Interview with Muppeteer John Tartaglia, Part 2

Interview with Muppeteer John Tartaglia, Part 2

Conducted by Ryan Dosier

Be sure to read Part 1 of our interview.

RYAN:   The Carnegie Hall show was, of course, not your first foray into the world of musical theater. You made a big splash by playing the lead of Princeton in the original Broadway cast of Avenue Q. As I’ve told you before, I adore the show and the music. Can you tell us a little bit about how you got involved with the show and won the lead?

JOHN:   Thanks Ryan! Well, it was such a once in a lifetime kind of showbiz story. I was working at Sesame Street with all of us who ended up being in the show and Rick Lyon called and mentioned they were going to be doing this reading of a new show--which at the time was going to be a TV series for something like Comedy Central--and they wanted a young leading guy kind of Musical theater type (I was young at the time, a-hem). They wanted to do a live presentation and see how people reacted. At the time, there was no through-line to the show, it was only like six songs (including some that were written by other composers) and a couple of scenes. The two moments that actually have ended up being fairly close to what they started out as are "If You Were Gay" and "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist." Anyway, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Rick, Lara MacLean (the original Mrs. T--Jen Barnhart joined us later), and I did this live presentation of the show and it went over like gangbusters. And the idea quickly went from being a television series to being a live theater piece and from then on we did lots of readings and work sessions on it and it continued to evolve. 

The funny thing is, none of us (at least not the performers!) ever had any idea or desire that it would go to Broadway! We were jubilant when we got the word we would be off-Broadway. It just shocked us how much people loved it as much as we did. As far as my participation in it, I said yes to that first presentation (which is something I always tell people--say yes!!!) and then kept waiting to be replaced at each new incarnation by a big Broadway star! I really was expecting to get the call "Hey John, thanks for all the work but Neil Patrick Harris will be playing your part, buh-bye!" So, it was thrilling to ride the show all the way and it says a lot about the producers and the creative team that they kept us all involved. When you think about it, we had no stars, five of us had never been on Broadway before, etc. It was a big risk, but I guess it paid off!

RYAN:   What do you think of the lasting success and popularity of the musical?

JOHN:   It's honesty and observations about life. There's a timelessness to the show in its characters and stories. I've recently taken over maintaining the show off Broadway and we're about to celebrate its 10 year anniversary. It's very sentimental for those of involved since the beginning. I still get chills when I'm at the show taking notes and watching this new set of fresh talented faces keeping it alive. But yeah, I think the story of finding ones reason for being is the kind of story that will always be relatable.

RYAN:   How do you think that puppetry and theater intermingle and influence each other? Do you think that they mix well together?

JOHN:   Oh yeah. I think puppetry is incredibly theatrical in so many ways and it's a truly limitless art form in a theatrical setting. I think directors love using puppetry in theater because it allows them to visualize things in a way that nothing else does.

RYAN:   You returned to the stage this summer for Disney's Aladdin stage musical in St. Louis, Missouri. This is where we met, as you know. Can you tell us a little bit about this show and playing the coveted role of the Genie?

JOHN:   It was a dream come true! For so many reasons. I had always heard about the fabled MUNY and how much people loved seeing shows there but also working there and now I can see why. It's just this huge, gorgeous theater (it's over 10,000 seats!) and the productions they do there are mind blowing. In our show alone we had three live camels, a motorcycle, an electric car, a flying carpet. I mean, come on! As far as playing the Genie, wow. It was incredible. What's funny is I had been in talks to play the Genie in another production and it just didn't work out timing-wise which killed me. I really wanted to play it. But, I thought "Well, it's not to be" and let it go and not even two weeks later I was asked to play him at the MUNY and I said yes without a second thought. I think I might have literally screamed yes loudly into the phone! 

But, to have the opportunity to stand on a huge stage in front of over 10,000 people laughing, cheering, etc., is just unforgettable. I never thought I'd have that chance. I can see why rock stars love it! I mean that's a LOT of folks! And the Genie kind of felt like I was getting a chance to be an overly caffeinated version of myself! Aladdin is one of my favorite movies and scores. So much so that it was harder un-learning the movie music and lyrics I knew so deeply from my childhood to learn the newer musical versions of some of the songs. Singing "Prince Ali" and "Friend Like Me"... man.  As I told you last summer, it's one of the highlights of my life that I still get chills thinking about.

