Rob Lake and Kermit the Frog Reveal the Magic Behind Their Broadway Show (Exclusive)
- - Rob Lake and Kermit the Frog Reveal the Magic Behind Their Broadway Show (Exclusive)
Dave QuinnNovember 14, 2025 at 10:25 PM
0
Magician Rob Lake's show Rob Lake Magic features special appearances by Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Fozzie, Animal and Rowlf
Speaking with PEOPLE, Rob Lake opens up about fulfilling his lifelong dream of being on Broadway and the process of creating new illusions for the production
Kermit the Frog reflects on the rehearsal process and opens up about the enduring magic of" Rainbow Connection"
Rob Lake has played just about every stage a magician can dream of, but nothing compares to Broadway.
This fall, the world-famous illusionist and America's Got Talent finalist brought his lifelong passion project to the Broadhurst Theatre in his new show, Rob Lake Magic with Special Guests The Muppets — a limited engagement that began performances Tuesday, Oct 28 and will take its final bow Sunday, Nov. 16.
For Lake, the moment is more than a career milestone. It’s the culmination of decades spent perfecting his craft, shaped by the magicians who came before him and fueled by a belief that magic means more than misdirection.
"I think now, more than ever, we need a little bit of magic. Because magic for me is not about tricking you or fooling you; that’s part of it," Lake, 42, tells PEOPLE. "But for me, magic is about wonder, inspiration, and having that feeling that maybe, even for just a second, anything is possible. And that’s the gift that keeps on magic brings. And I think now, with everything in the world, we need that so much right now. And being able to do that in a theatrical way is just taking the audience into a journey into what magic is with some very special friends."
Evan Zimmerman
Rob Lake and Kermit the Frog
— sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Those friends include some of the most recognizable faces in entertainment history: Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Fozzie, Animal and Rowlf all make special guest appearances throughout the show. They join Lake onstage along with illusion assistants Jesse Forcha, Noah Mason, Jennifer Orf, Natalie Vatalaro and Alli Zajac, with swing illusion assistants Diana Lizette Garcia and Elijah Gragg rounding out the company.
Bringing The Muppets into Lake's world of illusions has tapped directly into the nostalgia that shaped his own childhood. It also adds a layer of joy and chaotic charm uniquely suited to Broadway, blending classic Muppet humor with Lake’s signature spectacle in a way that feels both fresh and familiar.
Prior to hitting the stage, PEOPLE caught up with Lake and Kermit about fulfilling a lifelong dream, creating new illusions, working with Miss Piggy and why the magic of The Muppets has never been stronger.
Bruce Glikas/Getty
Rob Lake and Kermit the Frog at opening night of their Broadway show
PEOPLE: Rob, you have called this a fulfillment of a childhood dream. You've toured all around the country and the world. What is it like to finally be on Broadway?Rob Lake: Well, Broadway is the world stage. And to take my entire life's work from a childhood to now and be able to put it on the world stage and bring my magic here, it's not just a childhood dream. It's a lifelong dream coming true.
One hundred ago, Harry Houdini debuted here on the Broadway stage. How does it feel to be following in the legacy and the footsteps of so many incredible magicians who've come before you?Rob Lake: Yeah, so many of the theaters on Broadway were the Vaudeville houses. And if you look at the old poster, you see Houdini's name, and Carter and Thurston, Kellar — the true wizards who created things I do. So the foundation of stage magic was born on these Broadway stages. The foundation of the illusions I perform now came from these Broadway stages in the Vaudeville circuits. [And] to be able to bring magic back to Broadway in such a way, it's personal, because I love magic history, and these great legendary magicians and creators and wizards started here.
Evan Zimmerman
Rob Lake in 'Rob Lake Magic' on Broadway
Kermit, what inspired you to join Rob for this incredible endeavor?Kermit the Frog: Well, we're just so glad that Rob invited us to play along with him in the show. I am glad it worked out. We're really busy at the moment, but I'm so glad we got to make this happen. And while the Muppets are just a small part of Rob's show, it's been such a blast to see him perform his illusions.
