fans and I’ve told them, “I understand the mission.” I understand the relevance and the gravity of being able to work with The Muppets and have them in a Broadway show. I want everyone to know how much I cherish The Muppets, as much as we all do! I want everyone to know I’m taking really good care of ’em and I understand how important and how special this moment is.

Kermit, what about you — how is it working with Rob?

Kermit: I can’t think of a more fun or a more — dare I say magical — way to be on Broadway than to join my friend, Rob, while he performs one of his illusions. Being on stage is always easier when you’re there with a friend like Rob. His magic is so creative and most of all, it’s really fun! I can’t wait for audiences to see the show live.

Rob, how has Miss Piggy been as a costar?

RL: Well, first of all, I would never say “costar” to her. That would be highly offensive to her. Yeah, that’s something you don’t want her to hear. And I don’t think she knows that it’s not really her name on the [marquee]. So we’re not gonna tell her. But I think you say that Piggy is… exactly as you would anticipate. Not let down on any expectations. [Laughs]

Kermit, it was just announced that you’re bringing back The Muppet Show for a one-night-only special with Sabrina Carpenter in 2026. What can fans expect for the show’s 50th anniversary celebration?

Kermit: We feel so honored to have just wrapped filming on that! It’s part of a 50th anniversary special event on Disney+ and we feel very fortunate to have Sabrina Carpenter as our guest star. It’s been a lot of fun getting the gang back together again!

What do you want audiences to take away when they walk out of the theater?

RL: I want everyone to have a really good time, of course. And have fun! Magic is great because you can come with your family and your friends, and I get to see people’s reactions from the glow of the lights. And it’s great whenever not only are they reacting, but they’re elbowing the people — the strangers or their friends — saying to them, “Did you see that?!” They’re having to share their experience, too. That’s what theater’s about: experiencing things live, in person, with your senses. And with magic, we defy your senses. It’s things you have to experience in real life.

Kermit: As far as The Muppets are concerned, we try to entertain everyone in our audiences. If we can be a part of something where families can all enjoy and experience the same type of wonder, laughter and excitement together, then I think we’ve done a good job. That’s why we look forward to making a special appearance as part of Rob’s incredible show.

RL: I think now, more than ever, we need magic and wonder and hope. Escapism is one thing and great, but not in that way… I like magic to be inspiring. Even for the harshest critic and skeptic. Even for a moment, to let them think that maybe anything is possible. And when they feel that, that’s inspiring. So I guess to answer your question, I hope people feel inspired and, of course, amazed and having a great time. But I want them to feel uplifted and inspired because I think we really need that right now, and magic is the best tool that does that.

One last question. Kermit, do you believe in magic?

Kermit: After watching Rob’s rehearsals, it’s hard not to believe! I’ve always been fascinated by magicians — we’ve even worked with some in the past on our TV shows. I like to pay really close attention to see if I can figure out how they do their illusions. And trust me, I’ve been watching what Rob does in rehearsals — and ya know, I can’t blink my eyes — but I still can’t figure out how he does what he does.