RYAN:   One of your biggest successes came with your own children's television show on Disney Channel, Johnny and the Sprites. Where did the idea for this show come from? What was your favorite part of being on it?

JOHN:   Well, funny enough, I had the idea for it when I was 16! Well, a version of it. At the time, I had this idea for a puppets-only show that took place deep in a magical forest with these Sprites that had their own magical world and had never heard of humans before. I even wrote down the names Basil and Ginger and some illustrations. Then I put it away and never thought about it again. Fast forward 10 or so years and I had just been nominated for a Tony for Avenue Q. Rich Ross, who was president of the Disney Channel at the time, had seen me in the show and asked to meet and he basically offered me the opportunity to have my own show on the channel. After picking my jaw off the floor I kind of stuttered out without thinking about this sprites show and he seemed to like that and offered to set up a meeting with his VP and head of development. Well, I went home and found that old notepad that I had written that idea down on long ago, and myself and four wonderful co-creators came up with the show that ended up airing. The funny thing is I never thought of myself being onscreen. It was one of my co-creators, Jill, who suggested it. In fact, I completely disagreed with it! I guess it's a very good thing she pushed me to be a part of it, and there ya go! It was a glorious few years of my life. I really miss it.

RYAN:   Most Muppet fans are labeled "different" or "weird" in the eyes of "normal" people. Did loving the Muppets when you were young help you if you ever felt "different"?

JOHN:   It's what literally got me through my childhood and adolescence. Literally. My parents divorce was hard as it is for any kid, and that's right around the time I found Fraggle Rock, which became my escape. The world I lived in for awhile. Then the Muppets and of course, Sesame Street. And from my initial love of the shows, came my interest and geekiness over puppetry itself and all of these amazingly talented people who were like me! I wanted to be one of them! But, I suppose most importantly, puppetry was an outlet for creativity for me and let me express myself. I mean, I never directly used puppets as therapy or anything like that, but I was able to play characters and create and use my imagination and that's what I love most about it. Muppet fans are weird and we're awesome darn it!!!! Normal people are boring!

RYAN:   What advice do you have for young Muppet fans who dream of performing or working with the Muppets some day?

JOHN:   Hmmm... it's funny because it's all changed so much even since I was a kid. You have to remember that everything's different now- the characters are owned by three different companies, there's many less television series with puppetry than there used to be, etc. We used to have these big auditions and workshops because we needed so many puppeteers and those haven't happened in awhile. I have a lot of younger fans who want to know exactly how to become a Muppeteer and here's the truth- there's no right or wrong way. If you line up all of us, we all entered into it in different ways, in different times of our lives, and for different reasons. I will tell you this- get as MUCH experience in every aspect of performance you can. I get a lot of younger folks who are fantastic manipulators but dont have confidence as performers when it comes to voices, etc  The only way you can get better at that is to "do". Take improv classes, take dance, take sculpture, take mime, take voice lessons, take accent lessons etc. There's so much theatre based puppetry work so try to focus there. The more skills you have, the more you stand out and become a unique "voice" or talent that is needed. I think there will always be a need for a new generation of Muppeteers, but just make sure you have as many tricks up your sleeve as you can. And practice, practice practice! 

RYAN:   What’s next in the slate of work for John Tartaglia? Anything exciting coming up that you can share with us?

JOHN:   Well, we're moving along with The Jim Henson Company on developing ImaginOcean for television using the HDPS system and it's incredibly exciting. The HDPS is allowing us to do so many things we could have only dreamt of before. I'm also developing two shows for Broadway that I'm attached to as director and creating some new live shows for Carnival Cruise Lines. And I'm going to be heading back to the MUNY this summer, this time directing Shrek the Musical which I'm really really excited about. They'll be lots of puppets in this production! And, I'm continuing work on Sesame Street which I just love. It's home to me.

RYAN:   John, thank you so much for doing this interview with me. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for me! Thank you, thank you, thank you.

JOHN:   Thank YOU Ryan for providing such an awesome place for us "weirdo" Muppet fans!!!!

