Muppet's 'Christmas' tunes up

'Emmet Otter' gets musical update

By GORDON COX

The 'Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas' TV spec aired in 1977. A stage-tuner version is in the early stages of development.

The Jim Henson Co. has teamed with iTheatrics to develop a stage tuner version of its 1977 TV special "Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas."

Composer-lyricist Paul Williams ("The Rainbow Connection"), who wrote the music for the hourlong teletuner, is aboard to contribute additional material for the project. Christopher Gattelli, a current Tony nominee for his choreography of "South Pacific," will direct as well as co-write the book with iTheatrics topper Tim McDonald.

Show is said to be in the early phases of development, with no theater or timeline specifics yet confirmed.

Based on a 1971 children's book by Russell and Lillian Hoban, plot follows an otter and his mother as they enter a talent show -- separately and unbeknownst to each other -- in hopes of winning prize money to buy each other a Christmas gift. The TV special originally aired on HBO and has since been seen on ABC and Nickelodeon.

Live version will use a combo of thesps and puppets.