On Friday, June 24, the Ballard Institute will offer a free tour of current exhibitions and have extended hours for the Mansfield Downtown Partnership’s free screening of Muppet Treasure Island on the Mansfield Town Square at dusk.

Before the movie starts, come to Storrs Center for family-friendly activities starting at 7 p.m., including a themed dinner at Dog Lane Cafe, the UConn Dairy Bar Ice Cream Truck, and hands-on fun for kids in the Town Square.

At 7:30 p.m., the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry will offer a free guided tour of the current exhibitions, The World of Puppetry: From the Collections of the Ballard Institute and The Bureau of Small Requests: Puppetry and Animation of Laura Heit. The museum will remain open until the movie starts at dusk.

Muppet Treasure Island

Music, fun, and swashbuckling hilarity abound as the Muppets take on Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic story of pirate adventure on the high seas. Kermit stars as the good Captain Smollett, who helps guide young Jim Hawkins toward buried pirate treasure. But danger is on the horizon when they learn that the ship’s cook, Long John Silver (Tim Curry), may not be just an ordinary galley hand. As the adventure continues, Jim and Captain Smollett encounter Miss Piggy as Benjamina Gunn, Treasure Island’s worshipped (but dangerous) love goddess. Directed by Brian Henson, the film features a musical score by Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer with songs by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil.

Rated G
Runtime: 1 hour, 39 minutes

For more information about the Mansfield Downtown Partnership’s Moonlight Movies, visit: mansfieldct.gov/movies

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