 All of my thanks go out to my friend John Tartaglia! You're the best, John. Can't thank you enough... for everything!!





The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, muppetmindset@gmail.com

Interview with Muppeteer John Tartaglia, Part 1

This past summer, I found out that Muppet performer and star of Broadway and television John Tartaglia would be performing in Disney's Aladdin musical in St. Louis, only a few hours away from me. Obviously I booked tickets right away. I got in touch with John (thanks to the wonderful folks from Being Elmo) and got to meet with him before the show. He was incredible. So friendly and personable and open and funny. He was endlessly complimentary, humble, and charming. It took a few months after that for us to finally get an interview together, but we did it and, I think, it's fantastic. It will be presented in two parts, so please enjoy Part 1 of my interview with my friend John Tartaglia.

Interview with Muppeteer John Tartaglia

Conducted by Ryan Dosier

RYAN:   John, welcome to The Muppet Mindset! Make yourself at home. Can I offer you anything? Food? Drink? Polka penguin?

JOHN:   A nice wine would be nice. I find a Merlot goes lovely with penguin polka dancing.

RYAN:   How did you first get interested in puppetry and the Muppets?

JOHN:   Well, according to my mother I was Sesame Street obsessed as a preschooler. But, I remember getting the Muppet bug when I accidentally ended up watching Fraggle Rock on an HBO free weekend. It was like I had found the secret of life. I was entranced and my poor family had to endear a complete Fraggle obsession for quite awhile. That led to The Muppet Show and Labyrinth and Dark Crystal, etc. on home video and the rest is history. It was a good time for Muppet home videos. When I was 11 or so I wrote to Jim Henson and said how much I loved him and the Muppets and how my dream was to graduate high school and work as a Muppeteer in New York City. I didn't hear back right away, in fact it was almost a year later when I sat down to write him another letter. I just figured he never got the first one, and no lie, that very day as I was writing him again, a knock came at the door and it was the postman (or post lady... I don't remember but wanted to be PC) with a package for me from The Jim Henson Company! Inside was a gorgeous 8x10 Jim had made out to me and a letter from his assistant. It was amazing and I'm pretty sure I peed myself from excitement. As one does. What's incredible is that as I'm typing this I'm sitting here staring at a picture of Jim here on the Jim Henson Company lot. It never is lost on me how lucky I am.

RYAN:   What are some of your favorite moments from the set of Sesame Street?

JOHN:   I think the unexpected moments. The ad-libs, the bloopers--we have a lot of em! And honestly the tender moments too--the Muppets have always had this way of making a touching scene extra touching. I just love those. I'm a sucker for moments like "Just One Person" or "Keep Christmas with You." But honestly, as cliche as it sounds--my favorite moments are with the cast and crew. We really are a wonderful family--dysfunctional and bizarre sometimes, but a family. Seeing Frankie Biondo (our lead cameraman who's been there since season one!) is something I look forward to every day. He's one of a kind and I love him! A very special moment happened recently. A few years ago, an award was created called the Richard Hunt spirit award--it's an award given by the cast and crew at our wrap party to someone that everyone feels continues the humor and spirit of Richard on set. Richard was known for keeping everyone laughing and motivated and in the grind of shooting a daily television series, sometimes that's needed! Anyway, this season I was the recipient of it, and as this was my first season back full time for many years, I was shocked and truly honored. I broke down and cried actually. It's my favorite award I've ever received above all others. I really mean that.

RYAN:   Who is your favorite Sesame Street character and why?

JOHN:   Oy, that's a hard one! It changes all the time as the years go on and I feel like I'm a wembler about it, but most usually it's Grover. Again, he can be hilarious but also very touching. Frank just had this ability to make you giggle uncontrollably on the set whenever he was in performing Grover. And then, if he was doing one of the talks with the kids, he could be so sweet and touching. So, for now anyway, it's Grover!

RYAN:   What is your favorite episode of The Muppet Show?

JOHN:   That's very hard to say as there are so many incredible ones. The funny thing is when I first got into Muppets they weren't on TV anymore and were only on a home video in the best of compilations so I really didn't know which show each skit belonged in! I still will watch the full season sets (where is season 4 and 5 Disney?!?!?!) and I'll get excited--like--"wait--that's from THAT episode?!?!"

