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If you encourage your toddler to watch Johnny and the Sprites simply because you love its star, John Tartaglia, you’re not alone. The Tony-nominated actor and veteran Sesame Street puppeteer (who also executive produces Johnny) has at least as many adult fans as kids.
How did you get the idea for Johnny and the Sprites?
Well, I got it very young, when I was sixteen, and I thought it would be amazing for there to be a fantasy world where these Sprite creatures lived. I remember drawing some really rough sketches, and imagining a woods-like magical world they’d live in, and I think even the names Basil and Ginger. I had it in my head, but it wasn’t until almost 10 years later that I got the opportunity to make it happen!
What’s the best compliment someone’s given you about the show?
I don’t know if you’d call it a compliment, but one of the most amazing things I’ve ever heard was from a mother of an autistic child who saw our live show in Walt Disney World. She told me that her son was quite unresponsive in everyday life and they were desperately trying to help him both at school and at home. For some reason, Johnny and the Sprites was helping him, and sometimes the only time during the day he’ll smile is if we’re on the TV. That moved me so much and made me realize how important what we do can be to one single child.
So many kids’ shows tend to dumb down things or conversely, hit viewers over the head with a message. Is it a conscious decision on your part not to do either on Johnny and the Sprites?
Absolutely. For me, it was the most important thing to do: to not talk down to kids, or be so caught up in delivering a message that all the fun goes out the window. Kids are so much smarter than we think they are, and you don’t have to knock them over the head with something for them to understand it. So, all our episodes do have lessons and morals and a curricular goal in mind, but if a kid’s laughing, they’re paying attention, and whether they realize it or not, they’re learning too.
How do you get such great guest stars/composers to work on the show?
We’re sooo lucky! Seriously, to be able to say that Stephen Schwartz [the composer/lyricist of Pippin, Godspell, and most recently, Wicked] wrote songs for my show is a dream come true! All our composers are amazing, and most I have been lucky to have worked with in the past in the Broadway world. When they each heard about the show and how we wanted kids to be exposed to the variety and creativity of Broadway music, they were all like, “I’m in!” I sometimes pinch myself when I realize the level of talent we’ve had write for the show.
Why do you think the show resonates so much with adults?
I didn’t want to make a show that only a preschooler could enjoy, but one that the whole family can sit down and watch. When I was a preschooler, one of the most enjoyable and important things to my childhood was watching TV with my family. And, it amazes me how many parents stop me and say, “Thank you for not making a show that makes me want to claw my eyes out!” So, we purposely made a show that anyone can watch, with or without their kids (whether they admit it or not!)