Kermit, is there anything you can tease to us about what the rehearsal process has been like so far?Kermit the Frog: Well, I can't reveal too much, I wouldn't want to do that. I can say that I don't know how Rob does his illusions, and I'm keeping a very close eye on him the whole time, and I don't even blink my eyes. So you think I'd pick up something, but no, go.
Evan Zimmerman
Rob Lake with the Muppets in 'Rob Lake Magic' on Broadway
Rob, have you created brand new tricks for Broadway?Rob Lake: I have. So a lot of my show is my greatest hits, my favorite illusions from around the world that I'm performing In Broadway. I do arenas and big stages, and Broadway stages are notoriously smaller. But I handpicked the illusions because every seat in the Broadway theater is perfect. The magic is going to feel very intimate, very personal, and we chose the illusions for that. And I've created some special brand new illusions, including some new illusions with Kermit, and maybe a friend or two.Kermit the Frog: Maybe... maybe...Rob Lake: Every time I get to meet Kermit and see him in person, it's a pinch me moment, it's emotional. He's such an inspiration and symbolic of inspiring people. I watched The Muppets, I wore out the VHS tapes as a kid. I am still obsessed with The Muppets. And even when I've had to do personality interviews over the years — like what's a celebrity or a character? You're like, it's always Kermit the Frog. I relate to Kermit a lot, and he inspired me. He inspired me to know what show business is, what Broadway is, what success is about. Also, most importantly, Kermit and the Muppets inspire me to never give up on dreams. And that's the best story he tells.
Kermit, it's not easy being green. Is it easy being on Broadway?Kermit the Frog: Well, we'll have to see, I guess, right? I'm feeling pretty good about it. Maybe nerves have not quite gotten the best of me. I mean, I have a few butterflies in my stomach, but I think that's just my breakfast.
And Rob, you've worked with some really intense people. Who's harder to work with? Ms. Piggy or Simon Cowell?Rob Lake: Oh, that's a tough... You know, Ms. Piggy, I wouldn't say she's hard. She's very particular.Kermit the Frog: YeahRob Lake: We know exactly what she likes and how she wants it. But yeah, so it's another icon, an honor to meet.
Two big divas, for sure.Rob Lake: For sure.
In all seriousness, your run on America's Got Talent introduced you to so many of us. What was that experience like for you, looking back?Rob Lake: It was exhausting because I travel and tour so much, I don't watch much TV. And to be honest, I still haven't watched even the episodes I've been on, just because I'm always on the road. I underestimated... the reach of that show. I didn't have any idea how many people watch it. And I thought I'd go on and get 1 million YouTube views. And my first performance got something like 80 million views in the first year.Kermit the Frog: Wow.Rob Lake: So it exceeded all my expectations, and it allowed me to bring my creations, my passions, to so many people around the world.
And Kermit, while we walk down memory lane, I have to ask you, "Rainbow Connection" is a song that has meant so much to so many of us. What has it been like seeing how that song has resonated with fans over the years?Kermit the Frog: Well, "Rainbow Connection" is a song I always love to sing. And it's such a special song written by Paul Williams and Kenny Asher, because it's about hope and dreams and wondering about what's possible. And everyone's looking for their own rainbow, I think. And sometimes the journey is just as important as finding it. Now that I think about it, actually, the song does have a lot of references to magic.Rob Lake: It does.Kermit the Frog: It talks about illusions and spells. And maybe it's no wonder that I've been fascinated with magic for so long, because of that song.
That's very special. Thank you so much for that. Congratulations again, both of you. And Kermit, we did have Miss Piggy on the cover of PEOPLE back in 1979, so I got to get you on the cover one day, all right?Kermit the Frog: Well, that sounds good. Very kind of be to say. It might be hard for a magazine called PEOPLE to feature a frog, though.
That is true...Kermit the Frog: But let's give it a shot!
Tickets to Rob Lake Magic with Special Guests The Muppets are on sale now.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