I will say that one of my all time favorite moments that I think perfectly encapsulates Jim's humor and awareness of the world around him is The Muppet Show version of "For What It's Worth." It's gorgeous in the puppetry and singing and the cinematography, but still has a message tainted with humor. I just love it. And Jerry, as always, is heart breaking and sounds incredible. 

RYAN:   What about your favorite character from The Muppet Show universe?

JOHN:   Without a doubt it's between Janice and The Swedish Chef. Always hard to decide, but I'll tell you this--When we did the concert at Carnegie Hall they basically had to (nicely) ask me to stop putting on the Janice puppet. Love her.

RYAN:   You've expressed your love of Fraggle Rock numerous times. Would you like to talk a little bit about the show? It's your favorite Henson production, isn't it?

JOHN:   Well, I think people think I'm a little overdramatic when I say this, but I really do think it's one of the best television series ever made, not to mention one of the best children's series. To me, it's everything a quality show for kids should be. And as an adult revisiting it, it's amazingly profound. To think that they were never afraid to deal with death and loss and re-incarnation and spirituality--I mean, I can tell you as someone who creates children's television today, that's just not the norm. And yet, really, it should be. On a more Muppet-y level, I think it's some of the best puppetry ever done by the Muppets up to that point- both from a performance and design level. You had Steve and Jerry and Dave and Karen and Richard and Kathy and that amazing Toronto team that really were on a high and at their best. When you talk to Karen Prell or the late great Jerry Nelson, they oftentimes said it was something they're so proud of. It was just amazing. For me, I strive to someday create something that has impacted the world anywhere near as positively as that show has. I'm convinced Fraggle Rock is greatly responsible for shaping the lives of those of us who watched it in an important and positive way. Oh, and maybe it stopped war and stuff, so that's good.

RYAN:   I ask about all of these Henson realms because they were all brought together again--by you--for Jim Henson’s Musical World at Carengie Hall earlier this year. Can you talk a little bit about how this show came about and what your involvement in it was like?

JOHN:   It was magical from the start, really. I had been incredibly lucky to have performed three times before with the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall. The Pops are the best orchestra ever and Carnegie Hall is the most amazing concert hall in the world, so it was never lost on me how special those opportunities were. I had the idea one day of doing some sort of musical tribute for Jim and his worlds with the Pops at Carnegie Hall. When I pitched the NY Pops the idea they flipped as it turns out they're all huge Muppet fans as well. The fantastic Craig Shemin joined on board to write the script, I directed, The Jim Henson Legacy produced along with the Pops and we were on our way. I'm beyond proud of it--I think because I'm such a fan at heart, I wanted to create the concert that I'd been wishing would happen for so many years. Muppet Family Christmas was, and still is my favorite Muppet special and I think it's because of all of Jim's worlds up to that point being together and celebrating. It felt like this was a chance to do the same for Jim. And I can't gush enough about Bonnie Erickson and Arthur Novel and all at the Legacy and Craig and everyone at the NY Pops and Carnegie Hall and all three companies and all of the performers--everyone working together to make it happen--it was very Muppety in that way!

RYAN:   What was the most challenging aspect of making this show--with characters owned by three different companies--happen?

JOHN:   Well, it took two years to make it happen--as you can imagine, it was a LOT of logistics to work out now that all of Jim's worlds and properties are overseen by three different companies. The amazing thing was everyone was so excited about it and really all jumped in whole heartedly to play. So many of the folks running those companies now either knew Jim personally or grew up with the characters and it wasn't lost on anyone involved that this gathering of worlds hadn't happened in over 22 years. Sadly, the last time they were all together was for The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson. So, we felt a great weight and responsibility because of that. 

The other hard part was just deciding what to include and what we just didn't have time for. That really was hardest part--I mean, we wanted to do everything! And its incredible when you sit with the massive list of songs written for all of those television series and movies and specials and albums that Jim created. It just blows your mind how much material exists. When we were putting the show together there were definitely a few times things looked shaky or like they'd fall through and I'm not sure whether we were all stupidly naive or overly optimistic or what, but we just never doubted it wouldn't work out, and thanks to so many wonderful folks, it did.

RYAN:   What was your favorite part of the show?

