Center for Puppetry Arts was transformed into a sort of Venetian paradise Thursday night, for the Labyrinth Masquerade Ball.
It was an event staged to kick off a new exhibit at the center paying homage to the marvelous 1986 David Bowie/Jim Henson film, "Labyrinth," and timed just right for the film's cresting revival.
A few early-arriving guests of Dragon Con, the massive fantasy convention taking over downtown Atlanta this weekend, planned their cosplay outfits to participate in the ball, which included a costume contest, judged by Brian Henson, son of the late Jim Henson and the chief puppeteer during the making of the movie.
“It’s a blast from the past,” said Henson, dressed in black, walking through the Labyrinth exhibit and looking at the creatures, puppets and costumes on display. “I remember it all.”
The ball, held in the center’s atrium, featured fabulous costumes, inspired decorations and ghoulish hors d’oeuvres, including a detailed cake in the shape of a very warty, horned goblin. Tickets to the event, of which there were only 150, sold out in minutes.
Henson's sister Cheryl Henson, who worked as a puppeteer during the making of "Labyrinth," also attended, wearing an off-the-shoulder, form-fitting gown and a decorative metallic headpiece.
The Labyrinth exhibit will be on display for a year. The center is at 1404 Spring St NW; 404-881-5143.
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