Wowsabout prepares a meeting between puppets and nature
· BehindLines newsroom
In San Francisco, the California Academy of Sciences is preparing a family experience inspired by Wowsabout, the puppet programme from The Jim Henson Company. In its announcement on 5 November, the institution sets the opening for 21 November 2026 and plans a run until June 2027. As of 8 November, this remains a future event.
Roxy, a musical hedgehog, and Ronald, a young pig who loves trees, are due to guide the experience. The museum announces five immersive spaces for playing with sounds, colours and movement, as well as an exploration of the universe through a panoramic projection.
From a national park to museum galleries
The project extends a world introduced by its producer. Wowsabout follows two characters with different temperaments in Sequoia National Park. Their meeting becomes the starting point for a story combining nature, music and friendship.
Halle Stanford and Dorien Davies created and wrote the programme. Their stated aim is to help young viewers recognise a sense of wonder and look at their surroundings with curiosity. These are educational goals announced by the creators, rather than the results of an evaluation of the new exhibition.
An experience still to be discovered
Moving into a museum changes the role offered to families. Instead of only following adventures on a screen, they will be able to handle things and explore. The institution also plans screenings of the programme at the Morrison Planetarium.
The format combines familiar characters with the discovery of living collections. It may offer a way to discuss nature with young children, but its actual execution can only be assessed after opening. The two sources are the museum and the producer: they document the project and its origins, without providing an independent review of the experience.