JOHN:   Selfishly, singing with the Fraggles! My mother came to see the show and wept the entire time but wept hardest during the Fraggle medley. When I was a kid I'd sit there with my Fraggle puppets and dolls and put on shows for my family and sang all of the songs along with the albums. So, to be standing up there singing with the actual Fraggles and their performers in a concert I had conceived was very emotional for both her and me. Very full circle I guess. Plus, this was the first time the new Wembley puppet had been used and Steve hadn't performed him since Jim's memorial. To have Wembley and Red and Traveling Matt singing to me was amazing. I recommend it to everyone!

RYAN:   For you, what was the most magical moment of Jim Henson’s Musical World?

JOHN:   Without sounding precious, there were many. But, a moment that stands out was when we all gathered together to rehearse for the first time at The Carriage House, which is one of the original Muppet studios from back in the day, still in use. In that studio were so many incredible, talented, wonderful people, several who hadn't worked together in years. To look around the room and see Bob McGrath from Sesame and Karen Prell from Fraggle Rock joking around and Kevin Clash as Elmo next to Dave Goelz holding Gonzo was just surreal. That's when the enormity of what we had accomplished in gathering everyone together hit me. Plus, there was just this extra special feeling in the room--I'd like to think that Jim and Richard and all those who've gone on were there too somehow. It was amazing. I went home and cried. And watched the Golden Girls.

RYAN:   I know that there was no video taping of the show, which is unfortunate but understandable, but are there any plans to do the show again? It seemed like it was a major success back in April.

JOHN:   We really hoped that we'd be able to do it again in some form. But, to be honest, it was most likely a once in a lifetime experience. Since it was so much work for everyone involved and all of the logistics had to be handled and performers on different schedules in different places had to come together, and all of those factors, it was a miracle that we pulled it off once! But, I still have hope that it will happen again in some way. There were many who thought it would NEVER happen at all and it did, so, who knows!! Never say never. And in the meantime, that's what YouTube is for!

At John's insistence... here's video from the Carnegie Hall show! For more, check out The Muppet Mindset on YouTube!

Check back next week for Part 2 of our interview with John Tartaglia!





The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, muppetmindset@gmail.com 

Not Quite Muppets

Kyle Mahoney - Throughout history there have always been puppets, and although many strive to be as lifelike and beloved as Jim Henson's Muppets... they're just not considered Muppets. But many have connections to the Muppets, and although they aren't Muppets I feel like some of them deserve to have a bit of recognition here at the Muppet Mindset. So we'll take a few well known puppets and see how they're connected to the Muppets and how they aren't.

Audrey II - Little Shop of Horrors
This carnivorous alien plant first took root in 1982 in the off-Broadway musical Little Shop of Horrors. The plant was designed and manipulated by Martin P. Robinson (Telly Monster and Snuffy on Sesame Street) but was not a direct product of The Jim Henson Company. Several versions of Audrey II were made, from a tiny, dying bud to a full-fledged monster able to swallow a person whole!

Four years later Frank Oz would adapt the show into a film, his first non-Muppet production. The film would still utilize puppetry for Audrey II. As with the original production many different versions of the puppet were built, all of which used advanced animatronics. Although Henson did not have a hand in the project he did know many people who worked on the project, including his son Brian Henson who was a principle puppeteer for the plant.

In 2003 the show was revived on Broadway and once again Marty Robinson stepped in and built the puppets used. But this time The Jim Henson Company helped him out and was credited in the design. Other Muppeteers who became part of the production included Matt Vogel and Anthony Ashbury.

Yoda - Star Wars
Long ago in a galaxy far, far away... a little green man made English teachers cringe. In Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, we are introduced to the greatest Jedi master who ever lived, Yoda. A common misconception is that Henson built Yoda and not farther from the truth could that be. Yoda was actually built by Stuart Freeborn who worked for Lucasfilm. Altough Jim and George Lucas did exchange a few technological ideas, that was the extent of Henson's involvement on the project.

Frank Oz, on the other hand, took a much bigger part in the character's creation. Not only did Frank help design the puppet, but he is perhaps best known as Yoda's voice performer with assistance from Kathryn Mullen. Lucas was so impressed with Oz's performance that he put Oz's name in the possibilities for the category Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the Academy Awards.

When George Lucas created the prequels for Star Wars, Oz once again provided the voice but with the exception of The Phantom Menace, Yoda was done with CGI. Currently Oz does not perform the voice for Yoda in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Tom Kane has taken over.

Avenue Q
In 2003 the Broadway show Avenue Q took puppets to a much more mature level, dealing with adult subjects. The play is meant to mirror the set-up of Sesame Street in that humans live amongst monsters and puppets in a New York City street. The puppets were built by former Muppeteer Rick Lyon through his puppet company. Although a bit of a legal dispute arose due to the similarities of the characters, the show was still put on with a fine print stating that the production is in no way affiliated with Sesame Workshop, The Muppets Studio, or The Jim Henson Company.

Lyon not only built the puppets but performed the characters Nicky, Trekkie Monster, and a Bad Idea Bear. Other Sesame Street performers joined him as well. John Tartaglia starred in the production as the characters Princeton and Rod, for which he was nominated for a Tony Award. Stephanie D'Abbruzzo performed Kate Monster and others and was also nominated for a Tony Award. Jennifer Barnhart took on a few roles and was an auxiliary puppeteer for when two characters played by the same performer were onstage or when a live hand puppet needed the use of both hands. The performance mimicked certain aspects of Sesame Street such as teaching new words such as Schadenfreude (happiness at the misfortune of others) and the idea of two very different people being roommates with Nicky and Rod.

So although they aren't Muppets or Henson creatures, let's tip our hats to these characters for being great works of puppetry that have just enough of a connection to Henson that we can talk about them with the same affection.





The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, muppetmindset@gmail.com

Muppeteer John Tartaglia Remembers Jerry Nelson

John Tartaglia - When Ryan asked me if I'd want to contribute anything to The Muppet Mindset in response to Jerry Nelson's passing, I had to really think about what that would be. First, it is a great responsibility to have the opportunity to say something about someone as amazing as Jerry. Secondly, it is difficult to encapsulate how much Jerry meant and means to me and so many of us who had the great privilege of working and playing alongside him.

We are a lucky few that are able to say that we are Muppeteers. Lucky because not only do we get to do what we all dreamt of doing, but because we've gotten the chance to meet and work with so many of our Muppet heroes we grew up idolizing. Heroes like Jerry. Those of us who are a part of the younger generation of Muppeteers were literally raised by the brilliant material that Jerry, Jim, Richard, Frank, Dave, Carroll, Fran and all the original gang created and performed. Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal, Emmett Otter's Jugband Christmas, etc.--these hours and hours of entertainment were everything to us and our childhoods. And Jerry was always there--his voice and puppetry such an ingrained part of what made the Muppets, well... magical.

Fraggle Rock was what did it for me. I can still clearly remember catching my first episode of it on an HBO free preview weekend, and there was Jerry as Gobo Fraggle. Of course, I didn't know who Jerry or any of the Muppeteers were at the time (you'll have to remember that this was the 80s, long before one could Google, or IMDB someone and their careers. Yes, this time actually existed...), but I remember being so amazed by the puppetry in that show--how lifelike and gorgeous all of those performances were. And something radiated from Gobo that spoke to my core--honesty and truth and spirit. Once I got my first Fraggle Rock record, I stared at that back cover for hours. As the album played I-d memorize those names--"Featuring Jim Henson's Muppets: Kathryn Mullen, Karen Prell, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Richard Hunt, Jerry Nelson." Reading it over for the 100th time one day it hit me--this guy, Jerry, does HOW MANY VOICES? Gobo Fraggle, Pa Gorg, Marjory the Trash Heap...Wait, he does all of them? And he sings that amazingly, too? It had just never occurred to me that one guy could do all that.

But, that's just what Jerry did. He was a master of character and voices and  performance. Whenever Jerry was on the set of Sesame and you were alongside him, you were not only lucky enough to be sharing the screen with the best of the best, but were in many ways getting the ultimate masterclass in character and comedy. As we all know, Jerry played a multitude of one-shot Anything Muppets and Whatnots in addition to his principal characters. And somehow, every one of those one-shots seemed so fresh and unique and just as multi-layered and hysterical as the next--oftentimes several in the same scene! I loved watching him work from take to take and how each time it still seemed brand new and still made us all laugh.

Jerry was also the ultimate "cool." Not just in the hip and laid back way (though he certainly was that!) but also in his approach to people. I remember nervously and eagerly meeting him for the first time and feeling immediately calmed and welcomed by his presence. He had that ability to make everyone feel welcome and important and valued. And it was always a blast when we'd be lucky enough to be entertained by his incredible singing and strumming at wrap parties and other special events.

Though in recent years Jerry had stopped physically puppeteering his characters for Sesame Street, he still voiced them while the fantastic Matt Vogel would lip synch to them live. When we did Jim Henson's Musical World at Carnegie Hall this past April, we felt that it wouldn't be a true representation of Jim's worlds if Jerry wasn't somehow a part of it, so we asked him to perform his classic announcer voice. It was a thrill to hear his unique, incredible voice booming throughout that famed hall and the audience certainly let us know they felt the same way. We were so happy Jerry came to see the show, for in many ways it was a celebration of his Muppet worlds and all he had contributed to them as much as it was a celebration of Jim's. It was also the last chance I got to see Jerry.

It will be so odd to walk onto the set of Sesame Street this season and not have Jerry stroll in at some point, smiling and laughing with the crew. It's hard to think that he's no longer here with us in being. But, I keep remembering a lovely and simple email I received from Jerry a couple of years ago. I had been a part of a reading of the live stage adaptation of Emmett Otter's Jugband Christmas and had written Jerry to tell him how excited I was for Emmett to be a live show and to tell him, for the first time, how much his work had meant to me. How so many of the lessons and truths he spoke on Fraggle Rock had shaped me as a person and how much I respected his work and his talent and how much I loved being a part of this new world of Emmett. And in his cool and cosmic way, Jerry responded by saying to take it in, enjoy it as much as possible, and that life is good and to reflect on just how lucky we all are. Well, truer words have never been spoken--those of us who knew Jerry Nelson in person or through his talent are the luckiest of all--and we're all much better because of it.

Huge thanks to our good friend John Tartaglia for contributing this wonderful piece. 





The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, muppetmindset@gmail.com

Meeting John Tartaglia

Ryan Dosier - A week ago today, I had an incredible evening as I went to see the new Disney stage musical production of Aladdin. Why would I be writing about this on a Muppet website? Great question--and I have a great answer! It is because Muppeteer and performer extraordinaire John Tartaglia was playing the Genie in the show! If you're unaware of John, he has been a puppeteer on Sesame Street since he was only 16 years old. Later, he performed the lead, Princeton, in the original Broadway cast of Avenue Q, for which he was nominated for a Tony Award. Most recently he conceived, directed, and hosted Jim Henson's Musical World at Carnegie Hall in April, which brought together the Muppets, Sesame Street, and Fraggle Rock characters for the first time in 20 years.

I had the wonderful opportunity to meet John before the Aladdin show on July 9th. He was kind enough to sit and talk Muppets with me for about an hour before he had to go get ready to entertain 10,000 people. We talked at length about everything from Jerry Nelson to Fraggle Rock to Jim Henson's Musical World to Disney to anything else you might come up with. He really is fantastic, and I hope I can bring you, The Muppet Mindset fans, an interview with my new friend John soon. For now... enjoy this picture of the two of us before the show!

Then it came time for John's performance as the Genie. He was spectacular. Once Aladdin rubbed that magic lamp and John took the stage (in hysterical fashion), he took over the show and never gave it back. He had all the jokes, all the show-stopping production numbers, and all the adoration of the audience. Having seen the show twice (I went back to see it on July 13th--John was that great), I can safely say that the Genie was everyone's favorite part of the show. John as the Genie completely stole the show and the audience took notice. It was amazing. The sheer amount of improvising and ad-libbing John did during the show was astounding. Half of his jokes were different during the two shows I saw. You can see a little bit of John's performance (but not nearly enough of it) in this video below...



So anyway... that's the story of my adventure with John Tartaglia! He's a wonderful guy and I can't thank him enough for being so awesome to me. He couldn't stop thanking me for coming to see the show when I met him... and I couldn't thank him enough for being so spectacular.

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, muppetmindset@gmail.com